Downtown Businesses Want You to “Shop Late Local”
by Chris Tramel

Locally owned businesses in and around the downtown Smithville area are offering a way for potential customers to discover what local shops have to offer. Several businesses have banded together for their “Shop Late Local” event beginning this Thursday.

Sommer Britt of The Male Room Brotique in Smithville said that starting on Thursday, August 5, a collection of about 15 local retail businesses will be staying open late, until 7:00 p.m., so people can come and shop locally. The event is especially geared for  those people whose normal work hours interfere with the local businesses’ normal hours.

“We’re planning on this being a monthly event, being held on the first Thursday of every month,” Britt told the Smithville Review. “All of the downtown businesses will be participating, but also a couple outside of the downtown area. Thrive Boutique and Just a Little Southern Charm will also be participating.”

Britt said that while the businesses will be open for shoppers, Shop Late Local will also be an event with entertainment. “Tony Luna will be sponsoring live music during the event, and two businesses will be providing food this week. The music will be set up right in front of Lake Homes Realty, while State Farm and Bates Apparel will be serving hotdogs, chips and water to shoppers.”

“One of the biggest complaints that business owners here get is that people can’t shop local because their work hours coincide with the hours that we are open,” Britt explained. “We just want to let them know that we hear them, and that’s kind of our resolve, to offer them another option. We want people to know that Smithville has a lot of mom and pop shopping experiences to offer, and that they don’t always have to go out of town to find what they are looking for.”

The participating business (listed below) will be staying open late, until 7:00 p.m.

·         The Male Room Brotique

·         Button Willow General Store & Coffee Shop

·         Willow Boutique

·         Magnolia Roots

·         105 Market on Main

·         Vintage Owl 

·         Treats by Tiff Bakery

·         615 Threads

·         Just a Little Southern Charm 

·         DeKalb Florist

·         S&B Design & Graphics

·         Thrive Boutique

·         Cantrell's Clothing

·         Fluty's Shoes

·         Bates Apparel

·         State Farm Insurance