Last week, the sidewalks of downtown Haddonfield were filled with tables, tents and racks displaying all kinds of products from running shoes to dresses to books. People roamed the displays looking at what the stores had to offer, in a place that not many towns have.
Visitors from the area and as far as the west coast came to downtown Haddonfield for the Sidewalk Sale on Thursday, Aug. 6. The sale ran from Thursday to Sunday, featuring a variety of products, sales and season previews.
The Sun walked around town interviewing folks to ask why they were there and what having a downtown in Haddonfield meant to them.
People came to the Sidewalk Sale for a variety of reasons; some came specifically for the sale. In 2012, Wanda Howe of Atco found a $10 dress at Jay West that she loved from the Sidewalk Sale and has been coming back ever since. Evelyn Perodeau, a Haddonfield resident, comes every year to help support local business, learning about it years ago through the paper. Lynn Axelson of Haddon Heights, along with her daughter Ella, decided to have a girls’ day and come to the Sidewalk Sale.
“I like all of the little clothing boutiques,” Lynn said.
Others, such as Haddonfield resident Dave Cimetta, were just passing through and decided to stop and take a look.
Some who strolled around last Thursday didn’t know about the Sidewalk Sale in advance, but decided to stop for the products and sales.
For Haddonfield residents, the downtown area is a place of community and convenience. They said they like being able to walk to the stores as well as the personalized attention they get from the local shops. They feel it is an experience you can’t get anywhere else.
“I like being able to just walk out my front door and walk to all of the shops. Everything is within walking distance,” Lynn said.
“I like the personalized attention that we get in the boutiques and shops that you don’t get from the mall. I much prefer supporting the businesses in town,” Perodeau said.
“(Having a downtown area in Haddonfield) means a lot. Otherwise, you don’t feel as connected to the community. It is a feature other towns don’t have,” Cimetta said.
Shop workers said they like the community as well as the variety of products and services downtown has to offer.
“From a worker in Haddonfield, (downtown) is nice. We get to know our clientele, which is really rare when you work in retail. Here, I know everyone by name and get to greet them when they come in,” Julia Clarke of The Little Shop said.
“All of the stores are really great; they offer a lot of variety. It’s somewhere for small businesses to thrive,” Marissa Branell of JAX Boutique said. “People can shop the small businesses, stay local and support the community.”
Even those from outside the area felt downtown Haddonfield was a good place to walk around, bring your family and spend the day.
“It is a nice place to bring your family, walk around and see what is going on. It is always clean and there are a lot of different shops and restaurants,” Tara Kappel of West Deptford said.
“There’s community and love,” Kendall Howe of Atco said.
Perodeau hopes downtown continues to get more shops and the borough markets downtown more. She would like to see everyone support the downtown shops.
“I hope everyone supports the downtown. I think they do a good job. I’d like to see even more marketing of the downtown. I love it,” she said.
