Downtown merchants express enthusiasm, excitement for first Evenings on Elk event
Published 8:34 am Friday, May 17, 2019
One of the many folks who stopped in to enjoy some Big Dan's bbq.
Riding in style past one of the many vendors offering goodies throughout the evening.
Marge getting a picture during "Evenings on Elk"
Everyone seemed to enjoy the tasty offerings on hand near "The Gathering Place"
The line seemed to never end at Sam's Snowball Paradise...just one of the many vendors offering treats during "Evenings on Elk"
Who says you can't have a picnic downtown as many proved it possible during "Evenings on Elk", downtown Elizabethton.
Downtown Elizabethton was packed on Friday night for Evenings on Elk, the new summer event which will continue throughout the summer on the second Friday of each month, with an estimated 3,000+ folks strolling on Elk and E Streets, eating, shopping, listening to live music and socializing.
Beginning with the launch of the Gathering Hub, with its food truck rally at the Corner of East Elk and Elm, nearly 40 Elizabethton businesses were open for the party which lasted from 5-9 p.m. An “after party” then ensued on the third block of Elk, with the newly opened taproom, Riverside Taphouse, and Jiggy Ray’s staying open even later.
Evenings on Elk (EOE) was coordinated by Chasity Thompson of Building 520 and hosted by Project Move, a group of local merchants and community members dedicated to promoting downtown Elizabethton. EOE also dovetailed with the opening of Elizabethton’s first taproom, Riverside Taphouse, at 635 East Elk, which was overflowing with customers throughout the evening.
Despite the large crowd, it was a peaceful evening, according to Major Jerry Bradley of the Elizabethton Police Department, who said no incidents were reported that night.
But in the stores and restaurants, it was anything but quiet. They were packed and merchants raved about the traffic generated in their businesses.
Sherrie Horne, owner of Cottage Boutique at 543 Elk Ave., said staying open until 9 p.m. was “definitely worth my time.”
“Truly we had people who came in that evening that had never been in our store, who didn’t even know we were here and we’ve been here four years,” she said. “They enjoyed the event and everything I saw was positive. It was so nice to see the town busy and people meeting up with old friends.”
Restaurants also saw their share of activity, with lines out the door of many local eateries. Thompson said Sweetsie Treats employees were so overwhelmed they had to call for back up. Some of the food trucks reported as much as 45-minute waits.
Dan Britt, owner of Big Dan’s East Tennessee BBQ Company, said he is really excited about the event and had “a real good turnout” on Friday evening. The restaurant has recently relocated to the downtown, finding a new home on the third block of East Elk Avenue.
“We were packed with people coming in and trying us out,” Britt said. “Hopefully it will keep going like that. From what I’ve heard from all the other downtown people it was a real success. I know we sure served a lot of people that night. We will bringing in extra staff for the next one, and just keep trying to keep getting better and better.”
The downtown area was busy from one end to the other and Wes Bradley, Elizabethton/Carter County Chamber of Commerce outdoor recreation director, said he saw a good crowd at the Covered Bridge Park.
“We put together a group of folks to highlight outdoor recreation in Carter County down at the Covered Bridge,” Bradley said. Participants included Hampton Trail Bicycle Shop, the Nolichuckey Outdoor Learning Institute, Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts and East Tennessee ATV. The Jackson Action Wagon provided kayak demos, and there was an exhibit of the proposed Surf Betsy whitewater park. Meanwhile, across the street, yoga was going on.
“We didn’t see quite the busyness that people up in town saw, but the ones who did come were very interested in what we have to offer in our great outdoors,” Bradley said. “We are looking forward to doing this again.”
“What you saw take place on Friday night is something I’ve dreamed of seeing for years,” said Tracie Mosley Young, owner of Building 520.
In addition to a great local turnout, Mosley said many of her customers had come into downtown from surrounding communities.
“I met so many new people, and when I asked if they had ever been in our store before, 80 percent said ‘No.’ They had no idea we were even here, so this was a great way to introduce our store to people and introduce our downtown area as a retail outlet.
“I don’t know how many people were at the event, but hundreds were in and out of my store,” she added. “There was a constant flow, and I had a record number of transactions.
“We were exhausted, but once we closed our doors, we headed down to Riverside Taproom. We wanted to congratulate them on their opening and support them. It is a joy to see others succeed.”
