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Downtown business owners and Ypsilanti residents are being called to the streets this afternoon in a spontaneous marketing tactic.
Members of the Downtown Association of Ypsilanti are calling the move afternoon siestas, which will take place every Thursday at 4:45 p.m., starting today.
Instituting afternoon siestas was discussed at the group’s meeting Wednesday night. David Austin, DAY chair, said it will be a time for merchants and residents to come downtown, bring a “legal” drink like iced tea or lemonade, wear a funny hat and converse with each other.
“Let the people see us,” Austin said. “It should be fun.”
Austin said people driving home might notice the foot traffic while driving on Michigan Avenue after work and wonder what is going on. He said it might garner attention and bring people out to the Crossroads Music Festival Friday.
“I would be interested to know what is going on,” Austin said. “That’s kind of the fun, the spontaneity.”
Mark Swanson, a DAY member and owner of Terry’s Bakery downtown, said he might bake some brownies for the event. John Coleman, who owns LookInTheAttic, suggested people bring balloons, the family and strollers and walk around.
To help raise money for Crossroads, DAY will be hosting two fundraisers through local businesses this month.
“It looks like we’re in good order to cover costs this year,” said Kevin Hill, a DAY member said, at the meeting.
After receiving $10,000 in funding from the Downtown Development Association this year, the group had to raise $7,000. Most of the costs for the outdoor concert series, which runs every Friday during the summer months, arise from sound equipment.
Local bands Just Jill and the Mobsters will be playing at the Tap Room Saturday from 9 p.m. until the bar closes. Admission is $5, all of which will benefit the festival.
Additionally, volunteers from the organization will be guest bartenders at Pub 13 on July 30 from 6 p.m. – 11 p.m. All of the tips collected at the bar during that time will go to benefit the concert series.
Hill said that when the festival, which has been attracting hundreds of people downtown every week, the DAY would like to create revenue for other projects to bring people downtown, like advertising local businesses.
“Rather than have the entire emphasis on Crossroads,” Hill said, “we’ve made a commitment to try and generate revenue streams beyond that.”