If you know Williamsburg, then chances are you’ve at least heard of Merchants Square – that quaint collection of shops, restaurants and eateries nestled along Duke of Gloucester Street tucked into neat brick buildings that look like a landscape from a Norman Rockwell painting.
But the Merchants Square Association and Colonial Williamsburg have worked hard in recent years to make sure the picturesque commercial corridor isn’t just something nice to look at. That’s a goal that continues into 2016.
“A lot of the success of Merchants Square depends on having people actually in the square,” said Carol Gillam, marketing manager for Merchants Square. “We’re focused on making it a place people can come hangout, do some shopping, eat some delicious food and catch a movie.”
The goal, Gillam said, is to create a sense of place, excitement and community. That means organizing open air events such as festivals and farmers markets, coordinating themed programming between the businesses in Merchants Square and Colonial Williamsburg, and hosting fun seasonal contests and competitions among the merchants.
Cathy Pacheco, president of the Merchants Square Association, said the business owners and managers have a vested interest in finding ways to coordinate events and sales among themselves and alongside Colonial Williamsburg to help generate buzz.
“It’s all about supporting any kind of event that’s going to draw business to the square,” Pacheco said.
In addition to the annual Spring Sidewalk Sale and the Williamsburg Farmers Market this fall, be on the lookout for a new project in the works to debut this summer.
“We’re really trying to appeal to a broad audience,” Gillam said.
Here’s some activities and happenings in Merchants Square in 2016 you won’t want to miss:
Jan. 14-17: Winter Blues Jazz Fest
Jan. 22-24: Free screenings of Looney Tunes Classics cartoons at the Kimball Theatre. Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny will be on site to greet children. Coupons to Baskin Robbins will also be available.
January and February: As part of the Kimball Theatre’s Black History month programming, the film “The Amazing Nina Simone,” a documentary about an African American singer with an eclectic range of styles, will run through the end of February.
Jan. 29-30: Jeff L. Lieberman, director of “The Amazing Nina Simone,” will introduce his film and then host a Q&A after each screening.
Feb. 11-18: Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the Virginia.org Love word will return to Merchants Square for fun and photo ops.
Williamsburg Art Gallery recently opened at 440 W Duke of Gloucester St
Blink, a new retail shop featuring stationary and accessories, will open early this year in a second floor space along Duke of Gloucester Street
July and August: Summer Breeze Concert Series (line-up of performers TBD)
And don’t forget to check out Merchants Square’s online calendar, www.merchantssquare.org/events, for a full list of the latest events.
“I think people don’t realize just how much programming we offer, even during the quiet times of the year,” Pacheco said.
