Hundreds flock to downtown Atascadero for First Friday
–First Friday in Atascadero attracted hundreds of visitors to downtown businesses. Along Entrada, Traffic Way and El Camino Real, people came to shop, dine and sample food and wine.This third monthly First Friday brought more shoppers to Mudflat Mercantile, according to Deborah Hintergardt, who owns and manages the vintage clothing, collectibles and art store. “We’ve been busy with shoppers,” she said.
Two food trailers glistened in the streetlights along El Camino Real. Outside Whiskey and June Saloon, Kari Freitas-Field sold “organic cookies and treats” from Clementine’s Mobile Bakery. One half-block up El Camino Real, Lighthouse Coffee trailer offered rich, hot coffee for only a donation.
A crowd packed the side-room at Bru coffee house to hear an alto barista sing with a guitar-playing friend.
Beer aficionados packed the Raconteur Room. The crowd flowed out the brewery onto the patio and sidewalk along Traffic Way. For many, the brewery served as a rendezvous and final venue for the night.
“Our intent with First Friday is to get more people downtown to shop and socialize,” said Terrie Banish, the Assistant City Manager. “It’s working.”
Despite the cool weather, First Friday brought hundreds of visitors to downtown A-town on a Friday Night in early March.
