By Gracey Murphy
This weekend, every shopaholic’s dreams will become reality as Iowa City hosts its 48th year of Sidewalk Sales.
Each summer, downtown and North Side stores and restaurants come together to share the annual event.
“Sidewalk Sales is a really longstanding tradition in the Downtown District and a lot of [other cities],” Downtown District Director of Operations Betsy Potter said. “A lot of places have gotten away from it, but with Iowa’s City’s density, we’ve been doing it for 48 years.”
Every July, the Downtown District coordinates with stores and restaurants to promote the event. The various people discuss what sales will occur and share a list of them. Stores taking part this year include Textiles, Beadology, Tailgate, RSVP, and many more.
The sales help the stores get rid of their current inventory and prepare for the upcoming season.
Hannah Korpel, a marketing and social-media employee at Revival, 117 E. College St., said the establishment would have a huge tent with lots of discounted items outside the store. Additionally, there will be a $5 rack, a $10 rack, and everything in the store will be on sale.
“Pretty much since the beginning of summer, we’ve been putting together items we’re going to sell,” Korpel said.
Catherine’s Boutique, 7 S. Dubuque St., will also sell items at heavily discounted rates, employee Kara Scheres said. The store will be open every day of the event, and almost every item in the store will be discounted.
“We love sidewalk sales,” she said. “I love being outside, I love pulling things out, I love digging through the merchandise, I love helping people — it’s fun.”
Scheres is among many who love the event. Some love it so much they’ll travel from the farthest corners of southeastern Iowa to attend. All sorts of people visit because of the cluster of stores Iowa City has, Potter said.
“Over the years, it has gained different momentum based on who participates,” she said. “There’s always a lot of participation and a lot of great sales; people always look forward to the weekend.”
However, the one main difference this year will be the location. Because of construction, a few stores will relocate their sales to the Black Hawk Mini Park so they can have sidewalks.
Nonetheless, the event still promises to be big; more than 25 stores and restaurants are set to participate during the weekend.
“It’s fun, and you should come support your retailers,” Scheres said, “I work [at Catherine’s], but I love to go shop. That’s the only bad thing for me — sometimes, I can’t get out of the store to shop other stores.”
When: Today-July 24
Where: Downtown & North Side
Cost: Free