Studio art senior Devan John draws in a notebook on July 21, 2013, outside Moosejaw, 555 E. Grand River Ave. About 30 to 40 people looked at the clothing outside on Sunday. Weston Brooks/The State News
A heat wave that scorched East Lansing last week forced more than 180 local businesses, art galleries and restaurants to persevere through the Sidewalk Sales throughout the weekend.
Merchants and customers alike anticipate specials and sales during this annual event, however, a more diluted downtown was apparent as temperatures flirted with the 90s. Sales and specials quickly changed to sweat for Moosejaw employee Audrey Chamberlain, who couldn’t help but notice a lesser turnout.
“It hasn’t felt as busy as I thought it would,” Chamberlain said. “It seems that people who have come in, have come in for something real specific.”
Chamberlain said her business adjusted by shortening shifts for employees working outdoors. Less outerwear was displayed among the sidewalk merchandise, as well.
Through the end of last week, all of southern Michigan was under a heat advisory, with more than a dozen southeast Michigan counties under an excessive heat warning, according to the National Weather Service.
National Weather Service spokesman Pat Slattery said temperatures were especially hot in East Lansing because of its urban infrastructure. The brick and concrete absorb heat all day long, and then carry it over through the night, he said. With temperatures only lowered to the mid-70s after sunset, the sweltering climate extended longer than it should have.
“It’s the humidity that really gets to people,” Slattery said. “The heat index gets so high and people aren’t able to cool off.”
Unlike some other East Lansing establishments, Student Book Store, 421 E. Grand River Ave., tradebook department manager Larry Irish anticipated the potential effects hotter weather could have on business.
“We have found in the past that the hotter it is, the more crowded it is,” Irish said. “We’ve had a couple times in the past where we have had cool summers, and people just
don’t come.”
For four days, Grand River Avenue between Charles and Division streets were invaded by SBS merchandise, including books, school supplies, Vera Bradley products and MSU garments of all sorts.
With the heat index in the triple digits, the risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke lingered. Thus, journalism senior Coty Kenneth said she avoided the downtown area as much as she could. Unfortunately for Kenneth, work forced her to spend an adequate amount of time on Grand River Avenue. She said she noticed a correlation between fewer customers and the high temperatures downtown.
“I would rather sit in my house if it’s going to be this hot, or find a pool to sit at than walk around and be hot all day,” Kenneth said.
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