An indoor sidewalk sale, you say? How is that even possible? Most of our downtown stores have barely enough space to house their regular-sale wares! The Downtown Glen Ellyn Alliance has found a way to make it happen—and quite an efficient and fun way as well.
Despite her previous self-admitted excitement about the upcoming Couples Night Out in April, Carol White found room in her head to help plan the .
"We’re planning this as in indoor sidewalk sale. It’s one-stop shopping for our residents [and guests] to experience the available clearance items from our downtown retailers,” explained White.
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According to White, this sale experience will include hot up-and-coming items as well as end of season commodities.
“There are going to be some great deals on major brand names,” White said. “It’s going to be held at the old Pacific Blue space, 536 Crescent Blvd., right next to Starbucks. The space was donated to us for this by William Jegen. We’re going to have a DJ and Tap House is going to supply the food. It’s going to be so much fun!”
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Internet search results of Mr. Jegen yielded results advising that he’s an attorney here in Glen Ellyn and has worked on such cases as the Warrenville school district boundary issue with Wheaton and West Chicago, and the widely known DuPage 7 case.
The retailers will gather on from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
When asked how the idea for such an event came about, especially given the excitement surrounding the other upcoming event, White replied, “We were walking down the street and someone said, ‘we should have a sidewalk sale!’. Someone else said that it wouldn’t work with the cold and all, so we came up with a format that would work!”
Participating stores for the Shopper’s Secret Stash Bash include M & Em’s, Enchantments, Ali Kat, The Pink Hippo, Run Today, Fuschia, Paisley on Main, The Bike Shop, Renaissance Art Studio, Young’s Appliances, Bundles of Books & Gifts, and Inland Bank is supplying water .
Rose Mary Arellano, owner of Bundles of Books & Gifts, said that her store’s selection will be different than most at the event. Her store is a mere half block from the event location.
“Because of [that and] the nature of books (I never know which ones to bring and there are so many in stock), I will have a special banner displaying that our books are always 50 percent off the cover price! This is an exciting opportunity,” Arellano said. “It’s a different, great thing for retailers to get rid of their merchandise.”
When asked what made her choose to participate, Ms. Arellano stated, “We always try to partner with the Alliance, they are so supportive of our small businesses. We all try to help each other out when we can.”
In support of this, she was shopping at the new Swap Shop, 484 N. Main St., while being interviewed.
Employees of The Bike Shop advised that they will have major brand name fall and winter clothing, as well as women’s and kids boots.
“With the biking season just beginning, we really don’t have any bike sales, but the items we will have will be 30-50 percent off," said store owner Rich Ducar. "We have a beautiful town and this is great for our downtown. It’s an opportunity for us to showcase Glen Ellyn to residents of other areas."
Best of all, if you're a retailer who'd like to be a part of the event, there's still space available, according to White, by contacting the Downtown Alliance.
