Downtown St. Paul is looking to rock the block with a summer party to end the season in style, with customer giveaways, draws, farmer's market vendors, sidewalk sales and music to round out the night, with all the action taking place on Aug. 26.
Downtown St. Paul is looking to rock the block with a summer party to end the season in style, with customer giveaways, draws, farmer's market vendors, sidewalk sales and music to round out the night, with all the action taking place on Aug. 26.
“We want to create an activity in the downtown core just to support businesses and to create a fun atmosphere,&” said Linda Sallstrom, executive director for the St. Paul & District Chamber of Commerce, which is partnering with the St. Paul Journal to promote the event.
Businesses often put out customer appreciation events, but this will be the first time the downtown businesses are coordinating a day to bring people to downtown, with Sallstrom saying these downtown businesses are “kind of the life force of the town.&”
“This is the first year we are trying this and we are hoping it grows,&” said Sallstrom. “We're hoping we can get some really good feedback on what people want to see in the future.&”
The St. Paul Journal will be giving away hot dogs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., alongside holding a subscription sale, while Elite Theatre will be having a free movie screening, and farmer's market vendors will be setting up in the park next to the St. Paul Foundry all afternoon, to offer Taber corn, fruit and tomatoes, bread, sewing, handmade soaps and more. Several businesses are holding end of summer sales and holding draws for free items, and will invite people to come inside and check out what's in store. Sallstrom has been hitting the street to make people aware of the event, and says anyone is welcome to participate in whatever way they wish.
The end of the evening closes with a street dance featuring music by Boomtown, organized by Champions for Change's downtown revitalization committee. The dance runs from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
People interested in learning more or how they can participate can call the Journal, at 780-645-3342 to find out more and how to get involved.
For a list of events and participating businesses and organizations, see next week's edition of the Journal.
Downtown businesses blow it up
Several businesses are inviting people to take in special events, promotions and giveaways as part of Aug. 26th's Rock the Block event, billed as a summer "Moonlight Madness" to end the season.
In addition to Farmer's Market vendors setting up at the Foundry Park, the St. Paul Journal and Five Star Pawn will be giving away free hot dogs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the Journal will be holding a subscription sale with an extra month added for anyone getting a subscription that day.
Sunflower Tienda will be offering store-wide deals, while Personal Eyes is offering anyone who drops in that day a 20 per cent discount card.
Evergreen Stationers is doing a back to school and blow-out furniture sale, while Silver Shark is clearing out stock and doing a draw for Under Armour merchandise.
The Jungle will be doing a draw for a gift basket, while B & D Industrial will also be doing a customer appreciation draw.
ShutterBee will be doing in-store deals, while Saddle Lake Boys & Girls Club will be using the parking lot next to JMD Group to sell tickets for a raffle.
It will be the last week of J&L Photography and Art Gallery's storewide year-end sale, with framed art up to 60 per cent off and on the Wednesday, people can stop by to enter a draw for a prize package worth $450.
Bear's BMX & BS will be having a 20 per cent off back to school sale and ATB Financial will also be doing a giveaway.
Complete details will be listed in next Tuesday's St. Paul Journal.
It's a great day to stop in at your downtown businesses and see what they have in store. Come on down and join us for the party next Wednesday!
