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Open for business; downtown shops open late for Third Thursday

May 18, 2017 | 5:25 PM

 

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Downtown businesses are teaming up in hopes of bringing new life and new customers to the city’s core.

Third Thursday is a new event led by business owners. The event will run on the third Thursday of every month through September and will see retail and restaurant spaces open until 8 p.m.

One of the biggest complaints many of the business owners hear is that they aren’t open late enough for those who work a typical nine-to-five job.

Carmen Lambert is the owner of The Hat’s Olive Tap on Second Street. She said she hopes this offers some convenience for customers.

“By having those extra hours it opens it up to the people who work late and can’t make it and miss out on some of their favourite stores,” she said.

Elliot Home + Lifestyle is a new store on Fourth Street, owner Erica Hustak opened the shop in December.

Hustak said she hopes that by getting on board with this event she’ll be able to raise some new awareness for her business.

“It’s been a little bit of a trick, especially because we’re a brand new building, I think sometimes people don’t know if we’re open yet,” she said. “But, we’ve been working really hard to just bring people up to enjoy all the streets of downtown.”

Business owners are already saying that if things go well, they may even look at offering extending hours more often.

“If it catches on and we’re getting good draws of people, and we have more businesses that want to keep working together to promote it and work in conjunction, I think that definitely could be a possibility,” said Lambert.

May 18thwill be the first Third Thursday event, there will also be one on the third Thursday in the months of June, July, August and September.

Right now there are over a dozen different shops on board with the plan. Participating businesses are listed below.

Second street
Valhalla Pure Outfitters, Medicine Hat
Inspire Studio, Gallery & Café
Station Coffee Company
The Bee’s Knees at The Hive Artists’ Hub
The Hat’s Olive Tap
CocoLoco & Mutha Earth
Tourism Medicine Hat – pop up info centre
South Railway Street
Gravity Sports

Third Street
Labels For Men
Labels For Women
Madhatter Roastery
Big Al’s Music & Games
Oh My Creations
Bernice Makokis Cake Break
VRJunkiesMedHat

Fourth Street
Elliot Home + Lifestyle