Cruise-In Car Show draws crowds to the Ohio Valley

ST. Clairsville, Ohio (WTRF) — An event that promotes local small businesses and showcases both new and antique cars was held today in one local city.

7News reporter Jake McGlumphy was in St. Clairsville, Ohio, to share how the city is hosting family-friendly events while also encouraging people to shop locally.  

Whether you’re a motorhead or just a simple shopaholic, downtown St. Clairsville was the place to be on Sunday.

The St. Clairsville Main Street Small Business Association hosted its annual Cruise-In Car Show on Sunday right in the heart of the city.

The car show is non-competitive, and one participant, Carl Lehman, says it helps promote the beauty of the downtown area and the local businesses in it.  

It’s a pleasant place to be, and yeah, downtown St Clairsville is such a picturesque little town. There are a lot of little shops here that are nice and a few restaurants here, a new one is going to be opening. And yeah, so it’s just your small-town atmosphere that makes it fun.”

Carl Lehman – Car Cruiser, Owner of a 1978 Cadillac Eldorado

The Melting Pot Marketplace is one of several small businesses on Main Street that features various local artists and vendors.

With antique items and cars all in one place, the owner and operator of the store, Lisa Amos, says the event is the best of both worlds. 

One of our vendors, she’s got her Lotus Esprit over here. She’s one from St. C Makery. So, she’s in the store, and she’s also into antique cars or cool cars. It’s nostalgic. You’re like, oh, I remember that when I was a kid, or my grandma had that in my store, and then you come out here, and I’m like, oh, that looks like my grandpa’s old car.”

Lisa Amos – Owner/Operator, Melting Pot Marketplace

She says showcasing the downtown area with something as simple as a car show helps people realize that there are plenty of unique businesses right here in the Ohio Valley. 

Here, you don’t have to go to a big city, you can come here and get really cool clothes or you don’t have to drive all the way to Columbus or Pittsburgh or Cleveland. We’ve got little antique shops, you know, in downtown St. Clairsville. And it’s not just St. Clairsville, there’s little shops all over Belmont County.”

Lisa Amos – Owner/Operator, Melting Pot Marketplace Antique Store

Lehman says that although many people come to see all the fancy cars, it also puts them right in front of all the local businesses.  

The businesses just need more foot traffic. There need to be more people down here to support the local businesses.”

Carl Lehman – Car Cruiser, Owner of a 1978 Cadillac Eldorado

As engines roared and items got pulled off the shelves , Amos had one message for everyone: 

Support your local businesses, support your community. If you like the shops, you know we can’t survive without you coming out and supporting us.”

Lisa Amos – Owner/Operator, Melting Pot Marketplace Antique Store