Merchants look forward to tall ships sales
Portsmouth, NH – Tall ships are set to have a sizable economic impact on the city this weekend, organizers and small business leaders say.
“We have never done an economic survey, although by anecdotal evidence, all restaurant and shop owners unanimously agree, it’s the busiest summer weekend in the city in Portsmouth,” said Donald Coker, head of the nonprofit Piscataqua Maritime Commission, which holds the event.
Chamber of Commerce tourism manager Nicki Nobel and city Economic Development Director Nancy Cramer said no statistics were available on the ships’ economic effect, but 6,000 to 8,000 ticket-buying people showed up last year, perhaps 10,000 in total.
“It was just jammed,” Nobel said. “People were spilling out into the streets and heading up Market Square, hitting up restaurants and merchants. Jumpin’ Jay asked, ‘Can we have tall ships every weekend?'”
Four ships will land at the Port of New Hampshire this weekend: the 125-foot Spirit of Massachusetts; the 140-foot Spirit of South Carolina; the three-masted, 141-foot Kalmar Nyckel, a replica armed merchant vessel sailing out of Delaware; and the 300-foot U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Eagle, a three-masted barque.
Betsy Scott, owner of The Flower Kiosk on Market Street, is busily preparing for the ships, and said visitors coming to board will make their way around the streets and ring up sales.
