Business & Tech

'Friday Night Promenade' Coming to Garden City

Organizers are hoping new initiative will be a shot in the arm for local businesses this summer.

We all know an event like the Belmont Festival brings together the Garden City community like no other, attracting hundreds of residents to Seventh Street every June on the eve of the famed Belmont Stakes.

The annual street fair, now in its sixteenth year, boasts music, rides and more and enables merchants to exhibit their wares and culinary favorites. For those who have never attended the festival in years past, see for yourself this Friday beginning at 6 p.m. (The event had to be rescheduled from Friday, June 7 due to inclement weather.)

Organizers of a new initiative dubbed "Friday Night Promenade" are hoping a similar event to be held weekly every Friday in July and August will do the same, providing a much-needed shot in the arm for local merchants, many of which struggle to make sales during the later summer months.

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John Wilton, chairman of the Garden City Merchant Professional Retailers Group, has been working closely with the Garden City board of trustees, including long-time board liaison to the business district Dennis Donnelly to make the idea a reality.

"I think it's going to be a home run. It's going to offset July and August, especially August when we can virtually roll up the sidewalks business-wise," said Wilton, whose mantra is "Shop Local."

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Donnelly added, "We are hoping to create a festive atmosphere on Seventh Street every Friday night during July and August ... We expect the public to utilize our restaurants and food establishments as well as retail stores who choose to stay open late. Summer is a slow time for our commercial sector so this is an attempt by the village to spur business and provide support for our businesses."

Bands will be entertaining the crowds at each end of Seventh Street, between Hilton and Franklin avenues, thanks to the efforts of businesses like Leo's, Walk Street and Garden City Gourmet.

Although organizers are still ironing out the details, Wilton said the event could kick off every Friday night at 6 p.m. and run until 10 p.m. "or perhaps later hopefully starting July 5." As for how much this will cost the village in police overtime, commissioner Kenneth Jackson told Patch personnel coverage is still being reviewed. "We are still in the evaluation stage," he said.

What do you think of this new initiative? Let us know in the comments section below.


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