Night market boosts business in downtown Grafton

The streets of downtown Grafton were unusually busy on Aug. 27.

But it wasn’t because that Thursday traditionally draws a crowd to downtown. 

It was bustling because the Grafton Downtown Business Association — an offshoot of the Grafton Area Chamber of Commerce — held its inaugural night market for four hours that evening.

Downtown businesses held open houses and the Paramount Plaza was filled with music and food vendors. In addition, vendors lined downtown streets from 12th Avenue to Cedar Street.

“It went very well,” Chamber Executive Director Elizabeth Mueller said. “We had such positive feedback we’re looking to do it again in spring and fall next year, and to expand the footprint.”

The event, she said, was more than just a promotion.

“It’s not only about sales but awareness as well,” Mueller said.

“Like every downtown, we’re trying to get people to revisit our retailers. We have new offerings and we want them to support our shops.”

Vendors were brought in not just to supplement the offerings at the event, she said.

“At some point, they might be the ones setting up shop in downtown,” Mueller said.

The event was held on a Thursday night — a night that doesn’t traditionally draw a lot of people to downtown.

But, Mueller said, the Thursday night concerts in Veterans Park draw a crowd, and the Chamber hoped to capitalize on that.

“With fall here, you have football and other events on Fridays. Friday nights are busy,” she said.

“A lot of our businesses have great traffic on weekends.”

Thursday, she said, just seemed to make sense.