'Shopopoly' to showcase Downtown Pittsburgh's business district
The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership’s latest promotion is a Golden Triangle take on an iconic board game.
“Monopoly” has become “Shopopoly.” Customers who visit stores from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday and get a color-coded game card (available at the shops or in Market Square) stamped to be entered into a drawing for prizes valued at $5,000.
No purchases are necessary, said Richard Hooper, vice president of marketing and communications for Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership. There are 20 businesses and a shopper has to stop in several within a zone to be eligible for prizes. Some are offering additional incentives with purchases, he said.
“Downtown retailers want to show their support for each other, and for the city,” said Beth Buenaventura, owner of Fresh Nostalgia, a women’s clothing and accessories boutique on Sixth Street near Heinz Hall. “We want people to know we are still here, and shopping with us can be done safely.”
Buenaventura plans to showcase fall fashions and offer a gift to the first 20 people who make a purchase at her store.
The promotion is part of the partnership’s REFORGE Downtown initiative that also includes creation of an asphalt mural on Penn Avenue.
The event came about during a July Zoom forum with retailers, who initially talked about a bingo card, which has been done in other business districts. They wanted to put a “new spin on it,” Hooper said.
“Basing the event on a different classic board game seemed unique, and allowed us to showcase the businesses in a way that more successfully tied a ‘crawl’ with a game that rewarded participation in a more targeted way,” Hooper said. “The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership team created some initial materials to share with retailers, and Shopopoly was born.”
The impact of covid-19 continues to place extreme pressures on these businesses, Hooper said.
“They are incredibly committed and optimistic, but they really need the community to show their love and support them, especially if we, as a community, hope to maintain this critical component of Downtown life,” Hooper said.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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