As main street suffers, businesses hope Sidewalk Sales will draw foot traffic
as Ludington Street suffers
Shoppers peruse merchandise during Sidewalk Sales in Escanaba in July of 2019. During that event, Ludington Street was closed to traffic -- as it will be again for this year's Sidewalk Sales on Friday, though for a different reason. (Daily Press file photo by Clarissa Kell)
Escanada resident Allen Palmgren and Badger the Border Collie walk down a sunny Ludington Street yesterday. Escanaba's Downtown Development Authority intends to attract many more walkers to the area on Friday, when the annual Sidewalk Sales take place. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)
People hang out and check out clothing racks outside Lisa Ann in 2024. Proprietor Lisa LaLonde said she will again be offering discounts during Sidewalk Sales on Sept. 4. (Daily Press file photo)
Though Ludington Street is still closed to passenger vehicles, the sidewalk and local businesses are accessible and open. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)
In July 2024, Mr. Bike and Ski participates in Sidewalk Sales in Escanaba. Twenty months later, the store closed its doors for good. (Daily Press file photo by R. R. Branstrom)
Shoppers peruse merchandise during Sidewalk Sales in Escanaba in July of 2019. During that event, Ludington Street was closed to traffic -- as it will be again for this year's Sidewalk Sales on Friday, though for a different reason. (Daily Press file photo by Clarissa Kell)
Escanada resident Allen Palmgren and Badger the Border Collie walk down a sunny Ludington Street yesterday. Escanaba's Downtown Development Authority intends to attract many more walkers to the area on Friday, when the annual Sidewalk Sales take place. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)
People hang out and check out clothing racks outside Lisa Ann in 2024. Proprietor Lisa LaLonde said she will again be offering discounts during Sidewalk Sales on Sept. 4. (Daily Press file photo)
Though Ludington Street is still closed to passenger vehicles, the sidewalk and local businesses are accessible and open. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)
In July 2024, Mr. Bike and Ski participates in Sidewalk Sales in Escanaba. Twenty months later, the store closed its doors for good. (Daily Press file photo by R. R. Branstrom)
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ESCANABA — Local residents, business owners, people passing through Escanaba and destination shoppers are reminded that Sidewalk Sales returns to the Delta County city this Friday.
Typically a summer event, Sidewalk Sales aims to encourage foot traffic and use attractive merchandise on the street to gain the attention of customers, who will hopefully be inspired to visit more businesses and make local purchases.
This year, Escanaba retailers need the boost more than ever. With the main street torn up due to major contraction, many businesses on Ludington Street are experiencing far-below-average income. For some, profits made this season would not be sustainable enough to keep the doors open if business continued at the current rate.
“The main challenge is we don’t have the walk traffic,” said Sue Parker, owner of Nyman Jewelers and chair of the DDA. “A lot of smaller stores rely on people walking by their door to say, ‘oh look, this is something interesting, let’s go check it out.’ With that aspect not being available, it’s made a hurt to a lot of businesses.”
By this point, at least, there are sidewalks. Six weeks ago, that wasn’t the case.
Esky’s Sidewalk Sales had originally been scheduled for July 24. When sidewalks didn’t existed in much of downtown as the date approached, the DDA officially postponed the event until Aug. 14.
The next delay followed soon after. However, the second rescheduled date — Sept. 4 — will go forward, declared a press release issued Monday by the DDA.
The event is an opportunity for people to return downtown not only to shop but to witness the progress being made on Ludington, which is presently being repaved.
“Come down, check out the streets, check out the progress. We are almost there, folks. It’s going to be open real soon,” said Parker.
Though vehicles are still not allowed to drive on Ludington Street, business owners hope people will make the trip and walk where they can. In years past, the street was closed to vehicles during Sidewalk Sales anyway; it’s only been the past few years that traffic was allowed to flow on Ludington Street during the event.
Businesses that are looking forward to participating on Friday include Pioneer TV & Appliance, Young’s Menswear, The Beaten Path, Nyman Jewelers, Elevated Exotics, Lisa Ann and others.
“The Sidewalk Sale is a time for us to move old inventory at a huge discount,” said Lisa LaLonde, owner of Lisa Ann. “Our summer clearance is up to 70 percent off so we can add new fashions this fall.”
Businesses in town intending to get involved with Sidewalk Sales may submit information at escanabadda.org/sidewalk-sales.