With a prime location at the corner of Third and Main Streets in Jamestown, the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce also operates as a Downtown Jamestown Visitor Information Center. The space that houses our office is ideally positioned to welcome tourists and residents alike who may be seeking information about local attractions and businesses.

Some of the most common questions we get on a regular basis are, “where should we go for lunch?” and “what else is there to do around here?” We have scads of answers for these people!

For the lunch (or dinner) questions we can refer them to dozens of local restaurants based on what type of food they may want or what type of dining experience. At this time of year if they are looking for outdoor dining, we have plenty of places to offer, both in the city and in Celoron, Lakewood, and Bemus Point. Occasionally we are asked about local cuisine, and we are happy to recommend many great places for beef on weck and chicken wings.

When it comes to “what else is there to do” the answer is often long. Because of our location across the street from the Lucy-Desi Museum, most visitors are either aware of it or have already been there. We always encourage visitors to experience the National Comedy Center as well, and we enlighten them on the Roger Tory Peterson Institute and the Robert H. Jackson Center. For outdoor enthusiasts we recommend the Jamestown River Walk, Audubon Community Nature Center, Panama Rocks, and other local trails. For the wine and craft beer fans we tell them about Southern Tier Brewing Company, the Lake Erie Wine Trail, and Mazza 5 & 20. If they’re looking for scenic lake views and charming historic villages, we recommend a walk on the grounds at Chautauqua Institution or Lily Dale. If it’s lighthouses they’re interested in, we tell them about the Dunkirk and Barcelona lighthouses. For shopping, we have a wealth of locally owned boutiques, galleries, and specialty stores throughout Chautauqua County.

We have seen tourists from as far away as California and from many states from coast to coast. Chautauqua County is a sought-after place to be, whether vacationers are looking for interesting sights or just a relaxing week with a lakeside view. There’s a lot to offer here for residents and visitors alike.

The Chamber of Commerce can also consult with downtown businesses as part of its Pearl City Hospitality program. We can help your staff learn about the diverse tourist opportunities available in the Jamestown area. For more information contact Carrie Swanson at cswanson@chqchamber.org.

The Chamber’s downtown Visitor Information Center is operated in partnership with the Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau and the Gebbie Foundation. Our regular hours are 8am-4:30pm Monday through Friday, but we also open for limited weekend hours during downtown festivals or special events. If you’re new in town, just passing through, or have been here a while and are seeking some ways to entertain yourself this summer, stop at our office and investigate the wide variety of brochures, maps, and guides we have in order to help you find the best of what Chautauqua County has to offer.

REGISTER NOW FOR BRANDING WORKSHOP JULY 22

It’s not every day that you can get some solid business know-how from an expert, but sometimes the opportunities arise. The Chamber of Commerce is creating just such an opportunity for you this summer, as we host Travis Carlson for a Business Builder Workshop July 22. A Chautauqua County native, Travis is now an award-winning writer and filmmaker who worked for five years with the Buffalo Bills and Sabres as a cinematographer before co-founding Pan-American Film Division in Buffalo. Pan-Am partners with local and national businesses to help them communicate with their customers or other businesses. Their original work includes the one-shot feature film Mother’s Day, as well as dozens of short films, three of which earned screenings at the Cannes Film Festival SFC.

Pan American’s latest project is the book Mafia: Buffalo -vs- the Multiverse. It’s a true fantasy adventure that incorporates AI-developed images into the ultimate Buffalo Bill’s Mafia fan journey in a graphic novel style. A portion of book sale proceeds benefits the Pancho Packs initiative which provides school supplies to students in need.

This Business Builder Workshop will focus on Branding Through Storytelling and Images and promises to be an engaging session for all local businesspeople. It will be held Monday, July 22 from 1-3pm in the Key Auditorium at the SUNY Fredonia Science Center. There will be plenty of time for a question-and-answer session with Travis at the end of the event.

Anyone who wants to learn more about marketing their business is encouraged to attend this event. Chamber Business Builder Workshops are free for all to attend, but we do request advance registration for planning purposes. These workshops are designed to provide growth opportunities for local businesspeople as they work to navigate the challenges of operations, marketing, and learning about resources and emerging technologies that can help them work smarter, not harder. As with most Chamber events, there will be networking opportunities built into the occasion. Save the date now or register online through the Chamber’s web calendar at www.chautauquachamber.org.

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL FOR CHAMBER GOLF TOURNAMENT AUGUST 15

The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to return to Peek’n Peak Resort for a fabulous day of golf and camaraderie. Networking doesn’t get much better than on the golf course, and the pro-level course at Peek’n Peak is a golfer’s dream! Get your foursome together now and register at our Early Bird rate of $185 per person. After July 15th the price goes up to $195 per person. Your registration includes greens fees, cart, tee gift sponsored by the Basil Dealerships, lunch, and dinner. We begin the day with a shotgun at 11am. The total prize purse is $1,000, payable in ShopLocalCHQ Gift Cards.

You can find more information and register online now through the Chamber’s web calendar. Be sure to check out all the details, give us your full foursome, and add the golfer’s special Super Pack for each player.

New this year, we have a Tee Gift Sponsor! Many thanks to Basil Chevrolet for this generous sponsorship. Our Par Sponsors for the tournament are: A Automotive, Brooks-TLC Hospital System, Chautauqua Patrons Insurance Company, Community Bank, DFT Communications, Falconer Power Sports, Jamestown Container Company, Jamestown Mattress, Jamestown Plastics, Koester Associates, Lake Shore Savings Bank, National Grid, Nestle Purina, Northlake Development, Peek’n Peak, R & R Property Services & Landscaping, Shults Auto Group, Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union, and Westfield Nursery.