THOMASVILLE, Ga. (WTXL) — After a tough year, businesses are going the extra mile to get customers through their doors.
Expanding operating hours is just the first step.
You can expect more special events in the downtown area starting Friday with a Sip and Shop.
Stores will begin extending hours every Friday and Sunday until Christmas.
The city is also urging people to purchase Downtown Dollars, which can be used at all 100 shops and restaurants.
Each year they raise around $30,000 through the program, and this year they have not met their goal.
Sarah Daniel is the owner of At Home Thomasville, in the heart of Thomasville's Main Street for six years. Hit hard by COVID-19, she's looking for a boost in sales.
"I'm extending my hours on Friday and Saturday night and then I'm also open on Sunday," said Daniel. "So we're basically open seven days a week until after Christmas."
Thomasville's Mainstreet is leading the charge by adding events to get people to those shops.
"Our first event is this Friday, it's called Sip and Shop so the stores will be open til 8 the restaurants will be open later," said Christy Owens, the special events coordinator for Mainstreet. "So this will be another chance for people to be out and shop."
There are also attractions like Photo Op Stations and incentives like downtown gift cards.
A little farther south, Quincy Mainstreet making the push to keep dollars local this Saturday.
"We're going to host a Mistletoe Market so it'll be on the courthouse square and the aim is to bring people to Quincy," said Penny O'Connell, the executive director for Quincy Mainstreet.
More than 20 businesses will be there to sell their products.
"We lost Danfinos Market on the Square which was a real loss for Quincy," O'Connell said. "It brought a lot of people to come and eat while they were in Quincy."
Communities in the Big Bend area are doing their best this holiday season to support their local gems.
They are asking everyone to follow CDC guidelines if you come out.
On Friday, stores will be open until 8 p.m.
Sunday hours are 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Restaurants may stay open later.
To find out how to support Mainstreet Quincy click here.
To find out how to support Downtown Thomasville click here.
