The initiative’s core organizers come from the current and future business and residential stops along High Street, and all feel that the time is ripe for such an event to begin in Hamilton.
“It feels like the right timing with all of the reveals that are happening on High Street,” said organizer Sara Vallandingham, owner of home decor store Sara’s House at 254 High St. She mentioned the upcoming opening of Artspace Hamilton Lofts, as well as the recent rehab beginning over at the former Elder-Beerman building ahead of several new businesses opening in the building this summer.
The first couple of first Thursdays will start off small, said organizer Taylor Welch, a Mercantile Lofts resident who works at Community Design Alliance on High Street. The committee has representation from several existing and future businesses along the corridor — including Ryan’s Tavern, Community Design Alliance, the Fitton Center for Creative Arts, True West Coffee, POP Revolution Art Gallery, InsideOut Studios, and Sara’s House. By the end of the summer, he expects two dozen businesses to be included, with storefronts opening up by the fall for the Almond Sisters, Jackson’s Market and Deli, High Street Café, Municipal Brew Works, and more.
The idea is for businesses to create a unique experience in each storefront during Alive After Five nights, so it will be different than walking into their store on any given day, said Stephen Smith, art education director for the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities, which supports and operates InsideOut Studios.
“I would like to see more nightlife in Hamilton” he said. “A number of people leave the area for entertainment, so I think it is time for Hamilton to step up it’s game especially the music scene.”
The Alive After Five event also complements the kickoff of the summer RiversEdge Concert Series, so that throughout the summer on any given Thursday, visitors and residents can either go to Alive After Five or a free concert at the RiversEdge Amphitheater.
“It is a great way to end the work week and kick off any weekend plans,” Welch said. He had heard many stories in his youth from his parents about downtown Hamilton when it was still bustling.
“They used to ride the bus downtown and shop, eat, and meet with friends,” he said. “Being so young, I have never known that side of downtown Hamilton.”
But the past few years have given him hope that that downtown may be his reality soon.
“When we look back on this year, we will say that 2015 was when Hamilton really took off,” he said. “It’s the perfect time to bring something like Alive After 5 to our community.”
The Alive After 5 committee has the support of the city of Hamilton, the Greater Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, and the Downtown Special Improvement District, and will have monthly corporate sponsors to help with costs, but the organizers stressed that community individuals drove the initiative to get the monthly event off the ground.
"It's not a new concept; other towns have been doing it before," Vallandingham said. "But we've got the support in place and the hunger from the community to come out and attend this event. People are hearing the buzz about Hamilton; this is just another night to showcase it." More information can be found at Facebook.com/HamiltonAliveAfter5.
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