Sewickley's End of Summer Sidewalk Sale to boost borough businesses this week

Sewickley Chamber of Commerce officials hope a new event will give borough businesses a boost this week.

The inaugural End of Summer Sidewalk Sale along Beaver Street kicks off Wednesday and runs through Saturday.

Chamber President Diana Kauffman said 21 businesses are slated to participate, and are offering various sales and promotions. Most restaurants will have outdoor dining options.

“Small business districts like Sewickley have to find creative ways on how we can still welcome the greater Pittsburgh area to our town for shopping and dining, yet do it in a way that respects the current guidelines,” Kauffman said.

Kauffman hopes the sidewalk sale also fills some of the void left by events canceled earlier this year.

“Every year the chamber holds Night Marts on the final Friday of June, July and August,” she said. “This year we needed to pivot due to covid-19 restrictions. In our small business district, having a band, food vendors and artisan market that attracts 2,000 visitors to each Night Mart isn’t possible with the current restrictions in place by Gov. Tom Wolf.

“Last month, our fourth annual Christmas in July Sidewalk Sale brought more foot traffic to our business district since before the shutdown. After polling our patrons and business owners, the chamber learned that we had enough consumer confidence to hold a four-day End of Summer Sidewalk Sale in place of the August Night Mart. Extending the sale to four days instead of one evening, coupled with the opportunity to shop outside, allows for greater social distancing.”

Emily Fisk, manager of Fun by the Pound toy store, said summer items and Melissa & Doug toys will be buy two get one free for the event. The Melissa & Doug line make up most of the store’s merchandise.

“It’s just so nice to see everyone walking around,” Fisk said about the possible foot traffic. “If you can get to those people you should because they’re happy to be walking around. Sewickley is a town where people want to help. They want to be involved in the community. They want to be out and doing things and shopping and supporting local.”

She recalled seeing people up and down the business district once shops were allowed to reopen during the covid-19 pandemic. Some businesses were shutdown for weeks starting mid-March.

“I don’t know how many businesses they went to, but they had a lot of bags in their hands,” Fisk said.

The store owner is Brenda Fisk, Emily’s mother and a chamber member.

Businesses have different participating hours for the event. Most start at 10 a.m. with Vita Hair for Life opening the earliest at 8 a.m.

Other businesses expected to be a part of the event include 412 Style Lab, Apres, Bellwether, Gather, House, Jewel Thief, Perfect, Lex & Lynne, Pittsburgh House of Oils and Ragged Row.

The parking authority approved free parking for Saturday.

Weekday parking restrictions will be in effect Wednesday through Friday.

More information about the sidewalk sale is available at the chamber’s website.