Merchant Guild gearing up for annual Sidewalk Sale
WARWICK Warwicks downtown merchants are getting ready for their July Sidewalk Sale. The annual event will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 13-15.
Co-chairs Tim Mullally, co-owner of Style Counsel, and Sue Loughren, owner of The Toy Chest, promise to make this years event bigger and better than ever.
The 2012 July Sidewalk Sale will be open to non-competing outside vendors as well as participating merchants. And non-profit, civic and religious organizations are also invited to participate free of charge.
Bargains inside and out New for this year will be a watermelon-eating contest on Railroad Avenue courtesy of Warwick ShopRite. Winners in the age five to 10 category and the age 11 and above group will receive a free watermelon and a $10 gift certificate. The contest will be held on Sunday, July 15 at 2 p.m. And ShopRites in house dietician Melanie Dwornik will also be on hand to expound on nutrition and summer fruits.
The number of contestants in the watermelon-eating contest is limited so in addition to the day of the event, participants can also sign up in advance at Warwick ShopRite.
Mullally explained that participating shop owners use the Sidewalk Sale as a way to clear out old stock, promote new items with incentive prices and also meet new customers and greet old ones.
Were all anxious to reduce our inventories before the fall season, he said. And there will be lots of bargains both outside and inside the shops.
Community event The annual sale will also share the downtown area with other popular events that same weekend.
The Sidewalk Sale, said Mullally, has become a community event that both local residents and visitors look forward to. Besides getting a great bargain at one of the many colorful shops in the village, there will also be live music, an art exhibit sponsored by Warwick Art on the Green, and the kick off for the Warwick Summer Arts Festival as well as the 19th annual Warwick Valley Gardeners Countryside Garden Tour. Our Firemens Parade will also take place on Main Street that Saturday at 6 p.m.
The annual sidewalk sale is hosted by the Warwick Merchants Guild with local shops and eateries contributing to fund the event. The merchants also have the support of Interstate Waste Services as a sponsor.
Vendors who do not sell any jewelry or offer merchandise available at local shops may participate during the entire weekend for a fee of $75.
For information contact Mullally at 986-9588.
- Roger Gavan