Weekend event encourages downtown shopping in Biddeford

BIDDEFORD —  Residents are encouraged to support downtown businesses this weekend by participating in the Biddeford Business Poker Crawl.

The Biddeford Business Poker Crawl starts Friday and runs through Sunday. To take part, shoppers go to participating businesses and collect a special playing card for each purchase they make over $10.

Players can collect as many cards as they want by shopping at participating businesses, with a limit of one card per venue. At the end of the weekend, submit their best poker hand – five cards- to Common Roots Studio, 165 Main St., by 6 p.m. Sunday.

The best poker hands will win one of five gift baskets, filled with gift certificates and items from local shops. Winners will be announced Friday, March 5 on Common Roots Studios’ social media and they will be contacted with instructions on how to pick up their prizes.

The event is being spearheaded by Nick Blunier, owner of Common Roots Studio, with help from the Biddeford +Saco Chamber of Commerce+ Industry and Heart of Biddeford.

"It’s a great way to encourage everyone to get out and support local businesses,” said Biddeford + Saco Chamber of Commerce + Industry Executive Director Jim Labelle.

Blunier said he got the inspiration for the event came from a friend of participated in a bar poker crawl, and he adapted this concept to include an array of local businesses.

“The idea is to promote shopping locally while also building the strength of community between business owners in Biddeford,” said Blunier. “We hope to see a great turnout and have customers explore what Biddeford has to offer in a safe and more spread-out way.”  

Twenty downtown businesses are participating in the event and include a range of merchants including restaurants, clothing stores, breweries and gift shops.

Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at [email protected].