Downtown Hillsdale hopes to attract Homecoming traffic
Businesses offer coupons for Saturday's "Awesome Autumn"?event
Joel Pavelski
Issue date: 10/8/09 Section: News
The football field may not be the only crowded place in Hillsdale this weekend. Downtown businesses are hoping to attract extra traffic during homecoming by hosting a unique event with bargains and decorations on Saturday afternoon.
City Economic Development Director Christine Bowman said in the past, businesses haven't done much to increase downtown foot traffic during homecoming.
"This year, we're trying to change that," she said.
Sponsored by the Hillsdale County Community Foundation, the Hillsdale Business Association is holding an afternoon of activities called "Awesome Autumn." In addition to the Hillsdale County Farmer's Market from 8 a.m. to noon, there will be children's activities including face- and pumpkin-painting on the courthouse square from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cider and doughnuts will also be available, to support the HCCF Youth Fill-A-Freezer project.
Bowman said familiar downtown shops and restaurants such'as David's Dolce Vita, the Hunt Club, and Broad Street Market are offering special deals on Saturday in conjunction with the event.
"Many downtown merchants are offering different one-day coupon specials," she said, "and those coupons will be available at the event."
The HBA is also decorating light poles all the way from downtown to campus with scarecrows decorated with cornstalks and scarecrows designed in local elementary school classrooms. The scarecrows will be numbered so that viewers can vote at the event for their favorite. The top three classes will all receive pizza parties courtesy of the Hillsdale City Police Charity.
"I went out and cut 500 stalks of corn," said Dawn Bugbee, owner of The Victorian Rose. "We're trying to make the town really festive. It'll add charm."
Bugbee said that the Victorian Rose also sometimes experiences an upswing in traffic from par-ents and alumni during homecoming weekend.
"Some parents will drift over from Oakley's," she said.
Penny Wingate, the owner of Broadstreet Market and Team One Food Stores, said that her stores had ordered extra stock for the weekend.
"We ordered extra liquor and beer," she said. "This is our first year open for business at Broad-street, but even as far away as Team One we see a slight increase [in sales], probably from the parents who are staying in hotels down our way."
If there is inclement weather, the event will be moved inside the Gold Star Tax building at 12 North Howell.
City Economic Development Director Christine Bowman said in the past, businesses haven't done much to increase downtown foot traffic during homecoming.
"This year, we're trying to change that," she said.
Sponsored by the Hillsdale County Community Foundation, the Hillsdale Business Association is holding an afternoon of activities called "Awesome Autumn." In addition to the Hillsdale County Farmer's Market from 8 a.m. to noon, there will be children's activities including face- and pumpkin-painting on the courthouse square from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cider and doughnuts will also be available, to support the HCCF Youth Fill-A-Freezer project.
Bowman said familiar downtown shops and restaurants such'as David's Dolce Vita, the Hunt Club, and Broad Street Market are offering special deals on Saturday in conjunction with the event.
"Many downtown merchants are offering different one-day coupon specials," she said, "and those coupons will be available at the event."
The HBA is also decorating light poles all the way from downtown to campus with scarecrows decorated with cornstalks and scarecrows designed in local elementary school classrooms. The scarecrows will be numbered so that viewers can vote at the event for their favorite. The top three classes will all receive pizza parties courtesy of the Hillsdale City Police Charity.
"I went out and cut 500 stalks of corn," said Dawn Bugbee, owner of The Victorian Rose. "We're trying to make the town really festive. It'll add charm."
Bugbee said that the Victorian Rose also sometimes experiences an upswing in traffic from par-ents and alumni during homecoming weekend.
"Some parents will drift over from Oakley's," she said.
Penny Wingate, the owner of Broadstreet Market and Team One Food Stores, said that her stores had ordered extra stock for the weekend.
"We ordered extra liquor and beer," she said. "This is our first year open for business at Broad-street, but even as far away as Team One we see a slight increase [in sales], probably from the parents who are staying in hotels down our way."
If there is inclement weather, the event will be moved inside the Gold Star Tax building at 12 North Howell.
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