GALION — The Galion-Crestline Area Chamber of Commerce has announced the return of Third Fridays In Galion, or TFIG, in Uptowne Galion Friday, May 18.
TFIG is an opportunity for the Galion community to gather Uptowne and support local Galion merchants.
“Our goal is to give the community a reason to come out and really enjoy the new stores and what we have to offer in Uptowne Galion,” said Chamber Member Engagement Director Miranda Jones. “We were very pleased with Third Fridays last year and are hoping they will continue to be a success for our community and our businesses.”
The event will kick off at the Park Square Gazebo with the third Friday in May, the 18th from 5 to 8 p.m. The Galion-Crestline Area Chamber of Commerce, is collaborating with Uptowne businesses, merchants and other interested organizations to implement Third Fridays In Galion for the second year.
“Our main goal is to get people Uptowne, keep the entertainment at the Gazebo family friendly and get everyone out and in the businesses,” explained Jones. “Galion’s Uptowne really has such interesting and unique shops, and this is a wonderful opportunity for people to experience what I get to see every day.”
In 2017, retailers in the Uptowne Galion area stayed open late to offer sales, restaurants offered food and drink specials, and vendors set up in designated spaces located on the square. The only section of street blocked off was North Market at the Square to the alley that runs behind the United Bank and Spectrum.
Vendors set up in the parking spaces blocked off outside of Spectrum and United Bank.
“Our goal is for people to drive through town and see the people at the square, the road blocked off to North Market, hear the music from the bands at the Gazebo and wonder what is going on,” Jones said. “We want them to stop or circle back around to check out the festivities and shop local here in Uptowne Galion.”
For many of the local stores, the real benefit for them is the recognition and awareness that comes from people seeing them open. The success may come weeks or months later when people are planning for purchases of things like clothing, custom gifts, or antiques and they remember the unique store they visited for Third Fridays.
The event also gives people awareness of the revitalization efforts in the Uptowne district.
“We have people stop in or call the office all the time to get information about new businesses coming into Galion. Many of them are surprised at how much the Uptowne area has grown the past few years,’” Joe Kleinknecht, President/ CEO of the Galion-Crestline Area Chamber of Commerce said. “That’s what we hope to continue to see as the outcome of these Third Fridays. It’s a chance for people to really see what’s there, what’s coming to Galion and get excited about it.”
Jones said she is eager for the second year of Third Fridays In Galion, which she coined TFIG last year.
“We are so excited for the second year and to see how much more involved the community becomes in these events,” she said. “Stuff the Bus was a huge event for us to end with in August 2017, if we can keep the enthusiasm from that event going in 2018, Third Fridays in Galion will be another great community addition.”
If anyone is interested in becoming a Third Friday in Galion vendor or sponsor, they can contact Miranda Jones at the Chamber office, 419-468-7737 or via email mjones@galion-crestlinechamber.org. Jones stated that she will be reaching out to the 2017 vendors in the next two weeks.
