Old Town store panhandles to curb transient harassment

An Old Town business owner decided to do some panhandling of her own to combat aggressive homeless behavior in front of her store.

Amy Satterfield, owner of Wadoo Gifts, 200 S. College Ave., Unit 150, said transient activity has been an issue for the store since she moved to the corner of Oak Street and College Avenue four years ago.

The colorful business, which features jewelry, furniture, artwork and more, depends on passersby and tourists. But this summer, Satterfield has noticed more potential customers crossing the street to avoid heckling by transient and homeless individuals than ever before.

While she’s not opposed to panhandling, the Old Town business owner has seen aggressive panhandlers in front of her store yell at those who wouldn’t give them money, catcall women and physically pick up teenagers who walked by.

“That pretty much kills my business,” she said. “The only reason negative behaviors are happening is because they’re working.”

One Friday in June, Satterfield’s business decreased 80 percent, a dip she attributes to negative transient behaviors.

“I was heartbroken,” she said. “I can’t tell you how frustrating that is. It’s one thing to lose business when it’s your own fault. It’s another thing to lose business when it’s something out of your control.”

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Satterfield decided to give panhandling a try, this time for local charities helping the homeless and hungry.

She put out a sign encouraging passersby to donate to the Food Bank for Larimer County, Homeless Gear and the Sister Mary Alice Murphy Center for Hope.

“A donation box is just inside Wadoo’s front door. Thank you for making a difference. And thanks for not giving money to individuals in front of the store,” the sign read.

Things changed almost instantaneously.

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Satterfield said it was “happily ever after” for three weeks. Wadoo’s donation bucket collected up to $50 a week for the charities and the store’s business improved dramatically.

But last week, a homeless man ripped her sign off a piece of furniture and threw it in the trash.

She put a new sign up in the window.

Satterfield said a man retaliated by standing in front of her store yelling obscenities at passersby and screaming “Don’t go in that store. B------ run that store.”

Homeless Gear Executive Director David Rout said he was concerned to hear about the backlash Wadoo received for what he saw as an exercise of free speech that balanced both Satterfield’s concerns for her business and her desire to help those in need.

“It is one thing to disagree with the premise of Amy’s sign,” he said in an email to the Coloradoan. “It is an entirely different thing to cite that disagreement as an excuse to harass customers and employees, incite violence and/or create an atmosphere of fear in front of Amy’s store. If people want to take issue with what Amy has done, there are far more appropriate ways to do it.”

As the behavior escalated, Satterfield removed her sign. A donation bucket still sits on her counter, a few dollars and coins rattling around inside.

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Now she’s hoping more businesses will join her effort and post similar signs. To protect her patrons and business, Satterfield said she won’t hang her sign again until more Old Town businesses join her.

Satterfield shared her story at a Tuesday workshop for businesses on how to respond to disruptive behaviors. She said there were “a lot of nodding heads,” but it’s too soon to tell if others will sign on.

Those interested in joining the effort should email amy@wadoofurniture.com to receive a sign.

“I think we all need to pull together on this,” she said. “This is a respectful way to deal with the situation that continues to help.”

Follow Sarah Jane Kyle on Twitter @sarahjanekyle or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/reportersarahjane.