Shop amidst a bunch of happy scarecrows on Friday, October 19, in the heart of downtown Dixon. The evening will offer an opportunity for residents to shop before or after their dinner out in downtown Dixon as local merchants stay open later on the third Friday of each month.
The Downtown Dixon Business Association is hosting its second in a series of a four month pilot program called, '3rd on First+' to draw Dixonites and visitors into the downtown core, say coordinators Debra Dingman and Kay Cayler. The merchants have been asked to be open at least till 8 pm or whatever they could do and have bright orange signs posted in their windows if they are participating with special sales or discounts.
This second late shopping opportunity will feature scarecrows decorated by non-profits that will be set up in front of the stores and fall harvest decorations throughout downtown.
"We are trying to help people understand how important it is to shop local," said Dingman who has served on the Downtown Davis Business Association's Promotion Committee and pointed to that organization's success with their 'ArtAbout' on the second Friday of each month.
"This is the best downtown revitalization of retail Dixon’s had in years but it will go away if Dixonites don't patronize us," she said. "We offer wonderful service, competitive pricing, and unique shopping experiences unlike any big box store can. And, we wanted to take advantage of the many people who have already discovered our great dining options downtown like Hana Shushi, the Firehouse Bistro, Bud's, Shaw’s, or Baldo's Mexican Restaurant."
The DDBA shop local effort included the creation of an updated list of retail and services on an attractive brochure available in most merchant’s establishments and/or in their windows.
There are two more Friday evenings that the stores will be open later.
One will be Friday, November 16, which is the traditional Holiday Open House only starting a little earlier and lastly, Friday, December 21, which will offer 'Last Minute Shopping.' The DDBA is hoping to find a non-profit or youth group that will open a 'Gift Wrapping Clinic' on that night, wrapping gifts for tips as a fundraiser.
For more information on the '3rd on First+' program, call Dingman at (707) 678-6262 or the DDBA office at (707) 678-8400.
