MONROE — In addition to being recognized yet again by American Express as an official neighborhood champion, Main Street Monroe is hosting its annual retail promotion over the holidays to encourage people to shop and explore the downtown historic district. 

This fall has been marked by events like the wine walk and trunk or treat and celebrations of stores’ milestone anniversaries and welcoming new businesses. A strong mix of longstanding and new businesses as well as restaurants, salons, and retail stores are participating. 

The promotion, which started on Nov. 1, will go through the end of the year. Main Street Monroe’s executive director, Jordan Nordby, said shopping local is not an obligation nor something limited to just one day. 

“Shop local includes retail and service, and I’m really excited that we can highlight the wide variety of options in the district,” Nordby said. “You can do just about everything you want for the holidays right downtown. Catching up with friends, getting your haircut, shopping, caffeine runs, having dinner. Doing any of those things will be ways to shop local and win.”  

Main Street emphasizes that the promotion is straightforward. Spend at least $10 at a participating store or donate in participating stores to the Green County Food Pantry and receive a stamp. At 10 different stamps, patrons will be entered into weekly giveaways and grand prize giveaways. 

Weekly prizes will be gift baskets put together by participating businesses. Grand prize winners will receive Main Street gift certificates totaling $250, $250, and $500, which may be used at any of the participating stores — $2,500 will be given away as the grand prizes. Cards may be combined and individuals may also submit multiple entries.

Martin’s Sporting Goods, which has been open at its current location (1016 17th Ave) since 1941, is participating for the first time. So are new businesses Cosmic Collectibles and Outpost Gaming. Cosmic Collectibles (1508 11th Street, across from the former ramp parking lot), bills itself as a home for all game lovers. There’s a focus on collectible cards, old school video games, and board and card games like Magic the Gathering, Pokémon, and War Hammer 40k.  

Outpost Gaming (1113 16th Ave) states its mission is to be a one-stop-shop for everything gaming. They buy, sell, trade, and repair most retro and new video games. Chad Allendorf had been collecting his whole life, buying and selling and ultimately collecting, which led him to opening a dedicated storefront. He and his wife, Alexandria, opened this business approximately two months ago. Their hope is that when customers enter the shop, they’re going to say “Hey, I remember this.” At present, 1,000 games are on display, as well as 100 systems. They also have baseball, football, and basketball cards for any hobbyist.

Alison Obert, owner of Vintique Junque, is also participating in the promotion for the second year in a row. She opened her business in June 2022. It features a variety of antique and up-cycled items. 

“I can’t say this enough: supporting your local small businesses keeps money in your town and supports events and activities where you live,” Nordby said. “It’s not just about the business owners. It’s about how we can sustain our community and help it thrive.” 

Main Street’s promotion helps people do that and helps thank them for choosing Monroe. Obert also notes that as a shop owner, she is always so excited to see people select personally thrifted gifts during the Christmas season. “Nothing means more than a gift given with sincere thought,” she said.

Main Street Monroe will also be hosting the Lighted Christmas Parade on Friday, Dec. 1, as well as a Holiday Open House on Thursday, Dec. 7. It is also coordinating store hours with specific focus on Sundays and evenings to allow more people opportunities to shop and explore local.

All participating businesses are listed below. On the stamp cards, businesses are color coded to help identify different options. 

Amy’s Corner Café, The Artful Gourmet, Bäckerei Kline, Bartel’s & Co Tap, Bliss Salon, Buggyworks, Bullet’s/Doyle’s Irish Pub, Bullquarian Brewhouse, Burington Shoes, Busy Bee Floral, Cactus Co Booze & Bites, Chocolate Temptation, Chopstick’s Restaurant, Cosmic Collectibles, Edelweiss Gifts & More, Frame ‘n Color, The French Quarter, The Garden Deli, Heartland Graphics, Hemp 1848, House to Home Designs, Jailhouse Tap, JoAnne’s Dress Shop, The Local Joint, Luecke’s Diamond Center, Martin’s Sporting Goods, Max’s Threads, Minhas Kitchen & Wine Garden, Monroe Antiques Mall, Orange Kitten Yarns, Outpost Gaming, Pancho & Lefty’s, Studio 906, Sunrise Donut Café, Rainbow Confections, Schultz Hometown Pharmacy, Star Nails, Toy Haus, Thrift & Thrive, Tacos Martinez, Turner Hall Ratskeller Restaurant, Urban Spa & Boutique, Vintique Junque, West Indies Portraiture, and 213 Mercantile. 

More details, including an interactive map of all participating merchants can be found at mainstreetmonroe.org.