Retailers to stay open later during horse show

By Ellen Sussman, Manchester Journal Correspondent

MANCHESTER, VT—02/14/2003— In response to a request from many participants of the Vermont Summer Festival Horse Show for Manchester stores to stay open late one night a week, more than 70 store owners and managers have agreed to stay open later on Friday nights from July 9 through Aug. 8 when the show is in East Dorset.

Owners and managers have agreed to stay open until at least 8 p.m., and the majority sentiment was that they will remain open later if people are shopping.

News of many Manchester shops and outlets staying open later on Friday nights will be publicized in the Vermont Summer Festival Horse Show program guide and other local media.

The Manchester and the Mountains Chamber of Commerce is supporting stores staying open later and is putting the Friday night shopping news on its Web site. The Chamber will also sponsor musical events at the Town Green on eight Friday nights during the summer to help draw people into town and promote economic vitality.

A sizable number of merchants had expressed a need for all stores to band together if the later night shopping was to be a success for them, the horse show attendees and other visitors.

While some were hesitant because they stayed open later on their own in prior years and the move did not prove to be worthwhile, most agreed that with the concerted effort of the majority of merchants staying open - as a town - one night a week is long overdue.

A number of merchants said stores in most towns are open late at least one night a week year-round and were surprised that Manchester hasn't yet done so. Between one-third and one-half of the retailers who will be staying open on Friday during the horse show said they will also stay open on Saturday during the five-week show and that 8 p.m. wasn't late enough.

When retailers were asked by the Journal if they would join the "late 'til 8" Friday night shopping, there was one frequent question: "Who else near me is doing it?"

When stores near each other remain open, visitors can walk and wander into neighboring shops. With clusters of shops being open, merchants agreed there's more chance this attempt at later night shopping will be successful.

Comments ranged from appreciation that stores were finally banding together to stay open late, to "I'll try it," to few who said no.

Jay Flint, manager of Overland, has been open on Friday and Saturday nights until 8 p.m. for several months and believes stores in Manchester should be doing the same during busy seasons - especially in December.

"Customers are in a different frame of mind at night ... a frame of mind that helps buying. Specialty shops in particular benefit from night-time business," he said.

John Yeager, owner of Herend, said the Herend store greatly appreciates the customers it had gained as a result of the horse show and was "delighted to accommodate this group by staying open late."

Elliott Nachwalter of the Pipe Studio and Battenkill Outfitters said he's joining the majority to stay open until 8 p.m. in hopes of getting some of the horse show business. He and other merchants said that while motels, inns and restaurants do well during the show, retail sales drop because the show's attendees aren't shopping during the day. They also book most of the rooms in town, displacing visitors who do shop.

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