Back to Business — Tiffin

Main Street Tiffin

When The Renaissance of Tiffin remained open during quarantine, it sold more on a Saturday than it had a whole week pre-shutdown. The bourbon bar has succeeded during COVID-19 not only in providing carryout alcohol, but also by expanding into two more ventures: The Renaissance of Tiffin on Wheels, a lavish party bus, and the Pink Lady, a grilled cheese food truck both opened during quarantine. 

This is one example of the creativity and business savvy of Main Street Tiffin members during COVID-19. Main Street Tiffin has also reflected this attitude. From auctions to storytimes, Main Street Tiffin has worked to connect businesses to resources and support. 

When quarantine began, Main Street Tiffin (the Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership) partnered with the Seneca Regional Chamber of Commerce to host an online auction of “firsts.” All proceeds went to the thirty downtown businesses that participated with products and services such as “first drink,” “first haircut” and “first meal indoors” for when the businesses reopen. 

In addition, Main Street Tiffin has held regular meetings where business owners can speak virtually with health care professionals and the Seneca County commissioner. Now, Main Street Tiffin will speak about openings and updates on a Tuesday morning radio show. 

“As a community, we’ve been good at coordinating efforts,” Director Amy Reinhart says. “Destination Seneca County, the chamber, economic development and the mayor — we’ve all been promoting the businesses.” 

With the Tiffin Public Library, Reinhart helped start “Tiffin Tales,” a virtual storytime series. She reached out to downtown business owners, and along with city council members and elected officials, they read storybooks to around 5,000 viewers on Facebook. 

“The businesses said they saw a nice uptick of business on the days that their posts were shared by different places,” Reinhart says of the cross-promotion. “The more of a network we have, the more it supports.” 

On June 22, the city council approved a designated outdoor refreshment area (DORA) for downtown Main Street Tiffin. Main Street Tiffin had worked on this for over a year — prioritizing customers’ safety and needing to provide restaurants with more resources pushed the council to approve a DORA. 

With the city’s park department, Main Street Tiffin brought thirty-two picnic tables downtown and placed them in private and public lots, parking spots and a refurbished alley for people to sit and enjoy their drinks at. The tables are covered in clear plastic with safety measures and instructions listed beneath. Cleaning supplies are provided, and customers have to sanitize and clean their own area. 

As Main Street Tiffin supports its businesses, the businesses have also supported each other. JT’s Bagel Shop, Simply Susan’s boutique and Bailiwicks Coffee Company partnered to provide an Eat, Drink, Shop event every Saturday. Many businesses joined to make Tiffin Strong and Support Tiffin t-shirts to benefit downtown businesses and charities. The Chandelier Community Event Center opened its doors for people to eat downtown in their large indoor space while socially distancing. 

In the next few months, Reinhart hopes to host the downtown Third Thursday event, the first of which would support frontline workers. In August, she hopes to help retailers by hosting a rewind event with a chocolate walk, St. Patty’s 5k and other events the community has missed.

Reinhart encourages her members to reach out to her with any issues or concerns. She says that supporting each other and sharing business updates is vital now. 

“Sharing (updates) among as many people as possible and getting on social media is important,” she says. “Reach out to me when you have struggles or issues — I’ll point you to funding sources, I’ll help you find a loan, we’ll work with bank members. We’ve got a lot of resources at our fingertips.”