First Fridays sees increase in attendance at recent event

Milledgeville’s First Fridays, aimed at celebrating the art and culture of the town as well as generating local revenue, continue to be a popular success, as a record number of people attended the latest event on April 1.

Carlee Schulte, interim director of Milledgeville Mainstreet, gave a report on the April First Friday and a quick preview of the May event to the Milledgeville City Council in its latest meeting on April 12.

According to Schulte, several downtown businesses reported strong sales numbers for the evening.

“Buffington’s sales were up about 30 percent from the previous First Friday. Velvet Elvis said their sales were up from the previous time and at least double that of a regular Friday night,” Schulte said. “Asian Bistro said it was one of the best nights they’ve had in a very long time. We’ve all heard all good things for the most part.”

Schulte added that after not participating in the February First Friday, the owner of Villane’s Jewelry & Unique Accessories decided to give it a shot for the March event and came away impressed.

“She said her sales were like Christmas,” Schulte said. “For April, she decorated her own pottery, and she said her sales were just as good if not better than the previous one.”

City Councilman Steve Chambers said he has been impressed by the events so far as well.

“The third one was well attended,” Chambers said. “I went into Velvet Elvis, and they had a fantastic jazz band playing, and it was a very enjoyable atmosphere. The crowd was probably three times what it was from the last time.”

Schulte also gave a preview of the May First Friday, which will take place on May 6. The theme will be “Celebrate Downtown Milledgeville” and will likely feature a ceremony for the completion of the city’s sidewalk renovation project, “Streetscape.” Several other events and performances are scheduled for the evening.

“So far we have a Caribbean steel drum band and Allied Arts will be hosting The Sunnyside Mountain Boys,” Schulte said. “There will be bucket drummers and a kid’s art show as well.”

City Councilman Phillip Joiner told the council he hoped to see the events expand because of their family atmosphere.

“I’m of the opinion that what makes it unique is the family atmosphere,” Joiner said. “If it comes up again in discussion in front of council, I hope we can continue to find ways to grow it and keep it in the community.”

Chambers said that the idea behind the First Fridays is an effective form of economic stimulus.

“When you’re in a recessionary period, a business owner wants to see signs that things are going to be back to what they once were and that they are going to be able to pay the bills each month,” Chambers said. “What we have been able to do here is not only enjoy the arts and fellowship and what our community has to offer, but to also give the businesses downtown a solid economic boost in a time in which it’s needed.”

Posted by Scotty Thompson on Apr 21 2011. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.