WARSAW — Main Street Warsaw is hosting the inaugural Downtown Fashion Weekend presented by Toyota of Warsaw, Oct. 3-5.

The event features women’s and men’s fashions from four downtown boutiques including Glam Boutique, Brooch Boutique, Finley and Co., and Male Fashions. The weekend has both free and ticketed events, starting with Friday night's free Sip N Shop event featuring live mannequins and complimentary wine and cheese in the participating boutiques.

In addition, Toyota of Warsaw will have car displays to engage shoppers and art vendors and musicians will line downtown streets, according to a news release from Main Street Warsaw.

On Saturday, Oct. 4, fashion hits the spotlight in a ticketed event that begins with a red carpet and spotlight experience for arriving guests, followed by a runway show against a backdrop of interactive art and high-energy music all taking place at The Vic.

The runway show is followed by an after-party at Anthology featuring a cabaret performance by Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts and mixing with fashion models and fellow guests.

The weekend finishes on Sunday afternoon with private Champagne Shop at participating boutiques featuring in-store specials and more car displays from Toyota of Warsaw.

After the private shopping event, the boutiques will be open to the public.

“This is going to be a must-attend set of events. Saturday’s runway show will be amazing like a New York fashion show with red carpet and spotlights, models, high energy, live art,” said Michelle Hansen, owner of Glam Boutique.

“We wanted to highlight downtown’s fashion collective in a fun way and bring the community together and that is why we have both free and ticketed events. That would not be possible without the support of Toyota of Warsaw,” said Terry Sweeney, downtown development director for Main Street Warsaw.

“We are proud to support our local businesses, and this partnership is a perfect fit. We look forward to showcasing our own style - complete with Toyota flare and our latest models,” said Emily Illingworth Kosnik, general manager of Toyota of Warsaw.

Tickets for the runway show and private champagne went on sale on Wednesday. Visit mainstreetwarsaw.org for more information.

Schedule
• Friday, Oct. 3, Downtown Sip N Shop, 5 to 7 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 4, Runway Show doors open at 7:30 p.m.; show at 8:30 p.m. at The Vic, 110 N Buffalo St.
After Party, 10 to 11:30 p.m. at Anthology, 109 E Center St.
• Sunday, Oct. 5
Private Champagne Shop, 12 to 1:30 p.m. at participating boutiques
Public Champagne Shop, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at participating boutiques

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WARSAW — The list of new tenants is long — a florist, a bakery a candy store, an antique shop as well as a fourth women’s boutique — have joined the lineup in what has become a banner year for downtown merchants in Warsaw.

But maybe what’s most encouraging is that four businesses that already had a stake in the downtown chose to relocate and remain in the business district.

Two of those — The Riverhouse Coffee House and Glam Boutique — experienced a smooth transition as they moved to new spots this year on Center Street. 

But two others, at the bequest of their landlords, had to find new homes and did so, ultimately setting with properties side-by-side on Buffalo Street.

Male Fashions owner Tim Hamann, who spent ten years with his store on Center Street, began settling in a year ago to his new digs in the space previously used by MudLove, and said he likes the change.

"We're happy. The move has been good. Sales have been good. People are excited with the new space," Hamann said.

Krista Brown had to find a new location just months after her business, Maggie's Coffee and Treats, opened on Center Street. She found a new home at the corner of Market and Buffalo but was closed for several weeks for renovations.

She admits having to temporarily close after just opening put a cloud of concern over her store's future, but she persevered and eventually re-opened in the space previously used by Infinity Salon.

Brown said her sales are increasing steadily.

Looking back, she adds, "I wouldn't change anything."

While the race to attract coffee drinkers feels like a competitive one in downtown Warsaw, Brown has remained confident and her store has begun to attract a series of groups including military veterans who meet there regularly as well as three Bible groups.

She admits she caters to a bit of an old customer base.

Brown said she was successful in asking the city to relocate a 15-minute parking spot closer to her store at the corner of Market and Buffalo.

She and Hamann both said they think parking near their new location has been a plus.

Both merchants say the changes have been good.

"There's a lot of stuff going on so anything that increases (the number) of people downtown is good for all of us," Hamann said.

The post Downtown Warsaw’s bustling changes included relocations appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — The recent closing of MudLOVE on South Buffalo Street in Warsaw has opened the door for another downtown business to relocate.

Tim Hamann, owner of Male Fashions, 109 block of E. Center St., confirmed on Friday that the store will soon move into the old MudLOVE store next to Infinity Salon at 122 S. Buffalo St.

Male Fashions has been open since 1992 has been under Hamann's ownership since 2014 and is one of the longest running retail operations in the downtown.

The store is currently in the moving process and hopes to relocated in November.

Hamann said he thinks the change will be a good one.

Yes, it's a bigger space. We like the looks of the building on the inside. We're excited to move into the space," Hamann said.

Remaining in the downtown, he said, was a priority

"Oh yeah, I wanna stay down," he said.

The move by Male Fashions was necessitated after owners of the property, which is part o an LLC that includes David Gustafson, announced plans that they hope to renovate a handful of storefronts along the north side of the 100 block o East Center

Gustafson said he’s not ready to discuss renovations plans.

MudLOVE closed after choosing to move its production facility to central America, but still has a retain office in The Village at Winona.

[caption id="attachment_84299" align="aligncenter" width="692"] Gradual changes are underway at the new location of Male Fashions at at 122 S. Buffalo St. in Warsaw. The business is moving from a few blocks away where it's been for 31 years on East Center Street. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

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