Millerton takes it to the street with sidewalk sale

MILLERTON — Saturday, June 18, will be a day to remember in this village as its business association plans a sidewalk sale. 

“We just haven’t done one in recent memory,” said Millerton Business Group leader Dick Hermans. “It used to be a regular thing in Millerton sometime in the summer, and we thought we would bring that idea back because it’s a good thing to make people driving through town slow down, stop, get out and walk around. That’s what all our businesses need, people walking in.”

That’s exactly what they’ll have the chance to do come the 18th. From Saperstein’s to Gilmor Glass, there will be goods lining the sidewalks for shoppers to rummage through — and ideally purchase. For those businesses not centrally located, sidewalk space will be offered in front  of both Montage and Gilmor Glass on Main Street.

Hermans said he hasn’t really spoken with each business to see what it will be putting out for sale, but he’s sure there will be a variety of items to appeal to even the most discriminating shopper.

Events like the sidewalk sale are becoming a hallmark in Millerton. This winter, the business group hosted a Cookie Festival to draw people out to village shops, and once the holidays return it plans to have its members decorate their storefronts.

Before long, there will be Fall for Art, and then on Thanksgiving weekend, The Moviehouse will offer a free showing of a holiday movie to get people into the spirit of the season. Hermans said such initiatives are appreciated by the business community.

“From what I hear, merchants say they like it,” he said. “Every activity we do doesn’t help everybody, but just getting together monthly and generating ideas helps. And the sidewalk sale doesn’t take much to organize — just put stuff out and hope people come by.”

The business association has about 45 members. Hermans said he’d like to see those numbers double, if possible, by mid-summer.

As far as the increase to revenue, the community leader said he hopes the organization’s promotions give all businesses at least a small boost.

“I always hope for a 10 percent bump,” he said, “or something like that. Anything like that and I’m certainly happy. Anything that brings somebody into the village for the first time is most important, because then they discover the village is really worthwhile to shop in.”

His advice for the sidewalk sale, meanwhile, is simple.

“Come early,” Hermans said, adding the rain date is on Sunday, June 19. The sale will begin when stores open, around 9:30 a.m., and run until they close in the evening.

If it’s a success, shoppers may see more sidewalk sales in the future.

“If it works I suspect we’ll try to do it again at the end of summer,” said Hermans with optimism.