Business & Tech

1st Thursday Launches May 2

Historic Downtown Duluth merchants, restaurants staying open late, offering discounts and giveaways during initial promotion.

Retail merchants and restaurants in Historic Downtown Duluth are launching 1st Thursday May 2. More than a dozen downtown businesses will stay open late and offer discounts and giveaways from 4 to 10 p.m. Participating merchants include several new shops.

The 1st Thursday activities will continue through the summer and possibly fall. Next 1st Thursday dates are June 6 and Aug. 1.

“Being modeled after the Alive After 5 concept in downtown Roswell, 1st Thursday is a way for Duluth merchants to draw retail business downtown,” said PURE Taqueria Duluth partner Rich Dennis. “We have all of the downtown retail merchants committed to offering shopping discounts and remaining open late into the evening. The restaurants are also committed to offering food and drink specials as well.” PURE will be selling its skinny Margaritas for $5, $3 Dos Equis beer and half-price appetizers during the initial 1st Thursday promotion.

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The city is providing live musical entertainment, and some retailers and restaurants are planning special entertainment, he said.

In addition, several food trucks are expected to park downtown and offer specialty foods.

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The Duluth City Council has approved allowing outdoor consumption of alcoholic beverages purchased from licensed downtown businesses during the event. “Patrons will be able to walk from shop to shop with a cocktail, beer, or glass of wine,” Dennis said.

Almost every downtown merchant and restaurant has agreed to provide some deal, special, discount, or drawing in their business, Dennis said. The Facebook page for downtown Duluth has postings from local merchants about the specials they intend to run for the event, he said. The URL for the Facebook page is: https://www.facebook.com/DowntownDuluthGA.

Here is a list of some of the specials and giveaways that downtown restaurants and merchants are planning to offer during 1st Thursday May 2:

  • 2 Smith Art Gallery – Drawing for a $50 certificate toward a $250 summer oil painting class. The class starts the first week of June.
  • Best of Brews – $2 off a growler fill plus a brewery pint glass. Two tickets to the June 1 “Brews and Tunes” Beer Fest in Duluth will be given away in a drawing.
  • Crave Pie Studio – Drawing for a large ($25) pie. Free coffee or tea with pie purchase.
  • Eye Candy Art Studio – Buy one get one 50 percent off for all drink ware pottery to paint.
  • Farmhouse Home Décor & Gifts – Drawing for a grapefruit and mangosteen scented Keswick Candle.
  • New Dawn Theatre – $10 discount tickets for the Thursday, May 2, 8 p.m. performance of “Barabbas” if patrons mention 1st Thursday or show a receipt from a restaurant or shop for merchandise purchased that day.
  • Park Café – $5 wine by the glass and complimentary appetizer (spinach and artichoke dip or beer cheddar fondue) with purchase of two entrees.
  • Peace, Love & Decorating – Drawing for a $50 gift certificate. Any customer who Likes the shop on Facebook will receive a 20% discount coupon in the mail.
  • PURE Taqueria – $5 skinny Margaritas, $3 Dos Equis beer, and half-price appetizers.
  • Red Clay Theatre – Eddie Owen will greet visitors and hand out calendars of upcoming live music concerts.
  • Sassy Girl – Free monogram for the first 10 people who Like the shop’s Facebook page.
  • Steverino’s – $7.95 pitchers of Yuengling or Bud Light beer. Trivia starts at 7 p.m.
  • Trish Land – Drawing for a $50 gift certificate for store merchandise. Also, if a customer takes a photo of themself and posts it on the shop's Facebook page, they will be entered in a separate drawing for an exotic orchid plant.
  • The Vintage Styled Life – Drawings for a $25 gift certificate for merchandise or $50 certificate off a choice of a vintage rental or styling service.


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