TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. () — More than 30 benches pointing Tybee’s visitors to local businesses may be taken by the city.
The benches belong to Devivo Marketing, operated by Charissa Murray and her family. Their business approach involves local enterprises purchasing advertising space on benches along Highway 80 and various other locations on the island.
“They keep Tybee quirky,” said Murray.
Murray told she was contacted by the city with their intentions to shut down the operation.
“They notified us they’d like to clean up the clutter and make Tybee beautiful again,” she said.
In a statement on Facebook, the city mentioned, “The City of Tybee Island has created plans for a new wayfinding system aimed at strengthening our brand, improving navigation, and enhancing our streetscape’s aesthetics. This will take the place of the current mismatched, confusing sign system that presently clutters our roadways and detracts from Tybee’s character.”
The bench business has been in practice for around 50 years, and Murray’s family took over the bench business 20 years ago.
During 2010 rezoning, the benches were “grandfathered into their existing locations with approval from city council.
Now their existence is being challenged by the city for a variety of reasons.
Also in the statement, the city said in part “there is no clear agreement authorizing their placement on public property.”
The statement continues, “The City strictly enforces sign standards for private property owners, regularly removing unpermitted signs from public property. Allowing a single private company to maintain long-term advertising on public land raises fairness concerns and is inconsistent with how we treat other businesses.”
The rest of the post can be found on the City of Tybee Island’s Facebook.
Murray said the benches are beloved by locals, visitors and businesses, exponentially helping their sales.
“All the businesses love them. They all like to have their business and location on display. A lot of them are pointing at locations.”
There is also the personal attachment the Murray family has to their operation. Murray said this is their way of serving the community.
“We have been very big part of the community for all of this time. We give back. We donate our time. I mean, everything. I just don’t understand.”
Not only that, she said their livelihood is at stake too if the benches are removed.
“Well, I mean, it’s a significant blow for a business already 40% down, like most Tybee Island businesses right now. Tourism is low, and the first expense cut when budgeting is marketing. We’ve managed that. That’s fine, but enduring a massive setback like this could bankrupt my family’s business.”
Murray said the benches would be removed within the year to allow for contract expirations if the city follows through with their plans.
