Downtown Sidewalk Sales Draw Shoppers Seeking Deals

Susan Widman was just finishing lunch at Front Street Cantina.

Widman said she visits downtown Napervilleevery weekend for a lunch, but normally doesn't shop. Yet after her lunch this day, Widman went over to Gotskind’s Childrens Shoes & Clothes where she perused a table with at least 50 pairs of shoes; she was shopping for her grandchildren.

“I’m just enjoying the beautiful day,” Widman said. “My shopping is going good.”

Widman, and other visitors to downtown Naperville, found a number of stores and restaurants participating in the Sidewalk Sales & Taste of Downtown Naperville.

Mary Flanagan, of Naperville, went shopping with a friend Saturday. Flanagan said the sidewalk sale spurred her to shop at stores she normally would not have visited.

“I visited stores that I’ve never been to before because they were a bit out of my price range,” Flanagan said. “But the sales made it work. I’m looking forward to wearing my new stuff.”

Flanagan was back at the sale Sunday to make one return; she bought an item that didn’t quite fit. Even so, she wasn’t upset, because the friend she went shopping with Saturday encouraged her to explore new stores, such as A La Mode.

“If I was by myself I would have never walked down that road,” Flanagan said. “It was a neat place to visit.”

Carlene Jenkins, 40, of Naperville was browsing outside the Naperville Running Company on Sunday afternoon. She said she was looking for a pair of running shoes.

Like Flanagan, Jenkins said she has been to the sidewalk sale before, but has not made it an annual occasion. Jenkins said the beautiful weather is what convinced her to visit the sale this year.

“It’s a beautiful day but it’s too hot to do anything else” Jenkins said. “It’s nice to shop for a bit, then go into the air conditioning, then back out.”