Newest village additions preparing for Market Day

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Market Day

July 26, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Mountain Brook Village

Elizabeth Adams has been forewarned. Banks Robertson, her landlord, has told her to arrive by 7 a.m. because customers will show up early. Patricia Murray, owner of Table Matters, has explained that hundreds of people will be in Mountain Brook Village that day. 

Saturday, July 19 will be Adams’ first Market Day, and she plans to be prepared with a tent outside her store, Ex Voto Vintage Jewelry, as well as limeade from her village neighbor, Gilchrist. She said her summer collection will be on display in the showroom, and she will have door prizes and giveaways for customers that day.

Robertson, who also owned Pappagallo, and Murray were around in July 2001 when Market Day started as an expansion of Jean Clayton’s annual Bastille Day sale at Christine’s. They and other longtime village store owners have developed traditions as they mark down their inventory to make way for fall merchandise amidst the July heat. Retailers typically offer discounts up to 75 percent off at the annual event, which is now in its 13th year.

Now the village’s newest merchants are getting ready to start traditions of their own.

Oli.O owner Hutton Fant said she came to Market Day last year as a customer and remembers it being hectic but fun.

“I have heard great things and that people come out pretty happy as shoppers,” she said. “I think anything where people in the village are coming together is good to be a part of.”

Fant said her olive oil and balsamic store would have some sort of store-wide promotion, but as of print, she hadn’t yet decided what it will be, especially since her merchandise is not seasonal.

Likewise, Cathy Kelley at the White Room, a bridal shop that moved to the village in June, said she was unsure of specifics but believed her store would welcome people to browse their dress selection and possibly offer refreshments.

For the big day, Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce Director Suzan Doidge is encouraging village business owners to wear the chamber’s new “Live Local” T-shirts, which are available for anyone to purchase at Mountain Brook Sporting Goods, during the festivities.

For more, visit welcometomountainbrook.com.