Downtown St. Joe entices shoppers with prizes

Published 8:42 am Thursday, December 3, 2015

Submitted photo

Submitted photo

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. — The City of St. Joseph is scaling up a favorite holiday tradition with its Downtown Countdown to Christmas.

“Imagine our downtown transforming into an awesome Advent calendar,” said Whitney Behnke, executive director of St. Joseph Today. “Instead of opening a different calendar window each day leading up to Christmas Eve, you’ll open doors to downtown stores and restaurants for a chance to win a daily prize from December 1 to 24.”

Behnke said more than 24 St. Joseph Today members are each contributing a prize valued at $50 to the countdown. To fill out an entry form for the daily drawings, shoppers must make a trip to one of the participating businesses. This allows for a fantastic opportunity to get some shopping done as well. St. Joseph Today will notify daily winners by phone and on facebook.com/stjoetoday.

The following St. Joseph businesses are contributing prizes: Boulevard Inn & Bistro, Bound for Freedom, The Candlestick Maker, Chartreuse, Days of Yore, Forever Books, Friends by Design, FuzzyButz, G&M Variety, Gallery on the Alley, Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches, Kilwins, Lana’s Boutique, Landis Clothing, Lazy Ballerina, Lazy Daisy, The Natural Gem, Olive Cart, Perennial Accents, Silver Beach Pizza, Statements Style Lounge, South Bend Chocolate Café, State Street Antiques, The Toy Company, Third Coast Surf Shop, Waterfront Framing & Fine Art, and White Pine Winery.

For more information about the countdown locations and prizes, extended holiday shopping hours and St. Joseph Today gift certificates, visit www.stjoetoday.com, facebook.com/stjoetoday, or the Welcome Center located at 301 State St.

St. Joseph Today, a membership-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is dedicated to developing and promoting events and business in St. Joseph, Mich. and its surrounding communities.