The number of Halloween vendors in Athens this year has decreased since the previous year's annual festivities, leaving only food vendors for this year's celebration.
There will be no novelty vendors lining the streets, and only three vendors selling food, said Theresa Gerren, Administrative Assistant for the Athens Department of Development.
The Athens Department of Development sells five to six spaces annually for Halloween weekend. Five of the spaces have been reserved but by only three vendors, Gerren said.
The vendors scheduled to line the streets tomorrow are Ali Baba's, Burrito Buggy and vendor Jenny Greer. Ali Baba's and Greer both reserved two spaces. Greer has two different trailers; one is called Fiesta Fair and the second is not named.
Greer, of Haysvilles, has been a non-local vendor during Halloween weekend in Athens for 19 years. The festivities bring in good business every year, Greer said.
(Halloween) is our most enjoyed show of the year. People fight over who gets to come with us and work
Greer said.
Greer's trailers will be set up near Casa Nueva, 4 W. State St. The trailers will sell gyros, wraps, corn-dogs, several steak options and French fries. In addition, Greer's team will be making cotton candy on the street outside the trailers.
We really enjoy coming to Athens on Halloween each year Greer said.
Nisar and Brenda Shaikh, who own Ali Baba's, are among the local vendors for Halloween weekend this year. They have brought their buggy to Court Street for 22 years and now they have to pay extra to set up shop on Halloween weekend.
Ali Baba's has seen about a 40 percent drop in sales compared to Halloweens past, Nisar Shaikh said.
Halloween is not what it was six years ago said Nisar Shaikh, adding that, The economy is really bad
people don't have money to spend right now.
There are still spaces for more vendors, Gerren said. The vendors are to set up tomorrow between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. depending on the type of vendor. Sales must cease at exactly 2:30 Sunday morning and vendors must be gone by that time, according to Gerren.
I've been here for 18 years and have never seen this bad of a response
Gerren said.
The Athens Department of Development does not know the reason for the decrease in vendors, Gerren said.
The city of Athens loses money on Halloween weekend every year. The vendors end up paying almost $2,000 to rent their spaces on Halloween weekend. But the city is still not guaranteed a profit, Gerren said.
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Bentley Weisel
