By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
OLEAN — This Saturday, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the Shops on Union will welcome trick-or-treaters.
After the trick-or-treating, youths can participate in a costume judging contest in front of the Olean Municipal Building.
Alderwoman Sonya McCall of Ward 4 is helping to publicize the Shops on Union Halloween promotion on Saturday. The downtown area lies within her ward
“I’ve been working with a number of businesses to plan more activities to increase foot traffic in the downtown area,” McCall said in an interview earlier this week. “The art and music walks” brought more people downtown, for example.
“The trick-or-treating idea grew out of that,” McCall said. Eighteen businesses on North Union Street and including a couple on East State and West State streets, are participating.
The storers will be handing out treats and two St. Bonaventure University marketing students who are helping the downtown merchants will judge the costumes between 1:30 and 2 p.m.
Each participating shop will have a poster in their window and a list of other shops. They include: Kaleidoscope,
2 Sweet Desserts, Singer, Christie’s Boutique, Green Acres, Beat City, Rays, Fashion World, The Eatery, A Cut Above, Rick’s Golf World, Paper Factory, Jupiter Cafe, For Craft’s Sake, ASAP (11:30-12:30), Color it Creative, Skin Deep, Olean Wellness Store, For Craft’s Sake. Also, A Jason Clemons Salon on East State Street and Tri County Arts Council and Mandy’s Flowers on West State Street.
McCall said she plans to set up a table on North Union Street to hand out her treats.
A core of North Union Street businesses began working with McCall in the past few years to promote downtown shopping. They were: Christies, Kaleidoscope, Color It Creative, Beat City, For Craft’s Sake and 2 Sweet Desserts.
“We were coming up with ideas and helping each other out,” McCall said. “The question is: What can we do as small business owners to bring more people downtown? Some things have worked better than others.”
The St. Bonaventure marketing students will also help come up with new ideas and new promotions.
By ramping the events up to one Friday a month, McCall said people will have something to look forward to coming downtown regularly.
