The NOTO Arts and Entertainment District is a main staple in the North Topeka area, known for their unique art, shops, food and activities. Each first Friday of the month, the arts district has an event called “First Friday.” Local business workers and owners have views on how First Friday goes for them personally, as well as how it benefits their own business.
“First Fridays are always the best day of the month, and we have a packed house,” Bob Secord said. “In our store specifically, we have over 50 vendors.”
Secord works at Kaw River Rustics in NOTO and used to be the owner of the establishment. He started it 10 years ago himself, and two years ago he sold it to a vendor in his store. He now helps work it along with other store employees. Kaw River Rustic is an antique store that is now celebrating their 10th year of being open. It has seen many years of First Fridays.
“We try to have at least six workers here at a time on First Fridays. We try to keep customers at ease with any questions and help,” Secord said.
First Fridays give local businesses opportunities for advertising and revenue. These stores tend to sell anything from paintings, furniture, candy, décor and even custom jewelry.
“Definitely down here in the arts district First Friday is extremely beneficial. It drags out that extra group of people and all the stores participate. It benefits everyone in the neighborhood,” Secord said.
Secord mentioned how their store even provides vendors to rent areas of their building to sell any of their small business items. It helps give them a boost and get their name out into the town for anyone who may be interested.
Each local business has their own specific idea or event they do when First Friday comes around to reach out to people who arrive at NOTO.
“We will have a balloon artist right outside our store doing balloon animals and one time we had a small local business that was a little shop for kids in front of our store as well,” Teagan Biber said.
Biber is the general manager at Toot Sweet, the candy shop that just recently opened in NOTO. She has been there since last June, a month after the store opened in March. The summers for First Fridays tend to be a little busier than the ones that occur in the fall and wintertime. But the district still has activities for any sort of weather.
“They always have live music in the parks as well as food trucks and a lot of people walk around because of that,” Biber said.
Matryoshka Tattoo is also a small local business that has been a part of the NOTO community for quite some time. They also hold special events for First Fridays that pull customers into their shop.
“We do a new featured artist every First Friday and we will feature their work for the month. Jennifer who also works here does her consultations for tattoos on First Fridays from 5-9 p.m.,” Aimee Mentzer said.
Mentzer is an administrative assistant at Matryoshka Tattoo and has been a part of the business for five years now.
While holding these events for First Friday, their main goal is to reach out to their customers and give them an opportunity to meet their staff in person and have face to face interactions for any interest in future appointments.
First Fridays are seen as something to look forward to every single month, not only to customers but business owners and workers as well. So much so, that they wish it could happen more than once a month.
“It’s great for that one day of the month, but everyone comes out for this event. Every Friday should be busy,” Buddy Haynes said.
Haynes is the owner of Odin’s Lair Axe Throwing in NOTO. Haynes describes the districts being slammed for First Friday, but also finds that every Friday should be just the same for these local businesses. The benefits of this event every month has boosted them for the better and has brought the community together.
Edited by Jayme Thompson and Sydney Peterson
