news-record.com

Skip to the site menu
Skip to search

NEWS

Advertisement | Advertise with Us

Downtown retailers try serene, green sales pitch

Friday, November 27, 2009

(Updated 3:00 am)

By Jennifer Fernandez
Staff Writer

GREENSBORO — Not impressed with Black Friday’s shopping crush?

Downtown Greensboro Inc. offers an alternative: a “serene and green” Saturday in downtown.

Stores will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday with several offering free hot cider and treats to shoppers.

The nonprofit Downtown Greensboro Inc. is encouraging shoppers to look to downtown’s one-of-a-kind and locally owned stores for their holiday needs.

“Visitors can discover unexpected treasures,” from the cultural arts district on the north end of downtown to antique stores on the south, said Ed Wolverton, president of Downtown Greensboro Inc.

Mack and Mack, a local high-end clothing store on South Elm Street, is putting the discount in customers’ hands.

Shoppers get to “draw” their own discount, from 35 percent to 50 percent off anything in the shop that day.

“Everyone’s looking for a good deal now,” said owner Robin Mack Davis. “We didn’t want to just have a sale. We thought it would be fun if the customers drew their own discount and to make it generous for them.”

The new Downtown Farm Market, 505 N. Greene St., will offer locally grown produce and fresh baked goods.

Just Be and Jules Antiques & Fine Arts both will offer hot cider to shoppers, along with their usual wares.

At Mary Contrary, shoppers can learn how to make inexpensive and natural tree ornaments during the store’s first in a series of “Christmas Crafts” demonstrations on Saturdays through Christmas.

Store owner Mary Wasse said shoppers can save money by making gifts that are more personal.

“There’s just a million things you can do that mean something to the receiver,” she said.

Contact Jennifer Fernandez at 373-7064 or jennifer. fernandez@news-record.com

Accompanying Photos

Photo Caption: Photo courtesy of Joe Wheby.

WANT A REUSABLE BAG?

As part of the “green” in “Green Saturday,” Downtown Greensboro Inc. is giving away reusable shopping bags. To get a free bag, you will have to fill out a contact information form that also registers you to win a gift basket that will be given away after Dec. 4. Bags are limited. Pick up bags during store hours at the following locations:

Burton’s Pharmacy, 120 E. Lindsay St.
Jules Antiques & Fine Art, 530 S. Elm St.
Mack and Mack, 220 S. Elm St.
Simple Kneads Bakery, 227-B S. Elm St.
Just Be, 352 S. Elm St.
Downtown Greensboro Inc., 122 N. Elm St., Suite 609.

What do you think?

1 comment(s)

Read other visitors' comments.

Comments

This article has been closed to new comments. Comments are generally closed after 14 days. However, comments may be closed earlier at the discretion of the News & Record.

Inappropriate content? Please notify us.

muss

November 28, 2009 - 12:29 pm EST

This is an outstanding article. It goes a long way toward making the downtown very vibrant. The vibrancy of Greensboro will, in accordance with the ambiance being created by the small business' will increase property value and raise rent prices. Employment will go up and we can then see our way out of the Depression which I believe we are in. I am hoping that Greensboro, has, or will establish an ombudsman for small business.
We can lift our communities out of the funk with community involvement.
I went to the Farmers market at 505 Greene street yesterday. This is something that I am hoping to become involved in. It appears to be much like our government is intended, of, by and for the people.
Hope to see many readers there.