Pokemon Go 'good for the town'

Glenn Wilson, owner of CanadaT.com in Newmarket, who says the Pokemon Go craze is "kinda cool," Tuesday, July 26, 2016. (Daniel McKenzie/Toronto Sun)

NEWMARKET - A pellet gun attack hasn’t stopped Pokemon Go players from chasing creatures all over downtown Newmarket — and local businesses don’t seem to mind one bit.

Tim Sinyard, co-owner of Nutmeg Bakeshop on Main St. S., says there’s been an incredible jump in street traffic since the popular app came out.

“Over the past three weeks or so … even 10 p.m. or 11 p.m., there’s lots of people around,” he said Tuesday.

Sinyard said the streets had been pretty empty in the evenings before Pokemon Go and he doesn’t mind players working up an appetite while they hunt.

“I think it’s good for the town … people are out around, and they get hungry and want snacks … it’s good for business,” he said.

The bump in business could have ended last Saturday evening when a 29-year-old woman was arrested after allegedly using a pellet gun to shoot at Pokemon Go players from a rooftop near Sinyard’s shop. The woman was charged with two weapon-related offences and yet, Pokemon Go players play on.

Glenn Wilson owns a custom T-shirt shop called CanadaT.com that’s also on Main St. S. near where the shooting took place. He said he doesn’t understand why some have such a problem with people running around with their phones chasing fictional creatures.

“What a great game. It gets people out to walk around and get physical exercise,” he said. “It’s the anti-video game video game.”

Wilson said he thinks some people get concerned when they see groups of kids hanging around, but adds “it’s not criminal activity. It’s just playing a game.”

While he acknowledges the danger of looking at a screen while walking around public places, Wilson says it’s more about having common sense.

“I think that’s just maturity and you have to advise your children to obviously be aware of your surroundings,” he said. “But do we, as parents, not tell our kids to go outside and socialize? And you’re always looking for commonality amongst kids … to connect with other friends on the street.

“Here you’ve got a game that does exactly that … I think it’s kinda cool.”