Many downtown businesses and stores will help Valentine shoppers by remaining open until 7 p.m., on Friday, Feb. 7.
To add to the fun, there will be a scavenger hunt called Share The Love. Business owners have been working together to not only get patrons into their individual stores, but to keep folks downtown and direct them to fellow businesses owners.
Maysville Main Street Director Caroline Reece said she is thrilled with the efforts of downtown businesses to help one another.
“Our business owners have been meeting regularly to come up with ideas to bring people downtown and make it fun,” Reece said. “ I love the sense that they want everyone to succeed, knowing if the downtown as a whole improves, everyone improves.”
The scavenger hunt was an idea Maysville Brewing Company owner Tiffany Fields and Sprinkles of Hope owner Meagan Brannon found successful last fall when they coordinated one. Business owners decided to adapt that concept to work with the upcoming Valentine’s Day holiday. A heart will be hidden in each of the participating stores. On the heart, directions will be written to go to another store and receive a discount or prize. When the shoppers find the heart, they go to the checkout where they will receive a gold coin token. They can then take the token to next business checkout where they will receive their discount. If they spot another heart, the same pattern repeats. The more stores you enter and hearts you find, the more discounts and prizes you can receive. In addition, some business will have spin-the-wheel or grab bags of discounts. Many will offer food, refreshments, and various treats. This kickoff event and date was chosen to give shoppers a jump on their Valentine Day shopping and showcase the countless Valentine presents one could find in the historic district.
These sorts of events will happen on the first Friday of every month. To help promote the first Fridays, the Downtown Summer Sounds concert series, sponsored by Maysville Main Street and the John McNeill Music Series has been moved to first Friday of the month as well. The initiative came out of the Live & Love Local events that took place in October, November, and December of last year. Business owners noticed an uptick in customers, especially during the later Friday night hours. The hope is that patrons make it a habit of knowing downtown is the place to be on first Friday of the month. #sharethelove #lovelocalmaysville
