Heart of Jasper First Shop and Sip Wednesday

By: Corbin Lingenfelter, News Director

Jasper- This Wednesday, the Heart of Jasper is hosting a new event.

Shop and Sip is an effort to bring more people downtown and into the Jasper downtown square businesses. The event was created after seeing other communities hosting similar festivities.

Kate Schwenk with the Director of the Heart of Jasper tells us fourteen merchants will be open during the event.

“We have fourteen stores that will be open until seven p.m.,” Schwenk said, “They will be providing snacks, food, and sips of some mocktails.”

Even with the ongoing Downtown Square Infrastructure and Revitalization project, there are no concerns about the event as construction continues in the Southeast quadrant. 

“There’s parking at the city hall parking lot, there’s plenty of parking on the side streets, Matrix (integration) allows parking in their lot after hours. As far as parking there are plenty of places to go,” Schwenk shared, “The construction guys have been great. They always have signs as to how you can walk. They left walking paths through the construction as long as it’s safe. It may look a little messy with all the signs and equipment, but once you are there you realize it’s not that bad.”

Shop and Sip will also feature special events inside the merchants outside of the mocktails and food. For instance, Just Whimsy will have feathered jewelry available via appointment. All proceeds will go to the merchants.

The stores’ mocktails are similar to the ones that will be served at Oink Inc., but the barbecue restaurant will offer them as cocktails.

“Oink Smokehouse came up with some creative cocktails,” said Schwenk, “The stores named them. So, people can try the mocktails in stores then as you finish shopping, head down to Oink and try the full cocktail version.” 

Shop and Sip is a monthly occurrence, which is different from other events by Heart of Jasper. The first event will be held Wednesday, June 21st from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM EST. 

All 14 participating merchants will remain open during the event.