Downtown merchants open late for holiday shoppers, starting Nov. 5

Local businesses are hoping to deliver on YOUR shopping list this Christmas season.

Things are different in retail this year. But as the holidays approach, Manchester’s downtown merchants are eager to encourage residents (and those from other towns as well!) to shop locally this Christmas season.

For three Thursdays in November (November 5, 12, and 19) and three more Thursdays in December (December 3, 10, and 17), downtown businesses will be putting on their holiday best and staying open until 8 pm with in-store specials, live and recorded holiday music, and as many lights and Christmas decorations as the downtown can hold!

Participating businesses include: River Raisin Antiques, Sassy Peacock, Steele Grafix, Sweet Leilani’s, Worth Repeating, All Thingz Green, The Flower Garden, and River raisin distillery. Each business will have its own advertised in-store special pricing on select items each week. In addition, the Manchester Area Historical Society’s museum and gift shop in the historic Kingsley-Jenter House will also be open for your holiday shopping (and edification!) Downtown restaurants will also offer Thursday night specials and most will be open until at least 8 pm.

“I started this three years ago, when I first opened my store,” said Sue LaRocque, of River Raisin Antiques. “I was looking for ways to increase traffic in my store, and it was so successful that it eventually morphed into the summer Third Thursdays that the community so enjoyed the past two summers.”

The Chamber of Commerce and other organizations have been busy raising funds for additional Christmas decorations and lighting downtown this year, including lighted trees in the business district. The group has also invested in a sound system that will pipe music throughout the downtown area to add to your shopping enjoyment. Shop owners are eager to get their holiday decor into their windows and prepare for a busy holiday season ahead!

“We really want to help bring back small businesses in Manchester,” LaRocque said. “We all need it.”

Mark your calendars and start your shopping list. The holidays are coming to Manchester each Thursday night this fall, and here’s your opportunity to show our local businesses how much they are appreciated.

Local musicians will provide entertainment throughout downtown during the Thursday night events.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.