COLUMBIA, MO. -- More than 20 Downtown Columbia business owners have signed a petition that said KRCG’s Summerfest concert series has negative effects on their businesses.

The upset business owners said moving the event to a Friday night drives their customers away.

Blue Note Owner and Summerfest Organizer Richard King disagrees with the petition before the Columbia City Council that complains about outdoor concerts on weekend nights, particularly, Summerfest on Friday nights.  The petition said more than 20 Downtown Columbia business owners lost customers because of an outdoor Blue Note concert last year.

King said, “I think what we offer here and the amount of people that we will bring downtown on a Friday night, no matter what night it is, I think is great for downtown.”

Summerfest Concerts attract up to 5,000 people.  Columbia City Council Members approved street closures on Ninth Street for this year’s Summerfest shows.

Summerfest Concerts usually get over around 11 p.m.  King said most of the people don’t stay on Ninth Street when the music stops.  He said they go throughout the entire downtown area and spend their money.

Seth Reynolds owns The Buzz Barbershop near Ninth Street and said Summerfest interrupts his business before the music starts.

Reynolds said, “Mainly because of all of the setting up and all of the stuff that goes on throughout the day.  People just kind of avoid the area so they don’t have to try to mess with it.”

This year’s concerts are being held on Thursday and Friday nights.  Last year, they were held on Wednesdays.  King said he can only book performers based on their schedules.

Columbia City Council Members have not said whether they will take any action on the Summerfest petition.