Caluso and Christmas among many initiatives and traders who invest

The snow on Wednesday also gave a touch of magic Tree and nativity scenes and great success for the skating rink

CALUSO

The snow that fell on Wednesday gave that touch of magic that was missing at Christmas of magic, the rich calendar of initiatives, made up of different moments, organized by the Pro loco, with the collaboration of the Municipality, the traders and the groups of the districts and hamlets . There are also many places to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of moments to live with serenity: a path that winds from the streets of the historic center, to the halls of the library, housed in the cloister of the former convent, passing through the Mazzini squares, where the Christmas tree and the nativity scene were set up, and Ubertini, the setting for the ice skating rink.

The volunteers of the Vivi la Biblioteca association have been busy since the beginning of December: creative workshops for children are held every Saturday morning, obviously with a Christmas theme, and the reading of fairy tales. Other volunteers take turns to bring a little joy to the elderly guests of the retirement home located in via Cesare Battisti. The Municipality, with the collaboration of the self-taxed merchants, has renewed the lights, which already shine in the streets of the center with various installations. In Piazza Ubertini the 4-meter-high fir welcomes residents and visitors showing the letters hanging from school children who participate in the Christmas under the tree competition. The awards are scheduled on the occasion of the feast of the Befana.

And the traders? They try to resist. The network is made up of about a hundred neighborhood shops, bars and restaurants, parapharmacy pharmacies (they have risen to five), hairdressers and beauticians (they have reached 11) in addition to three medium-sized shopping centers, a new discount in arrival, seven farms specialized in the production and sale of Erbaluce wines and honey, two fitness centers and a historic company for the production and sale of fabrics and curtains. But the data at the end of 2021 reveal all the difficulties of a sector that has known better times: 16 shops have gone out of business in the last three years: the litmus test of this trend is the central Via Bettoja: six shutters lowered, compared to about twenty open. Via Roma and Piazza Ubertini resist, while Corso Torino witnesses a turnover of shops with an almost stable balance. Without forgetting that the local Ascom section had closed in 2017, while three years later the experience of Caluso to live, the associated business body that united the traders of the historic center, ended. However, optimism prevails precisely from some workers.

Claudia Alesina, owner of the shop of underwear and sewing in via Bettoia, is by nature. She is also one of those who invested in doubling her shop. “I was pleased to see that people started shopping in November already. While in this period the initiatives of the Pro loco certainly act as a driving force by attracting people from neighboring countries ». For Federico Chirico, owner of the Corridor, a shop of trendy footwear, bags and accessories «you make well thought out purchases. Useful gifts ». On the Christmas program he has a suggestion: “I would have set up the skating rink in the Spurgazzi park, a wonderful and undervalued context, while the square would have remained free for parking”. Marcella Simeone, owner of the Bistrot believes in the potential of the City of Wine, «otherwise I would not have made such a large investment. For Christmas I created panettone al passito di Caluso which are true works of art after working with chef Alessandro Comaschi and my staff ». The only voice out of the chorus is that of Raffaele Alberto, of the historic Lele bar: «In my opinion we are losing our luster. New ideas and initiatives are needed to enhance Caluso. Litmus test was the fair of San Nicola, few people and no news ». Data that does not worry Roberto Podio, councilor for Commerce, who observes: «Among the closures, some are linked to the retirement of the owners, while there have been new interesting activities that have taken over from the closed shops. The redevelopment project of the historic center with the new furnishings has undoubtedly acted as an incentive ».