Arts, Beats & Eats draws complaints, cheers at city meeting

This year's Ford Arts, Beats & Eats festival was one of the biggest and most successful in the event's long history. But not everyone is happy with Royal Oak's huge Labor Day party.

"It literally cuts off our business," says Anne Kuffler, who shuts down her art gallery located on Main Street over the four-day holiday weekend. "There's no way of controlling the crowds."

Kuffler and other area business owners have even started a petition to shut down the party. But it doesn't look like Arts, Beats & Eats is going anywhere. At least for the next three years. Over 390,000 people attended this year's festival, according to promoter Jon Witz. That's the largest turnout since the it started charging admission in 2010.

Opponents, however, showed up at a Royal Oak City Commission meeting Monday. "The music was deafening," said one citizen. "Far louder than necessary. These bands aren't performing in Yankee Stadium."

Not all business owners agree with Kuffler. Wendy Marcero, who works at Eye Candy along Main St., says she sees business pick up. "It brings so many more people out." Supporters at the meeting highlighted the positive light it sheds on Royal Oak.

Witz says he'll willing to work with unhappy residents to possibly move some stages away from residential areas and keep a tighter watch on music cutoff times.