When I visit Lawrenceville (which is not often enough), I’m always struck by its double life. By day, it’s a bustling lane of boutiques selling unique wares. By night, it’s my favorite place to meet up for dinner and drinks. Thanks to the industrious shop owners of Butler Street, the two worlds are becoming one.

Today, Thursday July 11th, stores are keeping their doors open late tonight in Lawrenceville for the inaugural “Shop Late Night in Lawrenceville”. This is the first time local store owners are holding the event, but it will continue now on the second Thursday of each month. Participating businesses will keep their doors open from 6-9p.m., and offer a 10% discount when you present a receipt from a participating store purchase the same night. Take a walk down Butler Street and check out what each store has to offer.

Some businesses will be holding special events in the evening, including trunk shows, pop-up dance parties, and styling events just to name a few. The stores participating include Mid-Atlantic Mercantile, Jules, Pavement, Panello, Wildcard, 720 Music Clothing and Cafe, Divertido, O’Bannon Oriental Rugs, Urban Cottage, Glitter and Grit, and T’s Upholstery Studio.

Emily Slagel of Mid-Atlantic Mercantile explained,

“The event was created by several of Lawrenceville’s women business owners whom collectively see a need to support independent retail and the many diverse local boutiques both newly opened and established in the neighborhood. On a larger scale, the monthly event hopes to draw attention to the importance of shopping locally at small, independent businesses. In recent years, there has been an increasing growth in consumer awareness towards eating locally but there has yet to be the same shift in retail. Both eating and shopping locally is better for you, your community and the environment. Locally owned small businesses provide quality of life while serving as the economic backbone to the community. When you spend $100 at a locally owned and operated small business, about $45 dollars goes directly back into the community opposed to only about $13 when you shop at a nation wide chain.”

So, that’s more than reason enough for me to get that scarf I’ve been lusting after. Check out the event tonight, and keep coming back each month. For more details, head on over to “Shop Late Night in Lawrenceville’s” Facebook page.