The annual hunt for seasonal employees is on in downtown Traverse City, though shop owners say this year is shaping up to be more challenging than most. The Ticker queried several Front Street retailers and restaurants about the hiring scene; virtually all say applications are down versus last year at this time, with a few dynamics likely at play.

First – for the second year in a row – a large employer has opened its doors in the spring. Last year it was The Franklin at the corner of Front and Cass. This year, Cherry Republic completed a major renovation and expansion over the winter of its Traverse City location and tripled its summer workforce to 70.

Downtown retailers are also competing amidst labor shortages across several industries, including construction, healthcare, and technology -- where boosted pay and benefits await potential new hires. 

Doug Murdick’s Fudge, Green House Café, Nifty Things and American Spoon Foods are just a few of the employers posting "Help Wanted" signs in windows.

Gift retailer Nifty Things has been looking for staff for the last month -- and hasn't found it yet, says Store Manager Jane Whiting.

“[Hiring] is definitely different this year,” Whiting tells The Ticker. “A lot are looking and pulling from the same pool.” The store is also short two full-time employees who took new jobs in recent months, adding to the pressure to get seasonal hires lined up. 

“So [the hiring situation] feels more intense,” she says.

Starting in May, the store typically extends its Friday and Saturday hours later into the evening but due to the staffing situation will have to limit that, she says. The retailer pays above minimum wage – $10 an hour – but in addition to fewer applicants is seeing fewer people willing to work prime retail summer hours – specifically evenings and Saturdays, Whiting notes.

For an employer like the Park Place Hotel, with numerous positions across multiple departments, hiring can be even more challenging. General Manager Amy Parker tells The Ticker the candidate pool is not what it used to be.

“Although we are seeing applications come in, the quality and quantity are not the same,” she says.

Gearing up for its second summer, The Franklin’s crew isn’t finalized yet but Proprietor Paul Danielson is optimistic that workers will come.

“We are seeing a downtick [in employment applications], but nothing really bad yet,” says Danielson. “Colleges get out pretty soon and we usually get an influx of applications at that point. If we don't, it’s perhaps an issue." Danielson also says the restaurant is seeing good “return rates” from last summer’s staff, something at least one other downtown retailer is also thankful for. 

Liz Lancashire, store manager of Fustini’s, says staffing is in good shape – but that is largely due to returning staff, not new hires.

“Typically when we run an ad, we get 30 to 40 applications,” says Traverse City store manager Liz Lancashire. “This year we maybe got 10.”

At least one downtown employer has gotten creative to attract more workers: It pays its current employees to find new ones.

“We have been able to hire our current needs at Park Street by using a referral program for our employees to recommend people,” says Margaret Alexander, director of brand essence at Grand Traverse Pie. “If they are hired and are both in good standing, a fee will be paid to the referrer.”

Pictured: Jane Whiting, store manager of Nifty Things in downtown Traverse City