Record number of businesses to be featured in Girlfriends Night Out

Suzanne Nolan Wisler, The Monroe News
·2 min read

MONROE — A record number of businesses will be part of this year's Girlfriends Night Out. The holiday shopping event is set for 5-8 p.m. Thursday in downtown Monroe.

“There are 27 businesses participating this year, which is a record. Most have specials or giveaways that night,” Paula Stanifer, Downtown Monroe Business Network event coordinator, said Paula Stanifer.

Some locations also offer refreshments.

Walking maps listing all locations will be available at Williams Insurance Agency (28 S. Macomb St.), Frenchie's Fine Jewelry (15 E. Front St.), Jack's Bicycle (206 S. Monroe St.) and Front Street Mercantile (34 W. Front St.). Maps also will be posted on the event's Facebook page.

Attendees from last year's Girlfriends Night Out are shown at the River Raisin Banquet Center. This year's event is Nov. 9.
Attendees from last year's Girlfriends Night Out are shown at the River Raisin Banquet Center. This year's event is Nov. 9.

The first 100 people who check in at Williams Insurance Agency will receive a shopping bag filled with coupons and items from several of the businesses. Guests also will be entered into a free drawing for a gift basket. Check-in will begin at 5 p.m.

As in the past, local barbershop ensemble the Floral City Harmonizers will give strolling vocal performances downtown.

Violinist Tony Marchese will perform 4:30-8:30 p.m. at the River Raisin Banquet Center/Michigan Wine & Beer Portal, 8 N. Monroe St. Also at the venue, 23 local artists, crafters and vendors will sell crafts and other items, such as treats, custom hats, hand-carved wooden pieces and Christmas decor.

Among this year's participating locations are: Williams Insurance Agency, Victoria Day Spa, Barn Owl Studio, Brown Bag Boutique, Front Street Mercantile, Salon 23, River Raisin Banquet Center/Michigan Wine & Beer Portal, Two French Hens, Scallywaggs, Jack's Bicycle, Frenchie's Fine Jewelry, Floral City Images, Durocher’s, Fischer Family Farmers Insurance, Floral City Images, 360 Digilab, 129 Lounge, Evolve Salon, ASA Publishing and Public House.

A full list of vendors will be posed this week on DowntownMonroeMichiganBusinessNetwork on Facebook.

Despite the event’s name, men also attend Girlfriends Night Out.

“They do and we encourage them to attend,” Stanifer said.

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Girlfriends Night Out began in 2018 and has grown every year since. Last year, Stanifer estimated 350 people attended.

“We had 16 businesses the first year. This year we have 27. Some businesses offer pop-up shops in their spaces since they are not all retail locations,” Stanifer said. “This event has been growing each year since we started. This is a great opportunity for the community to visit our downtown Monroe businesses and see all that we have to offer. It is an excellent shopping event that will kick-start Christmas shopping.”

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Record number of businesses participating in Nov. 9's Girlfriends Night Out