The Throggs Neck Merchants Association is planning an annual day of giving back to the community.
The TNMA’s 9th Annual Sidewalk Sale and Fair is scheduled for Saturday, June 3, running along East Tremont Avenue in two sections from Randall to Lafayette avenues and from Puritan to Waterbury avenues.
According to Bob Jaen, TNMA president, the event can typically draw between 700 to 800 people who walk the length of much of Throggs Neck’s central business district.
The event will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., said Geri Colon, event co-chair.
“It is something that we do every year to let the community know that we are here for them,” said Jaen. “It gives the merchants a chance…to show what they have to offer the community.”
Colon, who has been working on the event as a coordinator or volunteer for about four years, said that the event helps the merchants with both free advertising and a chance to give back to a community that supports them.
“It shows the community that you appreciate them,” said Colon.
Some merchants will be giving out information about their products and services, others will offer discounted merchandise, while others still may offer hot dogs, ice cream, cotton candy or balloons, said Jaen.
Jaen said the sidewalk sale and fair is arguably the most popular event that the TNMA puts on annually because the weather is usually temperate in June, and because for young parents with children, walking along the street can be a break of sorts and a nice day out with the family.
“Out of all the things (TNMA does), the street fair does the most to bring the community together,” he said, adding that he and
Speaking for himself, Jaen said he does not care whether he makes money, breaks even or even loses at his own business during the street fair, as long as the event is a success.
For local banks, Jaen added, the TNMA’s fair is chance to give back to the community as mandated by the Community Reinvestment Act by donating parking lot space for attractions.
One of the challenges for those coordinating the event each year is where to put the bandstand, but Rite Aid came through again this year as in the past, offering most of their parking lot, said Colon.
She added that many doctors and other medical providers, who are not necessarily on East Tremont Avenue but service the greater community, would be setting up tables and providing information.
Jaen urged people to take the walk between the two sections of the fair this year.
According to event planners, some of the attractions include
• Bronx Children’s Museum mobile museum near Anthony’s Flower Farm at 3240 E. Tremont Avenue
• a FDNY smokehouse at Community Bank at 3681 E. Tremont Avenue.
• a bandstand with performances from Just Nuts in Rite Aid’s parking lot at 3590 E. Tremont Avenue.
• youth attractions and sports-themed throwing games with prizes of goldfish at Anthony’s Flower Farm at 3240 E. Tremont Avenue.
• children’s ID’s available to be issued and updated at Sapitos at 3168 E. Tremont Avenue.
• Facepainting by the Westchester Square Zerega Improvement Organization
