Julie-Anna Carlisle wasn’t sure what to expect when she helped organize the Stroll, Sip and Shop event Thursday evening downtown. She wondered how many people would be willing to get out with a mask mandate in place, along with other considerations related to the coronavirus pandemic.
Shortly after the event started, the answer became evident right outside Carlisle’s business, Milkweed Health and Harmony Emporium on East Ninth Street, where several dozen people gathered to hear a jazz quartet and to browse among booths set up by artists and food and drink vendors.
As it turned out, Carlisle was more than happy with the turnout and the community’s interest. She even attracted some new customers from out-of-town, who appreciated her tea collection and told her, “We don’t have to go to Lexington now to get good tea.”
Keeping potential patrons interested and aware of downtown has been a challenge during the coronavirus outbreak. Independent businesses that choose to locate in older buildings at the city’s historic core are often relying on shoppers who want an experience that includes time to linger in close proximity with shopkeepers and other patrons. Those are the same conditions that some are trying to avoid during the coronavirus outbreak.
That’s why Stroll, Sip and Shop made sense, said Holly Boggess, director of the Downtown Renaissance Program.
“We are able to do this because people are dispersed outdoors,” she said. “There is tremendous support for these downtown businesses. They have really taken a hit. We support keeping everyone safe, but if you can do something like this, it is a win-win for the businesses and the community.”
For three hours Thursday evening, the city closed Ninth Street from South Virginia to Liberty Street, leaving space in the street for several booths and for seating in front of the jazz group that included bass player Bobby Harper, drummer Danny Shepherd, keyboard player Donnie Howard and saxophonist Pattie Cossentino.
Holiday Burgers sent its food truck. Hopkinsville Brewing and the county’s two distilleries, Casey Jones and MB Roland, served drinks. Afternoon Delight Ice Cream Parlor, already in the block, was open.
The Hopkinsville Art Guild had a pop-up show in the residence of Machteld Schrameyer and Johan Westenburg, next door to Milkweed.
The Pennyroyal Area Museum set up a booth on its front steps with wares from the gift shop. Two local artists, painters Jennifer Bowman and Temperance Graves, also had booths with works for sale.
“I would like to get my art out here more often,” Graves said.
Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. Brown was a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era, where she worked for 30 years. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board past president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition. She serves on the Hopkinsville History Foundation's board.
