Following the end of Downtown Pullman’s long construction and shutdown, business owners expected people to come back in droves and revitalize the downtown atmosphere. When this did not happen, businesses were left to fight an uphill battle, encouraging students and residents alike to come back.
Promote Pullman is one of many organizations part of this resurgence initiative, putting on multiple events and meetups each month to garner more buzz around the town.
President Jandi Utzman started the association during the time of limitations on functions because of the pandemic. She and her fellow business owners noticed the spirit of downtown was dying out for lack of events, and decided to band together to keep it alive.
“The normal organizations were restricted and couldn’t do events, so we had to come up with some creative ideas,” Utzman said. “Then we just kept going.”
Secretary and treasurer Pam Dabolt said Promote Pullman is trying to get people to remember the core of downtown life that existed before the construction and COVID-19.
“I think people have kind of forgotten,” Dabolt said. “They got used to not coming into downtown and I think it’s gonna take a while.”
Utzman said she wants people like her kids to have more memories of doing activities in the city. With the scene as it is now, that is not possible.
Marketing and outreach to students in particular is difficult, the two said, because of the university’s strict regulations on advertising. The real challenge is getting students to meaningfully explore the city, especially with the common conception that Moscow has better city life.
“We need to compete with Moscow,” Utzman said. “We need to have enough stuff that students will go here as much as they go to Moscow and University of Idaho students will come to Pullman for a variety—it’s very lopsided right now.”
To attract more student participation in downtown events, Promote Pullman hopes more businesses will be able to collaborate with WSU organizations as a way to foster connections with each other. Cross-promotion is one of the association’s main goals, with both other businesses and event organizations in the city as well.
One particular collaboration Utzman hopes to achieve for downtown is the support of WSU President Elizabeth Cantwell.
“We’re hoping she really invests in downtown and understands that it’s a marketing feature for WSU to have a great downtown,” Utzman said. “We have to work together to get these empty business buildings filled—this is a recruitment tool.”
Events-wise, Promote Pullman keeps itself busy with constant meetups and new experiences for a variety of interests.
“Street Beats,” for example, are weekly performances by local artists at different businesses, with common venues like Rico’s Public House and Pups & Cups Cafe.
Promote Pullman also hosts free movie nights at the Cordova Theater in collaboration with the Foursquare Church. There is usually one general-audience film and one kids film a month.
The association’s biggest event this month is a spring festival called “Blooms and Tunes” in honor of Earth Day. It features a slew of activities, including 10 musical performances, face painting, crafts for kids and a presentation by WSU’s Raptor Club.
It will take place from 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. on April 26 throughout downtown, which will be decorated in over 40 colorful umbrellas. More information on Blooms and Tunes and other events the association puts on can be found on Promote Pullman’s Instagram.
