Shop on Washington Avenue, Saturday, November 24th Between noon & 6:00 pm. The Tree Will be Lit Today, Friday, between 5:00 pm and 6:30pm.
It’s not necessary to fight the crowds at the Maine Mall this weekend to do your holiday shopping. If you haven’t explored the shops on Washington Avenue, this is a good time to do it and support local and independent businesses. Shop Local Day is scheduled for Saturday, November 24, between noon and 6:00 pm
The Washington Street shops need your support this year because they’ve been adversely affected by the on-going construction there. Detours and stop-and-go traffic have made it more complicated for many of these businesses to meet their financial goals – so you can take this opportunity to give their bottom line a big boost.
If you haven’t visited the charming and unique five (5) black box rental units atg 93 Washington Avenue, you have a wonderful surprise awaiting you. The most recent addition is the new optical boutique owned by Chris Wheaton. He can fill prescriptions for eye glasses. Chris will also be carrying contacts. His suppliers are from all over the world. “Every space in Portland is huge. This space is just the right size,” Chris said recently. He will be offering 20% off frames with lenses for Saturday’s shopping. He will be open every day but Sunday in the future. Chris was even interviewed for the November issue of “Down East” magazine. hello@northoptical.me
Ben Ray co-owner of “Evageline” will be selling several blankets that were endorsed in Oprah’s magazine as one of her “favorite things in 2018.” Blankets in this shop are hand-made in Monmouth, Maine.
When you go into a shop, ask for a bingo card and get it stamped before you proceed to Oxbow Blending and Bottling for a social hour. You will be eligible for several raffle items donated by local businesses. This is a wonderful opportunity to mix and mingle with your friends and neighbors.
Mayor Ethan Strimling has proclaimed Saturday, November 24th Shop Local Day. Nationally, it is Small Business Day. A day that was begun in 2010 by American Express.
“All Who Wander” a coffee shop with fantastic coffee moved out of their space on Tuesday of this week. The coffee shop will be relocating downtown soon. Perhaps this business is partially a casualty of the construction at its front-door. The leases are month-to-month, so it’s easier to get out of them than ordinarily. Shopping at locally owned and independent businesses keeps 76% more of local money here in Portland. And that’s important to everyone!
For more background information on the black boxes, please read herein posts dated March 18, 2018, August 13, 2018 and September 28, 2018.
note: mhn.com is once again having difficulty posting photos, so the photos taken this afternoon can’t be used!