Should Sykesville Businesses Offer Evening Hours?

Many of the businesses in Historic Sykesville open at 10 in the morning and the owners close up shop at 5 in the afternoon. It's characteristic of the life of many small, locally owned businesses.

But some members of the Sykesville community are trying to promote a change which they hope will bring some life to the nighttime hours and help the bottom line of downtown businesses. They want business doors to  stay open later in the day.

Do you think Sykesville businesses should offer evening hours? Are you a business owner in downtown? Tell us in the comments.

Carol Felker, president of the Sykesville Business Association, said her organization and several business owners on Main Street think that a seasonal increase in evening hours, only once a week, would be a step in the right direction.

"It has been discussed that we might choose one night of the week and be consistent," Felker told Patch. "You  have to stick to it–that's the only way you are going to gauge it's effectiveness."

Organizers of the Sykesville Main Street website have planned a few events for the summer that they say they hope will attract tourists and encourage businesses to accommodate some late-night activity.

According to Patch reader Mona Freedman, Jams Music Center of Eldersburg will organize weekly live music at the pavilion on Main Street every Thursday night this summer, beginning July 5.

"The stores will stay open and offer food and drink specials,"

Felker thinks this is just the type of activity needed to get tourists and neighbors into the shops downtown.

"The more activity you have going on, the more stimulation you have to get the consumers in your stores," Felker said.

According to the Main Street Sykesville Facebook page, some of the events planned for this year include:

• The CA$H MOB to support local business on Saturday June 9 from noon to 2 p.m.
• Military Memorial Fundraising Concert on Aug. 17, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Amazing Baby and Child Expo on Aug. 18, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Chili Cook-Off on Sept. 8, from noon to 5 p.m.
• Sykesville Fall Festival on Oct. 13, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.