By Grayson Sewell
gsewell@conleynet.com 262-306-5043
WEST BEND — Christmas is right around the corner, and while people across the area are getting their last minute gifts for the holidays, the downtown West Bend specialty shops are going to do their part to help shoppers come in under budget while shopping local with their inaugural Midnight on Main event from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Dec. 15.
For Midnight on Main, various specialty shops in downtown West Bend will be offering different sales and specials all night long, until midnight, during a pajama-themed shopping event.
“We were talking about ideas about the holidays, and the idea just came up as we were thinking about how different communities, like Hartford, does their Midnight Madness,” said Downtown West Bend Association Executive Director Noelle Braun. “It’s been really successful for them.”
The specialty shop owners then tossed around the idea of whether they thought a similar shopping event would work in West Bend, and decided to give it a try.
According to Braun, 15 shops are participating in the event, and owners will keep their stores open until midnight on Dec. 15 to give shoppers the chance to have extended hours to come check out their stores, as well as get a great deal while they are there.
“They are going to be doing their own unique specials,” said Braun. “So, it’s not going to be this across the board, from this hour to this hour progressive discount at each location.”
Each shop’s specials will vary, including possible discounts on in-store items, Christmas decor and more.
“The shops themselves are going to be making posts [on their social media pages] and letting everyone know what their specials are going to be for that night,” said Braun.
Participating shops can be found online, at tinyurl.com/2drecz3u, under the “Meet Your Hosts” tab on the Midnight on Main Facebook events page, or on the Jade and Ginger Facebook page, at tinyurl.com/3hv6eu4e.
“Another fun twist they are putting on it is that they want to make it a fun night where you put on your pajamas and go shopping for the holidays,” said Braun.
Braun also encourages shoppers to take in the scenery in downtown West Bend and the city’s Christmas tree, as they check out all the Midnight on Main deals.
“It’s a beautiful destination, of course, with everything all aglow in downtown West Bend,” said Braun.
Polar Express
Businesses officially participating in Midnight on Main won’t be the only ones open during the event, however, as there will be others businesses staying open late for shoppers to stop on in. To see who all is staying open late, visit downtown West Bend and walk along Main Street between 6 p.m. and midnight.
Aside from other businesses, downtown West Bend’s restaurants and bars will welcome Midnight on Main shoppers give them the chance to try unique holiday drinks while supporting the Full Shelf Food Pantry through the Downtown Polar Express.
The Downtown Polar Express, run by the Downtown West Bend Organization, is a competition between 13 bars and restaurants in downtown West Bend where they all make their own unique holidaythemed drink, which they call the “Polar Express”. Drinks cost $9, with $2 from each drink sold going to benefit the Full Shelf Food Pantry. After trying the drinks, you can vote for which bar or restaurant you think had the best one online, at tinyurl.com/2598 mbek.
For more information about the Downtown Polar Express, visit tinyurl.com/ 2zjx788a.
Grayson Sewell/Daily News staff
