St. Joseph receives trail period sidewalk sales ordinance

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. -- Downtown St. Joe shop owners are getting another shot at drumming up business thanks to a trial run on a new ordinance.

The city commission is allowing shops to offers to hold sidewalk sales under a 60 day trial period.

Business owners hope shoppers who are interested in something they see outside will come inside and shop.

Some stores have already tried sidewalk sales and say it works.

"Business is down this year, we need all the tools we can get to help us boost our sales back up.  And putting the stuff up here so the public can see it definitely helps," said the owner of The Candlestick Maker Judi Benninghoff.

Downtown officials will make a report on the progress of the ordinance to the St. Joseph City commission next month.