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Learning from Last Year: Businesses Prep for Waterfront Film Festival

Posted at 11:20 AM, Jun 12, 2014
and last updated 2014-06-13 03:05:09-04

southhavemSOUTH HAVEN, Mich. (June 12, 2014) — Last year was a learning experience for the city of South Haven so as they head into the second year hosting the Waterfront Film Festival, they know what to expect.

The best piece of advice Stacy Sundberg got as she heads into her first experience with the festival?

“Enjoy the past few weekends when it’s been slower because it’s going to get busy,” said Sundberg.

She and the other barista at Café Julia in downtown South Haven have been gearing up for an influx of visitors these next few days.

“A lot more girls on, a lot more training going on,” explained Sundberg. “Just making sure we have everything ready, everything prepped.”

The summer lakeshore vacation spot is hosting the big film fest for the second year and with a little more knowledge of what to expect.

“Everyone was trying to figure out what was going on [last year,”  said Debra Davidson, director of the South Haven Downtown Development Authority.

“We didn’t know what to expect and this year business people do know what to expect. They are very excited, rolled out the welcome mat and anticipated their product.”

That means stocking more of the popular items Café Julia is known to sell a lot of.

“Iced tea, ice coffee, lattes, cold brew that is a bottled coffee.,” said Sundberg. “It’s a good one to keep in stock.”

South Haven is ready for thousands of out-of-towners and say this only helps extend their already bustling tourism season.

The 16th annual Waterfront Festival runs June 12th through June 15th.