2014 July PASO Magazine

BUSINESS
The Voice of the Visitor Center
By Karyl Lammers
Executive Director
Visitor Center
In spite of the
mess of renovation
here at the Paso
Robles Visitor Center, the season
is upon us. Phones are ringing,
e-mails are flying and the door is
in full swing. Everyone wants to
stay and play in our town from all
over the world. We get calls and
e-mails requesting visitor information
every day. The wines bring
the majority of visitors to town, but
our downtown keeps them longer
and keeps them coming back.
We live, work, shop and play
here in Paso Robles. We are so
content we forget how special our
town really is and how much we
have in our own back yard. Here
at the Visitor Center we are reminded
everyday about the special
restaurants, tasting rooms, boutiques,
gift shops, coffee houses,
ice cream stores, candy shops,
cheese stores, bakeries, antiques
stores, jewelry stores, shoe shops,
and everything in between just in
our downtown, and all within
walking distance of each other
and our city park.
One of the most unique
things about Paso Robles
Downtown is the majority of
shops are independently owned.
The layout of our downtown is
one of the biggest visitor attractions
we have. Most towns have
malls or streets lined with strip
malls with no ambiance. We
sit here in “Mayberry” surrounded
by the best of everything!
Visitors are so happy and excited
to be here, it is contagious. Everyone
falls in love with Paso Robles
on their first visit. The comments
we get include: “Your air is so clean,
it’s easy to breathe and when it is
hot it is not humid like so much
of the rest of the country.” – “Your
town is not crowded, it’s small,
beautiful with all the old buildings
around the park, and you have the
friendliest people we have met in
our travels”...Now, you know why
I tell everyone, “I have the best
job in town.” I deal with happy
people who want to eat, drink and
be merry, they just need directions.
Progress is being made on the remodel.
The Visitor Center is located with
the Chamber of Commerce at 1225
Park Street in downtown. We are
open seven days a week from April
thru October. Our hours are 8:30
a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday
and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday
and Sunday. We serve as reception
for the Chamber and greet everyone
who walks in the front door.
Wendy McBane and I share the
days and hours. Wendy has been in
Paso Robles for several years, she
was associated with Park Cinemas
before coming to the Visitor
Center. She is very knowledgeable
about wines, wineries and businesses
in town. She is always learning and
keeps up with events to better serve
our visitors and the community.
She is a great asset to us.
I have been with the Chamber
for 15 years. I started out at
the Amtrak Welcome Center
in 1999 and came to the
Chamber Office when the depot
was changed. I have been
working the front counter
and watching the town
grow and change since then.
I love it and love sharing it!
We are finishing Phase I of the
renovations here in the Visitor
Center. Carmel and Naccasha,
LLP purchased our lights for us,
Thank you Jon Ansolabehere.
They are on back-order, so we are
anxiously waiting for that magic
touch. Paint is still flowing, oak
cupboards are being transformed
into a dark color to match the trim
and floors. Floors are just about
done, Western Janitorial donated
the perfect dust mop for our floors
(yes, we get excited over a dust
mop, particularly when it works
like a charm...Thanks Linda!).
Visitors bring so many great
stories to us, stay tuned, we’re going
to share them with you!
Revive Massage Therapy
www.revivemassage.net
935 Riverside Ave - Ste. 2 Paso Robles
805.227.0138
John Young, CMT
July 2014, Paso Robles Magazine 55