For more than 50 years, downtown Lawrence merchants have been filling the sidewalks on the third Thursday of July with startling bargains the likes of which you only see for the each year sidewalk sale. Yes, the weather is ordinarily brutally hot, but that doesn't stop the bargain hunters from heading downtown to tromp up and down Mass street scooping up the goods.
Hunter College
For many shoppers, the each year Sidewalk sale in downtown Lawrence is as big a day as Black Friday. Thousands of early birds are lined up and ready for the opening rounds at 6:00 a.m. It is not unusual for sales staff to spend Wednesday night and Thursday morning prepping for the sale so they can hoist the makeshift awnings and start bringing out merchandise at 5:00 a.m.
For most, it's a party climate and a bit of a amiable competition to see which store will earn the bragging ownership for who was ready the earliest. It never ceases to amaze me how many people will come out early to get the best deals at Urban Outfitters, American Eagle and the Gap. These market have been collecting sale merchandise from sister market across the country to take advantage of the throngs of shoppers that show up for this event. I have seen lines for completing purchases that stretch 50 yards down the sidewalk.
Packs of teenage girls and college coeds swarm the racks up and down the street and Lord help the girl who grabs that last size 2 skirt that is marked down by 75%. It is every girl for herself on Sidewalk Sale day. I've seen lifelong friendships crumble before your eyes when two friends grab the same skirt.
For merchants, the each year Sidewalk Sale is a time to clear out the stock rooms in establishment for receiving holiday merchandise. For shoppers, it's a great way to get a head start on back to school shopping. And for the City, it's a great way to boost sales tax collections while the sleepy summer months when many Ku students have gone home for the summer.
The Sidewalk Sale is also a great time for many non-profit and assistance organizations to reach a large audience. You can buy your raffle tickets to win the each year "Casa for Casa" playhouse or stop by the Lawrence Humane society booth to make a donation or buy a t-shirt.
You can also join the World Company's tweetup and tweet your friends with the latest bargain. You can help make the Sidewalk Sale one of the trending topics on Twitter.
If you have never experienced the sidewalk sale, plan on arrival out Thursday, July 21st. You don't even need to shop. There is great entertainment just watching people browsing for bargains, catching up with old friends or just watching the world go by.
uptown Lawrence - What Makes It Great - Sidewalk Sale
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