Shoppers will eat their way through a multi-course meal provided by 10 downtown Fishers shops for the annual Progressive Holiday Shopping Experience from 4 to 8 p.m. Dec. 7.
Zoa Hackman, owner of Dahlia’s, organizes the event , which is in its fourth year.
“It is a free event and it is just like a progressive dinner,” Hackman said. “Every retail business participating serves a course of the meal. We have made up maps, and on there it lists each business participating and what course of the meal they’re serving.”
Hackman briefly considered ending the tradition this year but received encouragement from customers during Small Business Saturday Nov. 25.
“I think it’s great because you can come out and eat, but it gives you a chance to check out shops you didn’t know where there,” Hackman said. “Even (on Small Business Saturday), not everybody knows what is in downtown Fishers. This is very walkable, and we try to keep it compact so people can get out and walk shop to shop and eat and take in everything that’s downtown and enjoy the holiday season.”
Hackman said the event has grown each year. It began when Maple Street businesses suffered a loss of clientele because of construction.
“We came up with the idea of progressive shopping where customers can come here to eat and shop and move on to the next place,” Hackman said. “It was to get traffic through the door.”
Which course to eat where
- Dahlia’s – Main Course
- Blush Salon – Appetizer
- Dottie Couture – Appetizer
- Lily & Sparrow – Appetizer
- Roman & Leo – Dessert
- Twigs – Dessert
- Nothing Bundt Cakes – Dessert
- Gallery 116 – Bailey’s and Coffee with Dessert
- Blue Peppermint – Bubbly
- Air-Tan – Rose and Pink Pinafores from Taylor’s Bakery
