During the First Thursday event in September, women gather to knit and visit at The Yellow Sweater store on North Main Street in Buda. (Photo by Lincoln Ramirez)
STAFF REPORT
Come Thursday, watch out for gal pals browsing antique and specialty shops, sampling food and possibly even knitting in downtown Buda.
Around two dozen merchants on and around Main Street are hosting a “Girls Night Out” for the October rendition of First Thursday, the monthly event that draws visitors to the historic downtown.
“Everybody works together to get people to come,” said Lorri Lowden, the new owner of Rollin’ Hot Grill, formerly the Main Street Cafe. “Usually we have a really good little turnout.”
Alisha Burrow, the city’s tourism director, said the event brings energy and excitement to Buda every month.
“Merchants have come up with creative ways to entice visitors to stores, come up with enticing menus, and I think that awareness has spread,” she said. “We get people coming not only from the Buda and Kyle area but we have some regulars from San Marcos and Austin as well.”
One of the downtown merchants, the Buda Grocery and Grill, is offering “dinner under the stars” beginning at 6 p.m. The dinner includes a wine tasting and live music and is served in the garden area of Sue Ellen’s Florist shop next door at 122 S. Main St.
Lowden said she often installs an employee just outside her restaurant, at 116 N. Main St., to hand out samples of hamburgers and other fare to the people walking by.
“If you can get them in the door to let them see your place, it really works,” she said.
The First Thursday in November will feature a Thanksgiving and American Indian theme.
