Reader poll
Brian Hoffman was surprised that more people weren’t lined up before his store, The Sports Dome, opened for business for the annual sidewalk sale Thursday in downtown Lawrence.
“Usually at 6 a.m., it’s 25, 30 people in the store, and there were five this year,” Hoffman said. “Just the number of people are down. Usually it’s just packed.”
Down the street at Urban Outfitters, Joseph Mabungu waited in line for about an hour to buy a box full of items that he and his sister had found.
“There’s a lot of people, but there’s less deals,” the Kansas University graduate and Kansas City resident said. “There’s still a lot of stores. It’s just that there was more stuff being sold (in previous years).”
But not all the Massachusetts Street shops were open for business.
“I liked that little card place down there,” said Vickie Smith, referring to The Palace Cards & Gifts store that closed its downtown location this summer. Smith and her friend Tammy Scott work in Topeka and have been shopping at the sidewalk sale for about 10 years.
Both Smith and Scott had a few bags filled with clothes, shoes, purses and even a pair of scissors.
“I think there’s actually some better deals,” Smith said.
Some rain hit the area in the early afternoon, but most shoppers didn’t seem deterred by the sprinkles.
“I’m not going to melt,” Scott said. “My hair’s just going to get frizzy.”
The two actually liked the weather better this year.
“It’s cooler,” Scott said. “We’re not sweating to death.”
Hoffman said while his store has seen less foot traffic, the sidewalk sale was pretty steady for a down economy.
“We have pretty good deals,” he said. “With the economy and winning a national championship, everybody bought 12 T-shirts and then the economy tanks. You don’t need a KU T-shirt.”
But shoppers were out to do their part to help out the stores.
“I have no problem waiting (in line),” Mabungu said. “It’s good for the economy. There’s still a lot of good stuff to get. You just have to look for it.”
Comments
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George_Braziller (anonymous) says…
Brian you surprised by this? The economy is still in the toilet and people are keeping a lock on their wallets. I've gone to the sidewalk sale exactly four times in the 27 years I've lived in Lawrence including the 15 years I've lived one block away from downtown.
It's really not much more than a garage sale that takes place on the sidewalk to unload stuff no one wanted in the first place.
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"Brian Hoffman was surprised that more people weren’t lined up before his store."
srj (anonymous) says…
Waiting in a checkout line for an hour is just nuts. Shame on any store that makes you do it, how many people just dropped there stuff and left.
merrill (anonymous) says…
Downtown Lawrence probably should consider different store hours across the board.
Downtown Lawrence could use more art galleries,wayyyyyy more independent antique stores and maybe two more big name department stores ..... one in the 800 block and one in the 900 block. Downtown Lawrence has plenty of foot traffic it needs a bit more and more reasons for people to come.
Downtown art shows being a well known tradition would be nice. The Percolator has some quite interesting art shows. Some of those folks have been pushing for more downtown activity and I happen to believe they are on the money.
Too many think Lawrence does not need to push Lawrence. A first Friday in KCMO or Phoenixville,Pa will tell you different.
In the mean time back to the sidewalk sale:
Let's reorganize a little = make it crazier and even more fun.
Block off Mass between 7th and 10th.
Have musicians play from 11 til ?
Invite local nurseries and local farmers to set up in the street
DO two sidewalk sales:
The first Saturday after April 15th
The second Saturday in October
Why two at those dates:
KU and public school is in session = more people available locally and from surrounding communities
( folks are back from vacations)
Have items inside the stores marked down some as well.
Yes let's get on with it.
Adios
cloggedjhawk (Wendy magillicutty) says…
amen! those are great ideas. Everyone has also grown tired of schleppin downtown on the world's hottest day to shop the same stuff that is there on wednesday. With today's inventory control, there really aren't the deals there used to be. Stores used to really mark down items to truly unload their inventory. Now, they just move their merchandise outside. On the world's hottest day. In a tight economy, we ain't biting on that hook.
was_freashpowder2 (Alexander Neighbors) says…
too much tax no money left...
overthemoon (anonymous) says…
I would say that the crowd was MUCH smaller than in years past. I saw very few friends other than merchants I've known for years. Urban Outfitters was a catastrophe...broken down cash registers and an hour's wait to buy a few items. The guy selling cinnamon twists for a buck was the highlight of our trip...excellent!!
There are many empty or non-participating storefronts which helps create an atmosphere of scantiness. It was sad to not see Arensburgs, Blue Heron being run by liquidators, and many other places of the past. Times change. I spent ten bucks.
townie79 (anonymous) says…
anyone else hear that Weaver's was closing?
that seemed to be the buzz downtown...
merrill (anonymous) says…
Weavers has very competitive prices and their home ware department is awesome.
And we are always able to buy Moms stuff ...clothing,bedding etc etc from Weavers and do not get ripped off. It is a store worth saving. Go shop Weavers.
You can also shop online:
http://www.weaversinc.com/
We buy kitchen gear,bedroom stuff and bathroom stuff as well.
Godot (anonymous) says…
Did not go, did not care. Junk at full price is still junk at half price.
KansasPerson (anonymous) says…
Merrill, not bad, but the first Saturday after Income Tax Day might not work out so well!
Meatwad (anonymous) says…
I found some great deals today. It would be nice if all of the stores actually put out great deals. Luckily many "get it". However, several just put their stuff outside and call it a "deal". This practice harms the reputation of the sidewalk sale and I wish they would realize that.
mdrndgtl (anonymous) says…
I also heard Weavers was going out of business. Actually, I'm surprised it lasted this long. There isn't a big market for bedroom slippers and grandma panties.
mae (anonymous) says…
for what it's worth, i believe merrill is dead on with his proposals. everyone who works outside of lawrence, which is most everyone can't get home to shop in time.
funding? what funding marion? if the stores were open when people walk the evening sunset they would sell some stuff!!
moving the farmer's market to the sidewalk sale and closing part of mass would be a major attraction as would an art exhibit/sale.
100% correct on today's inventory levels. if the business owners were in the know of the date in advance they would buy in bulk of some deal items. if they are well aware, well then they are just not business-savvy. that should be easy money.
gsxr600 (anonymous) says…
Does anyone know why the sidewalk sale isn't on a weekend? I feel as if this would be the obvious choice. More people from outside Lawrence would show up too like OP dwellers with deep pockets.
bb837988 (anonymous) says…
The Sidewalk sale is always on the third Thursday of July. The merchants are well aware of the timing.
My feeling is that it is on Thursday because that is the day that the stores are already open late in the day and it coincides with other events in the area such as the Brownbag concerts and the Farmer's Market. Also, it brings people to town on a day that isn't already a busy day that Saturday is. Plus Thursday avoids the normal Saturday night party crowd.
One reason that it is in the middle of summer is to allow the stores to get rid of end of season merchandise at a sale price. April and October don't really fall in that retail time frame. And while the weather is usually hot, at least it is predictable. April and October's weather may be cooler but would have a greater risk of rain or too cool weather. And who wants to pick falling leaves out of the stuff on the sidewalk.
A few years ago, the 900 block was closed to traffic due to some construction project. It was nice - the Farmer's Market set up in the middle of the street and there was plenty of room for people to walk.
dandelion (anonymous) says…
was_freashpowder2 (Alexander Neighbors) says…
too much tax no money left…
Ok whiner, you are paying fewer taxes than you would have 10 years ago. That's why the state governments are having to cut their budgets so drastically. Remember never to call the police and fire department if you need them. Oh and don't use your street. And of course only send your kids to private school. And if you get disabled only use your vast amount of savings to take care of yourself.
Irish (Leslie Swearingen) says…
These are some of the prices I found on the online Weavers.
egg slicer 14.95
ice tray 11.95
ice cream maker 699.95
coffee maker 199.00
toaster 119.95 (on sale)
2-pc cutlery set 149.99 (on sale)
This is definitely a store for the well to do. I most certainly will not be paying these prices.
I am okay with the downtown shops being for the upper middle class shopper and up. They need a place to shop.
I think the South Walmart made an excellent decision putting the Subway shop next to the door. So maybe people, including myself, stop on the way out and get a sandwich. This is a perfect example of marketing and supply and demand.
A lot of people are working and can't get downtown until late. Maybe there could be an after 6 sale with the restaurants like the Mad Greek offering dinner sales. You could fuel up before you shop.
Maybe have it at a time and in a way that ties into the movie downtown.
d_prowess (anonymous) says…
I think holding it on a Saturday would be a good idea. The bars could even get involved since people might be more willing to stop in for a drink during the weekend as they shop. And I know from experience that you spend a lot more after you have had a drink or three!
weegee (anonymous) says…
Change is needed for this tired concept...DLI needs to be open to doing something new and take suggestions from downtown merchants.
MeAndFannieLou (anonymous) says…
I posted this on another thread, but here goes:
Because the purpose of the sidewalk sale has changed in the past 25 years (used to be for clearing out summer merchandise, but stores no longer need to do that because they can sell their seasonal closeouts to stores like TJ Max and Gordmans), the merchants and DLA need to consider innovative changes to attract more shoppers to what has evolved into a big promotional event.
Mass. street could be made more accessible to more people if it were closed off to car traffic, and a shuttle service offered from the parking garage circling around downtown via New Hampshire and Vermont streets.
The event could be scheduled for a time when the weather is more predictable (specifically, October). It could also be held on a weekend instead of during the week, to make it more accessible to more people.
There could be entertainment, such as buskers, added, to make it more festive.
Essentially the sames things Merrill has said, only it bears repeating that the nature of the event has changed, and if the format doesn't change with it, it will eventually fizzle out.