Downtown merchants to stay open later on 2nd Friday every month
In a group push to get more people into their stores, many downtown Ypsilanti merchants will stay open until 9 p.m. and offer special events and incentives on the second Friday of every month. The effort is right in line with one of the recommendations of a downtown consultant.
“I would say it’s to lure people to downtown Ypsilanti,” said Paul Balcom, co-owner of The Rocket, one of the participating businesses, and to “let the residents and consumers know that there are businesses within their downtown district that offer affordable merchandise. … I don’t believe that people that live within the city are aware that there are stores downtown. A lot of us are newer, too, so if they haven’t been downtown in the last couple of years, they’re unaware.”
The participating stores have been hanging brightly colored posters in their windows, advertising the upcoming event and tying it into Easter and St. Patrick’s Day holiday shopping.
