Getting Down to Business: Weekly Message from Maggie Campbell, President and CEO of DAMC

Just as we have every November, Downtown Arlington is beginning to gear up for Small Business Saturday. Small Business Saturday, which has been around since 2010, encourages holiday shoppers to patronize brick and mortar businesses that are small and local in contrast to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which feature big box retail and e-commerce stores respectively.
 
This year, Small Business Saturday means something completely different to me, and I hope it does to you, too. In 2020, Small Business Saturday should be a rallying cry -- not just on Saturday, November 28 but throughout the holidays. Frankly, this needs our personal commitment for the foreseeable future. With so many folks in the habit of shopping from home since the beginning of the pandemic in mid-March, the support of small and local has to happen, and it has to happen now if we want to retain the kinds of businesses that make Downtown uniquely Arlington’s.
 
While DAMC will participate in all of the traditional Small Business Saturday branding and promotional activities, this year we want to pay a heartfelt tribute to our homegrown, entrepreneurial culture. We’re excited to announce that on November 28, we’ll be launching a new, free podcast series entitled Down to Business. Down to Business will take you inside all kinds of businesses in Downtown Arlington, starting with several of our retailers (just in time for holiday shopping). The series will continue on a bi-weekly basis through the end of the year and into 2021.
 
Next week we’ll share more details about Down to Business, including who will be joining us for our first few episodes. In the meantime, we’ll give you a one-word hint about our first guest entrepreneur: haberdasher.
 

Cowboy Up at the Levitt   

Polish up your boots and get ready: starting this weekend, the Dallas Cowboys won’t be the only cowboys in town! The Professional Bull Riders World Finals is taking place at AT&T Stadium November 12-15. Just minutes from the action, the Levitt Pavilion is ready to welcome them (and you!) with an afternoon of free music from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, outdoors and live from the Levitt stage.
 
Headlining the Levitt Cowboy Concerts is Kolby Cooper, the Spotify phenom who, after only one year online, hit the big time with "It Ain't Me" at over 7 million Spotify streams, "Every Single Kiss" topping 4.5 million, and "Fall," which is hovering around 2.7 million. Here’s the line-up:
 
1:00 p.m. - Garrett Bradford
2:00 p.m. - Kerri Lick & The Good Kids
3:00 p.m. - Creed Fisher
4:30 p.m. - Kolby Cooper
 
Since there will be no concessions available at the concert, we naturally recommend you make a day of it in Downtown! Come early, get a great cup of coffee, and stroll through Downtown Outdoors to discover our collection of over 30 murals and public art pieces. Then grab lunch or take food to-go (Levitt is picnic-friendly). After the concerts, linger for a late dinner. Yep, all in Downtown Arlington.
 
For planning ahead or on the fly, find out where you can order to-go, curbside pick-up, delivery, dine-in and patio seating by visiting our one-stop-shop Downtown Delivers platform. 

Shop Local at the Downtown Arlington Urban Market Nov. 12 and Dec. 10   

Just in time for the holidays, and on the heels of Catalyst Creative Arts’ successful 2nd Annual Art Market held last Saturday, the Downtown Arlington Urban Market hosted by Legal Draft Beer Co. is a great shop-ortunity for handmade arts and crafts, chef-driven treats, farm-to-table products, and one-of-a-kind gift ideas. This monthly outdoor market is family- and dog-friendly and follows COVID-19 safety protocols.
 
The next two markets will take place from 5:00-9:00 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12 and Thursday, Dec. 10 adjacent to Legal Draft. While you’re there, don’t forget to stop by Legal Draft for a delicious seasonal pour and visit the other destinations in Urban Union. Interested in becoming a vendor for December’s market? Click here.
 
 

What’s Your Take? Take the COVID-19 Sentiment Survey    

The International Downtown Association wants to hear from Arlington, Texas.
 
IDA, the preeminent association for downtown organizations, is asking for your confidential feedback in their Fall 2020 COVID-19 Sentiment Survey. Your input will not only inform our colleagues across the globe but will help Arlington city leaders, the Downtown Arlington Board of Directors, and others plan the next steps in response to the ongoing pandemic. Please take a few minutes to provide your opinions and share priorities on important issues that affect our health and our economy.
 
Click here to start:
survey.rrcresearch.com/s3/DowntownArlingtonSentimentSurvey

Your response by November 25 is greatly appreciated!