Business Participation Key to Mainstreet Prosperity
Main Street Marshfield is dedicated to enhancing Marshfield’s identity and heritage, fostering a downtown center of activity, and ensuring economic stability. This summer, the organization succeeded on all counts with events such as Third Thursdays, Hub City Days, and downtown Block Parties.
“We hosted our Third Thursday events as a way to bring more traffic and exposure to the downtown businesses,” said Angie Eloranta, Executive Director of Main Street Marshfield. “The public very much enjoyed these events because it allowed them to shop downtown after work.”
Stores were open later than normal during these events, which also featured live music, a farmer’s market, and other various activities such as a caricature artist.
“Our mission was to bring people downtown and from there, the business owners were responsible for drawing those people into their stores.”
She said that some business owners took full advantage of this retail-focused event by putting items outside, showcasing new items, or offering a fun special or experience, and those that did experienced increased foot traffic and had a lot of fun.
Carol Knauf, owner of Rae Baxter’s, said that Third Thursdays in particular were a huge success.
“Our customers really liked this extra shopping time, supported us, and have asked us to continue to be open every Thursday year round, and we will be doing that,” she said.
Hub City Days, with its myriad activities, resulted in thousands of people experiencing Marshfield’s downtown.
“It is one of the busiest days of the year for us, always lots of new faces coming into the store from out of town and shopping,” said Knauf, who credits the recent success of Main Street to Eloranta.
“Angie has brought excitement to the Main Street Organization with her endless energy and outgoing personality,” she said. “She is always looking for new events that will bring people not only from Marshfield but outlying areas to promote our Downtown and our community.”
Eloranta plans to continue supporting and implementing events downtown, and is excited about the pop-up shop program and 200 block plaza project, which she sees as a positive development for downtown.
She encourages all residents and businesses to take full advantage of these downtown events.
“Any of our events downtown can positively impact the businesses if they so choose to take advantage of them,” she said. “Our downtown events bring more foot traffic than you would see on a regular day and as a result, more awareness to our downtown stores.”
