Month: July 2023

It’s the Downtown Throwdown!

Posted on by Adrianna Town

*cue ‘The Final Countdown’ by Europe* . . . IT’S THE DOWNTOWN THROWDOWN!

We’re pretty stoked to have a wrestling tournament on Miami Street for August’s First Friday on Aug. 4 from 5-8 p.m. How cool is that? Watch a youth wrestling tournament from the street-side sidelines and make a whole evening of it throughout the district!

The Downtown Throwdown, formerly known as Thrash in the Bash, is returning to Wabash First Friday since its last showdown in 2019. Since then, we’ve missed the thrilling action of ankle sweeps, Russian ties and counter attacks in age groups from 6U to Junior. (Because gathering around with family, friends and spectators alike to watch an outdoor wrestling tournament is super cool.)

We invite you to explore more than the Downtown Throwdown, though! Wabash First Fridays, our monthly street festival that’s been happening for nearly 12 years, offer more than the eye can see.

Take a walk on the sidewalks through the district or hail a free ride from Trolley No.85 to explore! Shopping, dining, things to do, places to create…you can’t go wrong at a Wabash First Friday. And the best part? You’re supporting local businesses everywhere you go. From bricks-and-mortar businesses to food trucks and community vendors, it’s local, local, local.

And if you haven’t heard us say this yet, for every $1 spent with a locally owned small business, 67¢ stays in the local economy, according to American Express.

So, we cordially invite you to join us on Miami Street for the returning Downtown Throwdown and to enjoy our established businesses in Downtown Wabash, Indiana, as well as our awesome local community vendors.

Want in on early First Friday details before anyone else? Subscribe to our First Friday Insider’s Scoop e-newsletter! Exclusive details delivered right to your inbox.

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Wabash First Fridays in 2023 are presented by MetalX. Additional support for Wabash First Fridays come from Top Level Sponsors: Pettit Printing and Crossroads Bank.

Wabash First Fridays are events made possible by Downtown Wabash, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to a downtown district that is vibrant every day and night.

The ultimate guide to supporting independent retailers in Downtown Wabash, Indiana

Posted on by Adrianna Town

A retailer is defined as “a person or business that sells goods to the public in relatively small quantities for use or consumption rather than for resale.”

An independent retailer is that person and also one who builds their business without help from an established brand.

This can mean a few things.

For example, independent retailers reside in independent storefronts and have built their business from the ground up. They’ve done this by assessing all needs of the store including staffing, marketing, merchandising, sales, finances, customer service and more behind-the-scenes components to running a successful retail store.

In Downtown Wabash, Indiana, there are more than 30 independent retailers around every corner in the district from Paradise Spring Park to the Honeywell Center and the Mighty Wabash River to the railroad tracks at Hill Street. Mixed in with countless services and amenities, these retailers add to this diverse ecosystem of businesses.

“As the Main Street Organization for Downtown Wabash, Indiana, we believe in the power of our 100+ small businesses that reside in the district. We say power because without these unique, diverse business offerings in our small footprint, we wouldn’t have community support for all things great that happen year-round in this district. And without that community support, we wouldn’t have a strong downtown district for all to enjoy, 24/7, 365 days a year. These independent retailers help drive traffic to the district on event days and non-event days alike, which is something we really take pride in.”

Downtown Wabash, Inc. Executive Director Andrea Zwiebel said.

It’s no secret that owning a business these days comes with its own challenges. Independent retailers are regularly faced with economic uncertainties, supply chain and shipping delays, inflation and competitive job market. Which is why showing support for these independent retailers is important now more than ever.

Your support can come in a number of ways like shopping in-store, shopping online, sharing their social media profiles with your friends and family, leaving glowing reviews on Google, Yelp and Facebook and directing first-time visitors to your favorite independent retailers.

Explore the variety of independent retailers in Downtown Wabash and make your plans to visit them soon!

Downtown Businesses

Want to hear about nine businesses in Downtown Wabash making a difference? Take a look at our blog from 2022 when we celebrated Independent Retailers in our district.

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