Downtown Milford, Inc. wants Milfordians to be able to see everything downtown has to offer without having to get there before the banks close.
This Thursday, Sept. 11, Downtown Milford, Inc. will kick off “Alive After 5,” a weekly event that looks to make downtown businesses more accessible to people who don’t usually have a chance to see them open on a weeknight.
“We’re really trying to promote the idea of downtown as the cultural center of the community,” DMI Executive Director Beth Durham said. “We want people to come out and see what we have to offer.”
Every Thursday for the next 15 weeks, more than a dozen downtown businesses will stay open until at least 7 p.m., many with special products or deals for the evening.
“We don’t want people to have to rush to downtown at the end of the day to get to the stores before they close,” said Cathy Black, of That Boutique.
Some businesses, including That Boutique, will offer discounts and special offers for customers who visit during the special hours, even if they’d normally be open until 7 p.m. anyway.
“For the first night, since it’s the anniversary of 9/11, any fashion or accessory that’s red, white and blue will be 30 percent off,” said Cathy Black, of That Boutique. “We’re going to have other specials in different weeks.”
The idea was first suggested at a recent DMI merchant meeting, and, according to Durham, “just took off from there.”
“Just having more people out could bring in more customers everywhere,” said Chuck Stanko, co-owner of Dolce Bakery.
Dolce is already open evenings, but Stanko said he plans to offer new coffee blends and pastry specials for Alive After 5 nights.
Durham said she hopes to involve the farmers market as well, with special displays of seasonal items – for instance, pumpkins near Halloween. An arts-and-crafts booth is in the works as well.
“We know – we’ve heard over and over – that people who shop downtown are looking for unique merchandise,” Durham said. “We want Alive After 5 to have a focus on that.”
Participating businesses include restaurants, retail stores and specialty shops. Georgia House, Dolce, the Lady Bug Shop, the Riverside Antique Mall, Lou’s Bootery, That Boutique, The Kid In Me, Angelucci Fine Woodworking & Stained Glass Studios, Smith & Co., Three Little Peppers, the Mispillion Art League and more have signed up – including one, Minor Bird Interiors, that hasn’t even opened its doors yet.
“We’ve gotten a really good response,” Durham said.
DMI is hoping to build on the success of the Holiday Stroll, its annual December event where businesses stay open late to offer refreshments and entertainment to passers-by. The Stroll has brought thousands of people to Walnut Street over the last two years.
“It’s definitely a smaller version of the Holiday Stroll, and I hope just as successful,” Durham said.
“I’m hoping it’s going to make a tremendous difference,” Black said. “We really do need to encourage people to come downtown and support the businesses here.”
Durham said if the extended hours bring more shoppers in, that could help out the business community in general, by showing how much support downtown businesses can expect from the community.
“If it strengthens these businesses, it’ll be a good recruiting tool to bring new businesses to town,” she said.
Any business interested in participating should contact the DMI office at 839-1180.
Milford, Del. —
