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local Friday 18 November 2022

Business owners united to reinvent Downtown Oranjestad

Downtown Food & Art Festival will take place in Weststraat

ORANJESTAD – Last Wednesday the
Reinvented Downtown project was
launched, initiated by Impact Hub
Aruba together with various busi-
ness owners in the area of West-
straat who share a single goal, to
give life back to the area of Down-
town Oranjestad.

Mrs. Mary-Ann Falconi-Rasmijn,
General Manager of Impact Hub
Aruba explained that Impact Hub
as an incubator organization and
coworking space firmly believes
in projects to benefit the business
community, to promote economic
development and most impor-
tantly to benefit our local com-
munity. Recently they formed a
commission of building owners in
Weststraat to reinvest in their prop-
erties and give a new experience
to attract commerce and housing
back to the area.

Reinvented Downtown
Regarding the project “Downtown
Reinventa” – Reinvented Down-
town – the commission is launching
a Downtown Food & Art Festival on
the 30th of November where the
community can come enjoy art
exhibitions and mural art starting
at 3pm. From 6-11pm there will be as the commitment of all those ularly business owners in the area:
selling of crafts, pop-up stores, lo- involved to continue with the col- Mr. Richard Eman, Mr. Alberto Per- The curator of the Downtown Food
cal cuisine and food trucks. There laboration. Downtown Oranjestad ret, Mr. Milton Harms, Mr. Irwin Per- & Art Festival is Mr. Ricado “Cado”
will be entertainment for kids by consists of many more areas than ret, Mr. Jaime Gomez, Mr. Dinesh De Lannoy, who is in charge of in-
Disney Recreation. There will also just Weststraat and Schoener- Mahtani, Mr. Krish Mahtani, Mr. vestigating the history of Paarden-
be entertainment by DJ Calero, haven, each one with its own iden- Jean Carlos Espinal, Mr. Demis Illes, baai and Playa, as well as leading
Rumba Caribeña Gaita y Show, tity. However, the commission took Mr. Paul Gielen, Mr. Teddy Bouron- the artistic aspect of the project
and Grupo di Betico. At exactly the area of Schoenerhaven, West- cle, Mr. Mark Benson Denz and Mr. and the concepts of each mural
8.50pm there will be a fireworks straat and Werfstraat as the areas Richard Lacle and everyone who creation, maintaining the essence
show to celebrate the beginning to start with a pilot project. The pri- contributed one way or the other. of the culture and history of the
of a new era for Downtown Oran- mordial intention is that other own- She also thanked sponsors Aruba area.
jestad. ers in other areas of Oranjestad Tourism Authority, Harbourwalk,
can continue with the framework Elite Productions, Romar Trading, President of the Association Wel-
Mrs. Falconi-Rasmijn said that the and apply this so that other areas PANA, Aruba Ports Authority, Sher- come Plaza, Mrs. Elizabeth Gua-
commission is aware that this is a can be reinvented. win Williams, Disney Recreation nipa gave a speech sharing their
long-term project and will demand and Events. experience as owners of the kiosks
dedication and consistency to Mrs. Falconi-Rasmijn thanks all at Welcome Plaza and the ambi-
achieve the common vision as well stakeholders, partners and partic- Mrs. Ronella Croes, CEO of Aruba tion to attract local consumers.
Tourism Authority was also pres- Mrs. Guanipa also explained their
ent during the press conference desire to receive the flow of tourists
as one of the main sponsors, and from the High Rise area to come
elaborated on ATA’s vision for the closer to Oranjestad to know the
experience that is offered to the beauty that Oranjestad has to of-
cruise tourist who is searching for fer. Mrs. Guanipa said she is glad
an authentic experience com- to be part of this initiative and dur-
bined with culture, history and our ing next week, they will unveil more
people. This project is focused pre- about their participation.
cisely on the cruise area to make
it more attractive and create add- Finalizing, Mrs. Falconi-Rasmijn in-
ed value for the cruise tourist. Mrs. vited the community of Aruba
Croes elaborated on similar events to meet a new Weststraat on the
that were organized in the past 30th of November in a family at-
headed by ATA that generated a mosphere and to enjoy our local
unique experience for Oranjestad, groups as well as a beautiful fire-
and it is expected that Downtown works show.q
Food & Art Festival will achieve the
same results.