Retailers in downtown Augusta are celebrating the Masters by holding a “crawl” to encourage locals and visitors to shop at small businesses around town.
Shoppers who want to take part in the ’19th Hole Retail Crawl’ can pick up a ‘scorecard’ that lists the participating retailers. They earn points for each purchase they make at the businesses.
In keeping with the golf tournament theme, shoppers can pick up scorecards at any one of 13 participating locations, such as The Book Tavern, Grantski Records or Andy Jordan’s Bicycle Warehouse; which are each assigned a certain score. After acquiring a total of -14 (or 14 under par), patrons can take the card to Augusta & Co. on Broad Street to make a ceremonial putt on ot its golf green in the lobby.
When they get to a score of 14 under par, they can take their card to Augusta & Co. on Broad Street to enter for a chance to win a gift basket valued at $250. It’s filled with goodies put together by the retailers on the crawl.
“Players” can also enter their names to be drawn for a grand prize of products highlighting each business, valuing some $250; then take cards to Riverwatch Brewing for free draft beer, or to Ubora Coffee Roasters on Jones Street for a free drip coffee.
The event, which goes through Monday, April 10, is a team effort from Downtown Soul City, which helps promote downtown retailers, and The Clubhou.se, a coworking center in the Georgia Cyber Center.
“A lot of times you walk by a store but never go in it so this promotes a lot of discovery,” said Downtown Soul City coordinator John Porter.
“We’ve been slammed,” said Danielle Harmadi, co-owner of Freshwater Design Co., one of the participating retailers. Business has been steady during the week at the curated gift shop, with nearly “every other person” coming in with a scorecard penciled in. “I definitely feel the impact of the effort.”
Andy Jordan’s Bicycle Warehouse on Thirteenth Street also has seen an uptick in business this week with the event, although that’s typical for Masters week due to the number of tourists, said owner Drew Jordan. The shop does a lot of bike rentals for visitors, he said.
“It’s a cool thing for people to discover small businesses,” he said.
Serious Sage on Broad Street has seen increased foot traffic since the event began on Monday, said Soveren Sage, who co-owns the store that sells incense, candles, charcoals, soup, soaks, deodorant, books, jewelry, statues and paintings.
“It’s been a good spotlight,” he said. “It’s helped a lot of people open their eyes to stores out there that they might not necessarily see. It makes them take a second look.”
Porter said that the DSC intends to make the 19th Hole an annual event, though its waiting for the dust to settle on the effort’s inaugural year.
The participating retailers include:
Art on Broad
The Book Tavern
Freshwater Studio + Shop
Augusta Candle Co.
Field Botanicals
Grantski Records
Sirius Sage
Tiffinie Bleu Bridal Boutique
Urban K-9
Morris Museum of Art
Andy Jordan’s Bicycle Warehouse
Flowers on Broad
Mod Ink
