July 30, 2021
By: Dwayne Page
Downtown has become a busier place in recent years with the addition of several new retail stores and while business has been good many merchants are hoping to expand their customer base by staying open longer at least once a month.
Starting Thursday, August 5, many locally owned retail businesses which normally close daily at 5 p.m. will remain open until 7 p.m. in a monthly event called “Shop Late Local” according to Sommer Britt, owner of the Male Room Brotique located in Walnut Alley.
“Our “Shop Late Local” event will be once a month and always on the first Thursday of every month. It will include businesses downtown and outside the downtown area. We want to stay open late for shoppers who can’t necessarily make it to our businesses by 5 p.m, which is when we usually close. The businesses will have sales and special promotions including sidewalk sales so people can come out and enjoy the retail shops that they don’t normally get to enjoy if they have an 8 to 5 job,” said Britt.
Unlike other downtown events like the summer block party, there will be no vendors but LIVE music sponsored by Tony Luna with Lake Homes Realty will be featured for shoppers to enjoy as they stroll from one store to another and for the first event State Farm Insurance Agent Mallory Pfingstler and Bates Apparel will offer food options.
Businesses participating in “Shop Late Local” are Button Willow General Store and Coffee Shop, Willow Boutique, 615 Threads, Cantrell’s the home of Fluty and Fluty’s Shoes, Magnolia Roots, 105 Market on Main, DeKalb County Florist, Thrive Boutique, Just a Little Southern Charm Clothing Boutique, Vintage Owl Antiques, Treats by Tiff Bakery, S&B Design and Graphics, Bates Apparel, and the Male Room Brotique. Others are also encouraged to join in.
“We want to give people the opportunity to buy local rather than go out of town to spend their money. Come out and join us on Thursday, August 5 for our first “Shop Late Local” event. We hope to have a good turnout and for it to become a monthly thing,” said Britt.