New event brings Thunder by the Bay to Southside Village

Eddie Morton, owner of Morton’s Gourmet Market, reached out to Thunder by the Bay organizer Lucy Nicandri four years ago. He told her he was interested in expanding the event to the Southside Village area in some form — and got turned down.

Since then, Nicandri said, the four-day motorcycle festival has grown significantly. The increasing number of visitors who arrived Friday expressed an interest in an alternative to the $100-a-ticket kickoff party, traditionally the only event scheduled for that night.

And so, when brainstorming possibilities for another event, Nicandri thought of Morton. That’s why, on Jan. 8, the “Hogs on Hillview” block party will be held in Southside Village, a new Friday night feature with live music, food vendors and a bike show.

“They’re very excited,” Nicandri said. “There’s a lot of positive feedback from the area.”

Last week, City Commissioner Susan Chapman questioned the impact the event would have on the neighborhood, citing concern she received from one constituent in the area. This year, some Palm Avenue merchants have stated Thunder by the Bay harms their business. The Southside Village event would require a street closure in the 1800 and 1900 blocks of Hillview Street from 2 p.m. until midnight on Jan. 8.

According to city staff, 25 of the 29 businesses affected by the proposed closure have formally approved of the event. Another three have verbally indicated they approve of the event; just one business has responded with a formal “no.”

Already, that means the event has eclipsed the 66% minimum approval rate from affected businesses. Chris Wagner, president of the Southside Village Business Association, said businesses in the area were excited to help Thunder by the Bay beneficiary Suncoast Charities for Children.

“We think it’s important that we continue to be a destination site for different nonprofit efforts and charities and concerts and the whole shebang,” Wagner said.

Both Wagner and Morton agreed the influx of visitors from the event could also be a boon for area merchants.

“We get people who have never been to the area who get to see the restaurants and the retail shops that are here,” Morton said. “We’re a hidden area sometimes, where if you’re not a local shopper, you might not know what is here.”