MONROE — Following an in person downtown Holiday Open House on Nov. 5, when stores will be open until 7 p.m. to kick off the holidays and allow for more in person shopping with extended hours, Main Street will continue a series of virtual Facebook shopping nights that first started during the early months of the pandemic when stores were forced to close. 

Main Street had to create an inventory and invoicing system in a matter of days. Nonetheless, it paid off. The result was over $41,000 in sales for stores. 

Main Street Monroe is celebrating its 15th year as an organization in 2020 and will cover all promotional and processing fees for participating stores in the event, just as it did during the first round. 

“We exist to promote the historic district and the businesses that make it so unique. We’re quite excited to have such a full calendar that will allow stores to promote and sell their fall and Christmas merchandise,” said Jordan Nordby, Executive Director for Main Street Monroe. 

All LIVE! Events will be from 7 to 8 p.m. Shops will showcase items and respond to comments and any questions in real time. Clothing stores will have a variety of models so people can see exactly how items looks. All sessions are free to watch and people only need to go to Main Street’s Facebook page to follow along. Main Street is also handling all invoicing. People purchasing items can except to pick up their purchases the next day. Stores are also offering curbside pickup, drop off, and shipping. Previous items were shipped as far as Arizona and South Carolina.

In addition to new merchandise geared towards new seasons and Christmas, the LIVE! will also feature new stores. Aside from Main Street’s seasonal pop up shop, Busy Bee Floral and Gift, new stores include Luecke’s Diamond Center and Edelweiss Gifts and More. Stephani King, owner of Edelweiss, said she appreciates the opportunity to reach people who aren’t comfortable shopping in stores yet without sending them to online shopping. 

“What Main Street has provided, especially all of the technical tools to make this a success for so many types of stores, is wonderful. I’m excited to highlight new merchandise to a wide audience,” King said. “It’s the convenience of online shopping while highlighting and supporting locally owned businesses.”

Additional information on Main Street LIVE! can be found by going to Main Street’s Facebook page where each night has its own event page or to its website: www.mainstreetmonroe.org.