DENVER – The Downtown Denver Partnership launched a massive downtown sale this weekend in an effort to attract more buyers to an area hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.
“It’s really hard to gather people in a safe way right now,” said DDP senior manager Emily Tucker. “And this is really about supporting the retailers who are struggling. They have told us that they see a real impetus by doing things like this. ”
One of those retailers is Moda Man Men’s Clothing Boutique. Moda Man has been calling Denver’s iconic Larimer Square home for decades.
“Moda Man has been around for a while,” said owner Jon Johnson.
And although Johnson has seen many ups and downs, the pandemic is all new.
“It’s tricky,” Johnson said. “It has been very difficult. Mostly people really come down here to eat.
That, he hopes, will move some racks to the sidewalk, which will drive up sales.
“I’m excited about everything that the company and the traffic below will send,” Johnson said.
“I think I’ve been shopping with Jon for the last four or five years,” said Kourtney Woods, who made a point of stopping on Saturday.
“I feel good about supporting where you are,” Woods said. “I was born from here – born here, raised here.”
That is exactly what the DDP is hoping for.
“We’ve been supporting restaurants with the increased patio space for months,” Tucker said. “We wanted to do something similar for our retailers.”
Expand on proven success while meeting your customers where they are most comfortable right now.
“Meet them outside, on the sidewalk,” Tucker said. “Bring the store outside, really.”
“It’s been really beautiful here in the square,” said Katie Wagner, manager of Qinti, a Peruvian store in Larimer Square.
“It’s one of the most beautiful wool you can get in the world,” said Connor Koldeway, with Qinti. “It’s unbelievable. Super soft, lightweight, durable.”
“It has been nice to be outside,” Wagner said. “I feel like a lot more people, including us, we’re more comfortable being outside in the fresh air – in the beautiful Colorado weather.
It is space that can be just the best medicine for all you want to get out.
“We can have fun with a sidewalk sale and dining out and kind of keeping going through it all,” Tucker said. “Downtown will be back.”
“I’m looking forward to a fantastic day today,” Johnson said.
The Sidewalk Sale continues on Sunday, August 23 from 12 noon to 6 p.m.
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