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In small towns it is not unusual to see the downtown business district close up at five and go home. Yet, for the last year, Superior merchants have been lighting up the downtown district and staying open late for Shop Superior 2nd Friday. There are deals to be had, as each shop offers up a special for the evening, and there is live music, street vendors and entertainment found up and down Main Street, Superior.
Boonie LeBlanc owns the Wild Cow Gallery and is a founding member of the Superior Merchants Association, which launched the ‘Shop Superior 2nd Friday’ event last year. The group consists of over a dozen retail merchants who have businesses in Superior, mostly lining the downtown district along Main Street.
LeBlanc, who is also a member of the Chamber, says the group felt more effort was needed to promote the retail businesses in Superior. “The Chamber has a much more diverse group and retail merchants are less than 10% of the Chamber membership,” says LeBlanc. The local merchants got together a year ago to see what could be done to market their businesses and now pool their money to pay for advertising and promotion.
“We split the cost sixteen ways, so it makes it possible for us to do more,” says LeBlanc.
Shop Superior 2nd Fridays has grown over the year thanks to sponsors, volunteers, and vendors who make sure there is something for everyone to turn out to see, do and enjoy.
LeBlanc says the music line up is largely coordinated by Steve Holmquist and Paul Sears who are musicians themselves and have roots in the music business.
Paul Sears, who has a large recording studio in Superior, was also a member of ‘The Muffins’, a progressive rock band in the ’70s, and Steve Holmquist is a local musician, who produces CDs and is well known for his song about Superior, aptly named “Superior State of Mind.” With talent like this in charge of 2nd Friday music line up, there is a surprising variety of talent that comes into town to play for 2nd Friday according to LeBlanc.
Photo by LCGross
One of the newest vendors to participate in Superiors’ 2nd Friday was Tara Sillert, who came from Pinetop where her father, Richard Sillert, is a master woodsmith and produces Harry Potter-style magic wands. They sell their wares through Renaissance Festivals, but Tara said she had volunteered to be a host at the upcoming Picket Post Mountain tours this weekend and thought it would be fun to participate in the 2nd Friday.
“Superior is a beautiful little town,” she said looking around “I had no idea there was this much going on down here.”
Shop Superior 2nd Fridays takes place each month. Typically it is hosted from 5pm – 8pm during the winter months when the nights are colder and they start later and stay open longer as the weather warms up. Discover more regional events HERE.
Participating Merchants include: Random Boutique, My Home Group, Smokey’s Mercantile, SunFlour market, Porter’s Cafe, Felecia’s ice Cream, Wild Cow Gallery, Rose’s Roses & Gecko Colleckto’s, Superior Sweets, Casa Denogean, Superior Skin Care, Brick House Bakers, Save Money Market, Rolling Rock Gallery, Superior Chamber of Commerce, Ray Credit Union and Sole to Soul Awaking.
Writer, photographer. Passionate foodie, lover of good books and storytelling. Lives in Globe. Plays in the historic district. Travels when possible.
