Ready?! Set?! Shop!! Yes, Friday marks the “official” start to the holiday shopping season. After food and family on Thursday, many folks like to get out and shop on Friday, and you can count on the UrbanCincy staff to be a part of that crowd. But, we won’t be shopping just anywhere, and don’t think you should be either.
The businesses in historic Over-the-Rhine’s Gateway Quarter are hosting their second annual Holidays in the Bag event on Friday from 9am to 9pm. The shopping event not only supports a local charity, The Emmanuel Community Center, but it also supports the merchants and their stores in Gateway Quarter, and it supports YOU the shopper! Talk about a win for everyone involved! And if that weren’t enough, Santa himself will be riding through the streets on a Segway thanks to the neighborhood Segway Store.
Top, left to right: A Lucky Step, Park+Vine, Outside, Joseph Williams Home. All photos taken by Randy Simes.
Here’s how the whole thing works: first, stop by the corner of 12th and Vine streets to purchase your special Gateway Quarter Shopping Bag for a small donation. Then take your bag and go shopping! Try out some independent stores in The Q such as Park + Vine, Metronation, or Outside (see the full list below). Each and every shop will be offering a special discount for whatever you can fit into your special shopping bag, with most offering a 20% discount. You should definitely make plans to get out and get some unique gifts for the people in your life while saving a few bucks!
If you read UrbanCincy regularly you know we support the 3/50 Project because of what it does for the community around us. When you support a locally owned shop, nearly 70% of the money stays inside the community, whereas if you buy from a chain it’s more like 40%. So you can take your money to the mall and see over half of it leave our area, or you can come to The Q and keep most of it in Cincinnati.
Come anytime during the day, and stop by a local establishment for a snack or beverage. Shopping early? There is Coffee Emporium on Central Parkway. Planning on coming around midday? Stop into Venice on Vine for some lunch. Have to work on Friday and planning on coming later on? Below Zero is there so that you can reward yourself with a Friday afternoon cocktail. After all, shopping is hard work!
