Fredericton businesses hope to boom by luring Pokemon Go players

The Fredericton Region Museum was one of the first to jump on the Pokemon Go craze in the city's downtown but it's not alone in seizing an opportunity since the release of the popular mobile game.

When staff noticed more people wandering around the Historic Garrison District staring at their cellphones, they saw their chance to maybe introduce them to the museum.

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The mobile app, based off Nintendo characters, introduces the virtual creatures often around historical and cultural landmarks.

Players are often spotted around the pokestops in Officer's Square, day and night, trying to catch them all.

Ruth Murgatroyd, the executive director of the museum, has three kids at home who play Pokemon Go.

She brought the staff together to brainstorm ideas.

Charging stations

"We decided that apparently the game is really hard on the battery, it drains your battery fast so we set up charging stations in the museums," she said.

Paige Powell, the community engagement officer at the Fredericton Region Museum, also plays Pokemon Go.

"The square has three different pokestops in it so this is probably the busiest area in Fredericton for the game so having that charging station available for people is a really great idea," Powell said.

The museum offers a 50 per cent discount to Pokemon players, as well as charging stations on the balconies where a GPS signal is easier to receive.

The Fredericton Public Library is another downtown "pokespot" that is attempting to attract more people inside, by offering players freezies and outlets to charge phones.

Erin Smith, a reference librarian, said there would be a display in the young adult and youth section to add to the Pokemon paintings on their windows.

"The library is free so anybody can come in," Smith said.

"I do know that we've had people come in looking to charge their phones because Pokemon Go does drain your battery pretty quickly so we do have charging ports here."

Pokemon panini

Meanwhile, downtown restaurants are attempting to cash in on some of the increased walking traffic generated by Pokemon Go.

There is a pokestop right by Moco Downtown.

That makes the downtown restaurant a high traffic area for players as they walk to and from Officers Square.

"We originally put up a sign before Pokemon Go was even released in Canada and it actually got quite a bit of positive feedback and comments on it so I think we will do a little more poke stuff in the future," said co-owner Shawna Foster.

Foster has already suggested the chef at Moco Downtown come up with a few Pokemon-themed meals for the future.

"I suggested to the chef that we put on a 'poke panini' and try and get some players in," she said.

The restaurant is targeting Pokemon Go players on social media to lure them in.

"I think it's just the start of it. But I do think we are going to see quite a bit more traffic," she said.

"People are getting out of their houses, they're walking around, they're socializing and they're going to want to get a bite to eat or a drink and they're going to want to talk about it so I think it's a great thing."