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NEWS / WEDNESDAY. JULY 14, 2010 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM
EN MASSE
Stores prepare for Sidewalk Sale
Brett Lisher, a senior from Lawrence, prepares a rack of T-shirts Tuesday afternoon at Francis Sporting Goods, 731 Massachusetts St., for Thursday's Sidewalk Sale. The annual sale draws thousands of shoppers in search of discounted items from the many stores downtown.
Ryan Waqqoner/KANSAN
BY ALISON CUMBOW alisonc@kansan.com
Andrea Morgan has a $100 budget and she needs make it stretch. She's looking for tops, skirts and jewelry. At the 50th Annual Sidewalk Sale Thursday, she can find what she's looking for.
More than 80 stores on Massachusetts Street will participate in the sale, some opening as early as 5 a.m.
Jane Pennington, director of Downtown Lawrence, Inc., said she thought the sale was originally planned as a way to clear out stockrooms and get ready for the return of students. Now, she said it was one of the biggest days of the year for the stores that participate.
"It's become a real shot in the arm for everybody," Pennington said. "It's about making the most of one day as possible."
Morgan, a senior from Kansas City, Kan., said she would head to the sale at about 11 a.m. after her classes end for the day. She said her strategy for the day was to head to the newly marked sale stuff first and then the already-marked sale items last.
The sale will be from sunrise to sunset, rain or shine. Businesses had to buy sidewalk permits for the day, and Pennington said she estimated last year there were between 10,000 and 15,000 people at the sale. She said the sidewalks would be really crowded.
"There's not as good of stuff in the super-sale section," she said.
"We slash prices," he said. "And
Paul Davis, owner of Sunflower Outdoor & Bike Shop, 802 Massachusetts St., said he went through the items he had in the store's warehouse to see what would be going on sale.
usually there are things that are $10 and $20 that used to be $150".
Davis said cu st o m ers should be patient and grab something they liked right when they saw it.
He said customers usually lined up outside his store before it opens, and
guard chair outside its door telling people what the sales are just like
The store will have a former employee and mascot on a life-
"It's become a real shot in the arm for everybody. It's about making the most of one day as possible."
many times, they grab items that are being taken outside.
JANE PENNINGTON Director, Downtown Lawrence, Inc.
last year.
"I know last year was a very successful day for us," Davis said. "We tend to be one of the main destinations, if not the first stop."
Chocolate, 933 Massachusetts St., said his store would open at 7 a.m., and that it would be a day full of guaranteed foot traffic. He said the
Rob Smith,
co-owner
of White
deals at White Chocolate would include lots of shoes and T-shirts.
Smith said he knew it would be a hot and humid day and that the store would have Red Bull and Monster energy drinks chilled outside for those who needed it.
Allison Yoder, a recent KU graduate from Lawrence, said she wouldn't be hitting the sale until later in the day.
"I'd rather pay full price than go in a huge crowd and be hot," she said.
Pennington said to get the best deals though, the earlier shoppers got out there, the better.
"I've gone once or twice. I know a bunch of my friends will stay up all night and then they'll go right when it opens. It's pretty competitive, actually. People will just go crazy for the deals. I just kind of like browsing everything. It's a lot of variety. So many stores have different things."
JOE MCDONOUGH Wichita senior
HANNAH SCHULT Manhattan junior
"No, but I've heard that there's always good deals. I hadn't really thought about it, but why not? It'd be fun to see everyone on the street and shopping on the street rather than in the stores where you can't really see them."
Have you ever been to the Lawrence Sidewalk Sale? Do you think you'll go this year?
BEA KILAT Salina junior
"I haven't. I wasn't in town for it last year, and in 2008 I think I wasn't in town either, so this is my first time being here. I'm going this year. I really love clothes so I think just getting them cheap is going to be great. I had a friend go last year, kind of later and it was all gone, so we're going at seven o'clock."
JENNIFER NISH
Omaha, Neb., grad student "I haven't. I would be, but I'm super poor. It'd probably just tempt me. I'd probably see a bunch of stuff I thought I needed, but wouldn't really be able to afford it."
BEN STEINEGER Overland Park senior "No,but I might if I don't have too much homework.I try to do my homework during the week."
— Compiled by Sarah Henry