Downtown Lexington is known for its streets full of small shops. From boutiques to bakeries, the variety of businesses brings locals and visitors alike coming back. Business owners said Main Street Lexington (MSL) plays a big role in keeping the inviting atmosphere of Lexington alive.
MSL is a non-profit, volunteer organization founded in 2013. Its mission is to support and promote businesses in downtown Lexington and is behind many activities and events throughout the year.
Some of the organization’s largest events include the Freedom Food Festival, the Fourth of July Children’s Bike Parade and the tree lighting in November. They also host sidewalk sales and Shop Small Sweepstakes, during which shoppers can win prizes by swinging by as many shops as possible.
MSL does it all through collaboration. Board members work with shop owners, volunteers and residents to find out what events they would like to see.
“Sometimes that is as simple as going into a restaurant and having a nice meal, but sometimes that’s showcasing your downtown for a larger event,” said Jeremy Franklin, the executive director of MSL.
Franklin said one of the goals of these events is to increase foot traffic to local shops. Once the events are over, MSL encourages attendees to roam the streets downtown.
MSL also gives business owners suggestions on incentives or promotions that will encourage customers to stop by. These efforts help bring in both new and returning customers.
“They do a very good job in promoting the businesses downtown,” said Shane Gonsalves, owner of Sweet Treats Bakery. “They do a lot of promotion directly and indirectly.”
Gonsalves said that he has seen an increase in customers during MSL events. He has also seen support through other forms.
MSL recently began posting to social media as a way to reach a wider audience. Volunteers create posts about the business owners and their products, which encourages people to visit new places.
Lexington Pappagallo owner Susan Crawford said she regularly works with MSL. Crawford participates in MSL’s sidewalk sales and the Shop Small Sweepstakes .
“When they have events, I always do them. They work hard. If I needed any help, they would come down,” Crawford said.
Through the hard work of volunteers, MSL has grown in size since the organization first opened. MSL is continuously thinking of new ways to get people downtown and support Lexington businesses.
“We’ve built up a very successful organization with great volunteers and relationships,” Franklin said. “What I would like to see is that we continue to grow and broaden our scope to be even more supportive of our community.”
