HUNTINGTON -- While the city plans to expand wireless Internet capabilities to downtown Huntington along 3rd and 4th avenues, several downtown businesses already provide it to their customers.
Within the next two weeks, the city of Huntington will launch a 41-camera video surveillance system at three locations -- Harris Riverfront Park, Big Sandy Superstore Arena and the municipal parking garage at the corner of 8th Street and 3rd Avenue. While the main priority of the system is to deter crime in the downtown, it is also is capable of providing wireless Internet service to parts of the downtown.
Nathan Myers, owner of Pita Pit on 4th Avenue, said he's happy to see the city embrace technology and work to bring more foot traffic downtown.
"Any steps to improve getting more people into the downtown area is a good thing," Myers said. "If we can generate the type of energy we used to have (in the downtown), it can only be beneficial in the long run. It's good to see the city adapting."
Myers has offered free Internet since the eatery opened last March. Before opening, Myers said, he saw more emphasis being placed on Wi-Fi technologies and in turn decided to give customers free access, too.
Myers said in a society dependent on technology and the Internet, it's a natural progression for more Huntington businesses to offer wireless Internet technology.
"As society develops, those who want to survive have to adapt," Myers said. "It's all about providing a customer-oriented environment and providing everything to the customers to make their dining experience more pleasurable."
David Stuart, owner of Schlotzsky's Deli on 4th Avenue, said he completed installation of Wi-Fi in his restaurant on Friday. Schlotzsky's corporate headquarters has pushed its franchise owners to install Wi-Fi since 2001, Stuart said, and he finally decided to do so.
"If I don't have wireless Internet and the competition does, my customers will go there," Stuart said. "I'm behind the times. I should've done this years ago."
A main reason Stuart did not install the system sooner, he said, was the high price tag formerly associated with Wi-Fi systems. In 2001, Stuart said setting up a wireless Internet system cost about $5,000. But now, Stuart said he installed the system himself for about $100.
"When we realized how expensive it is to offer wireless Internet in the restaurant and how beneficial it would be for us and our customers, we had to do it," he said. "Times have changed. There are things that were important five, 10, 20 years ago that are no longer important. Consumer evidence has shown people place a lot of importance on being able to go anywhere and access wireless Internet."
Stuart said he believes the installation will be a major improvement for his restaurant and be well received by his customers. He expects more business people and college kids on break to bring their laptops to the sandwich shop.
Myers said he's seen a mix of customers from college students to businessmen using the restaurant's Internet. As people began bringing their laptops to the restaurant, he was surprised to see more business people using the free wireless Internet.
Many times, businessmen and women will order their food, set up their laptop, sign on to the Internet and check e-mails or work while they eat, he said. College students also have used the restaurant as a late-night study area.
As part of the city's Old Main Corridor project, Wi-Fi access will eventually be available to outdoor, public spaces such as Pullman Square and a soon-to-be-built plaza area in front of the Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center. The goal is to provide Wi-Fi service to all of 3rd and 4th avenues between Hal Greer Boulevard and 6th Street.
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