Sidewalk Sale 2011 declared a success after a worrisome start

WARWICK - Some problems like poor weather are always a concern, but this event was totally unexpected. On Friday, July 8, at the start of the annual “Sidewalk Sale,” Warwick’s traditional and popular downtown business district event, the village experienced a blackout that left every shop in the dark. About 6,000 customers in Warwick, including the Main Street area, lost electrical power at 10:46 a.m. But service was restored in just one hour. The interruption was caused by a transformer malfunction at Orange and Rockland’s Wisner Substation in Warwick. And if that wasn’t bad enough, later that afternoon a line of severe thunderstorms passed through the area. But by Saturday morning Tim Mullally, who co-chaired the event with Sue Loughren, owner of The Toy Chest, was all smiles as he stood outside his Main Street Style Counsel and Blue fashion shops. “We were worried about the power outage but that was resolved quickly,” he said. “Then the early birds came out in droves and the businesses and vendors were off to a good start. “And the funny thing about the thunderstorms,” he added, “was that everyone raced inside the stores and they shopped. Now this is turning into a great Sidewalk Sale.” From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday through Sunday, participating merchants, non-profits, restaurants and additional area vendors displayed their merchandise along Warwick’s Main Street as well as Railroad Avenue. Many of the shops ran sales and other promotions on over stocked and end of season items inside and outside their stores.