To snatch the best deals on designer clothes and shoes, games, and many more items head to Cedarhurst and shop during the 27th annual Summer Sidewalk Sale that is sponsored by the village’s Business Improvement District.
The now four-day event gets underway next Wednesday and runs 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. On Thursday the hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday from 10 a.m. to when the stores close before Shabbos. On Sunday the sale is from 1 to 6 p.m. This year, nearly 85 stores are participating, according to Teri Shure, the BID’s executive director.
The event has grown tremendously since it was first introduced in the late 1980s. Jerry Cohen, the owner of participating store Trees Accessories Handbags, had experienced a sidewalk sale in a small upstate town near Kingston, and with the support of the Cedarhurst mayor and 15 merchants, he was able to bring it to the town.
Since then the sale has served as a great asset to the merchants. It has consistently generated a huge amount of foot traffic, which has translated into revenue as storeowners have emptied their shelves of older inventory. That helps merchants have space for newer, fresher merchandises, Cohen said. Miriam Dure, the owner of Savvy Sheek Inc., a women’s clothing store that moved from Lawrence to Cedarhurst, is especially excited because it will be her first time participating in the Sidewalk Sale. “It brings business into the community, and with the way the economy has been, I think it will be a perfect boost for us,” she said.
Thousands of people have gravitated to past sales, and the number of customers is only expected to grow. Previously the sale was a two-day event that took place only on Wednesday and Thursday. Due to popular demand, Friday and Sunday were added to accommodate people who worked during the week.