80 vendors to sell wares at Sidewalk Days

July 09, 2009|By KATE S. ALEXANDER

GREENCASTLE, Pa. -- For 41 years, Greencastle has promoted its downtown with a huge two-day sidewalk sale and nothing, not the economy nor construction, would stop it from doing it again this year.

Approximately 80 vendors and downtown merchants will set up shop on the street for the two-day Sidewalk Days event.

Bill Gour, executive director of the Greencastle-Antrim Chamber of Commerce, said more vendors have signed up to sell at this year's event than in years past.

"It's going to be cool," Gour said.

To make way for the two-day sale, the Borough of Greencastle has told its contractor to avoid work on Baltimore Street during the 42nd annual event.

The borough is replacing water main under Baltimore Street to prepare the street for a new surface in the fall.

With construction out of the way, Gour said he anticipates many bargain-hunters will hit town over the weekend.

"People will be looking for bargains," he said. "The whole idea behind Sidewalk Days is to bring those great bargains to the streets."

There is no event in Greencastle that promotes business as well as Sidewalk Days, said Loren Martin, president of E.L.M. Shoes Inc.

"Sidewalk Days is the most important promotion for our business," he said. "It gives us the opportunity to put out our merchandise in front of a lot of people."

Martin said customers can expect to see shoes on the square selling at discounts up to 60 percent.

Brenda McQuait has sold Silpada Designs Jewelry at Sidewalk Days for five years and said that every year her business grows thanks to the event.

"I rely on word of mouth and events like this to promote my product," she said. "Last year I had over $2,800 in sales and nine bookings plus one new recruit come out of these two days."

While merchants like Martin and vendors like McQuait, who have been part of Sidewalk Days since the beginning will be back for another year, Gour said many new sellers will be on the concrete this year.

Having been in town less than a year, gift and specialty shop, Sweet Myrtle, will be among those new faces.

Shop owner Susan Horst said that she and co-owner Robin Martin plan to come out swinging with sales.

"We are going to have a Christmas in July sale, where shoppers can get items at up to 40 percent off before the season," Horst said.

Among the many items for sale at the open air market will be candles, pottery, antiques, crafts, primitives, indoor and outdoor furniture, toys, books, clothing, jewelry, shoes, birdhouses and quilts.

Food selection includes pizza, pulled pork, kettle corn, crab cakes, pit beef, country ham sandwiches, funnel cake and Italian sausages.

IF YOU GO

What: Greencastle 42nd Annual Sidewalk Days

Where: Downtown Greencastle along Baltimore and Carlisle street

When: Today from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information: Shoppers are encouraged to visit on both days since some vendors only sign up one of the two days. For more information contact the Chamber at 717-597-4610 or by e-mailing info@greencastlepachamber.org

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