COLUMBUS — The filming in Columbus of "Public Enemies" is an exciting start to the film industry tax incentives that began at the beginning of the year and has shown to be a success in Wisconsin, according to Wisconsin Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton.

"I came here to get a first-hand look at the filming and the excitement," Lawton said, who visited Columbus on Thursday. "I also wanted to see how it impacted the community."

"Public Enemies" shot in Columbus on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. "Public Enemies" is a Michael Mann-directed film about the life of notorious bank robber Dillinger, which will star Johnny Depp.

Lawton greeted the crew of "Public Enemies" in Columbus on Thursday and visited with Mann.

"I learned that the mayor, police chief, shop owners and everyone have worked hard to assure success of the movie," Lawton said.

Lawton also visited local businesses in the area.

Lawton said that the owner of Caldwell Lumber said he was greatly benefiting from the movie being shot in Columbus.

"With the housing crisis for a lumber company to be doing well that is wonderful," Lawton said.

Culver's Restaurant told her that they had their best business ever, Lawton said. And the Redbud Bakery, who were open only for cast and crew during the filming, said they were having landmark business as well.

"It's also exciting how much the filmmakers appreciated Columbus," Lawton said. "Columbus is a rare beauty. There are very few communities who have maintained the heredity of their downtown as Columbus has done."

Not all businesses found success through the filming.

For April Buske, owner of the Pizza Shak at 141 N. Ludington St. in downtown Columbus, the experience was frustrating. The store remained open during the 10 days of preparation and filming, but at a cost — business was dead. At 1 p.m. Thursday, the store had one order, when usually it fills five to six.

Buske is glad to see the filming completed, she said.

"Hopefully, the business picks back up," she said.

Marty Meyers, manager of the pizza restaurant, said the store stopped attempting to deliver pizzas because of the congestion and unpredictable barricades around town.

"They're hurting us bad," he said. "We're suffering right now."

Business at Sharrow Drugs at 100 S Ludington St. was complicated, but not really hurt, by the filming, according to Dawn Huber, a pharmacy technician. Store employees made arrangements to meet customers needing to purchase medications in the rear parking lot, or even deliver the prescriptions to their homes.

"It was a little stressful," she admitted. "It's been a little inconvenient."

She hopes the out-of-town customers visiting to watch the filming will remember the store.

"Hopefully they'll be back," Huber said.

Lawton said she expects that Columbus will become a tourist destination.

"There are tourists here now," Lawton said. "Many more may flock here after the movie is released."

Lawton said she does not believe the true economic benefit of the project can be determined at this time. However a press release issued by her office said the making of the movie will bring $20 million to the state.

Lawton said that she would like to see a "Public Enemies" trail developed for tourists to all the different sites where the movie is filmed.

"We are excited that such a big film will lift us in the view of the film industry," Lawton said.

However she said she is aware that smaller Independent movies will be more commonly shot in the state.

Lawton said that filmmakers have not announced how many communities will be used to make the movie. She said she has heard that they will be in Oshkosh, at the State Capital in Madison and at a location in the northern part of the state.

"They scouted many locations," Lawton said. "I'm delighted that Columbus was number one on their list."

 In 2005-06 Lawton led development of the film industry tax incentives that resulted in NBC Universal's decision to bring "Public Enemies" to the state.

tpederson@capitalnewspapers.com

Shannon Green contributed to this story.