Sat 9/29 @ 12-6PM
For more than half a century, Cleveland Heights’ Coventry Village has been known as one of Northeast Ohio’s hippest locations. In just a quarter mile, there are nearly 40 independently owned businesses.
This year four notable retailers are joining together for a special anniversary event called Coventry Merchant Milestones, which takes place Sat 9/29 @ noon-6pm.
Billed as a mini-festival with live music, face painting, tarot readings and other activities, the special day takes place at Attenson’s Antiques and Books (celebrating 30 years), Mac’s Backs-Books on Coventry (celebrating 40 years), Passport to Peru (celebrating 40 years) and Record Revolution (celebrating 50 years).
“This is going to be a fun,” Record Revolution’s Rob Pryor said. “I’m looking forward to celebrating this neighborhood with my fellow merchants.”
Added Mac’s Backs Books on Coventry co-owner Suzanne DeGaetano, “This event is special. It commemorates the big birthday of several of the businesses on the street. A joint anniversary celebration like this has never been done before.
“We planned all of these activities with sidewalk music while all of the stores have deals and discounts.”
At Mac’s Backs, all books and gifts will be 20 percent off. There will be giveaways, a special window display of 40 notable, bestselling and staff favorite titles and zines of customer memories and anecdotes.
The special deals also include: Attenson’s Antiques and Books offering 30 percent storewide discounts; Passport to Peru giving shoppers 10 percent off all clothing and 25 percent off all sterling silver jewelry; and Record Revolution providing 10 percent storewide discounts.
“It’s going to be great,” DeGaetano said. “People want to celebrate local businesses. The shop local movement is huge in Cleveland. I think our customers are excited to know that there are several businesses with huge longevity committed to doing what we’re doing.”
Regarding the notion of the retailers making Coventry Merchant Milestones an annual affair, it sounds like shoppers will have to wait another decade for the next memorable anniversary.
“We already have sidewalk sales where the whole street participates,” DeGaetano said. “So, this is just a one-off thing we’re doing to collaborate because we all share these big birthdays and we realize that we wanted to do something for it.”
The Coventry Merchant Milestones Schedule:
Noon-2pm: Music by Stephan Haluska (solo harp and electronics)
1-3pm: Face painting with Viva
1-3pm: Origami bookmaking in Mac’s basement with Lisa Cheng
1:30-3:30pm: Balloon twisting with Flower Clown
2-4pm: Music by Rob Pryor at Record Revolution
2-5pm: Tarot readings with Lea
4-6pm: Book signing with artists from The HeART of Cleveland at Mac’s
4-6pm: Music by Brad Bolton & Christie Anderson (The Blk Skwrl Akordion Klub)