A summer street fair of sorts has returned for a second year in downtown Hammond.
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The recent Arts on the Ave, hosted by: EAT, An American Bistro, brought many people to the corner of Hohman Avenue and Sibley Boulevard. Three blocks of Sibley Boulevard were closed for the festivities.
“We were here last year and ran into a lot of people we haven’t seen in quite a while, so we’re hoping the same thing happens this year,” Pat Thackerson of Highland said, as she arrived when the doors opened at noon. “Although we moved out of Hammond years ago, we’re still interested in what happens here. Word is getting out that there’s a lot of reasons to come back and visit.”
Seventeen vendors offering food, clothing, jewelry and many other items, displayed their wares as a local music group, Sunburnt Pupils, entertained during the daylong event.
New to the event this year was the expansion of activities to the property, which used to house the J.C. Penney department store, a three-story structure long known as a popular destination for shoppers in days past.
Located across the street from the EAT building, which formerly housed the F. W. Woolworth five-and-dime store in downtown Hammond’s shopping heydays, Penney’s recently was torn down after many years of being vacant.
This particular move is helping to pave the way for new progress in downtown Hammond, according to local businessman Raymundo Garcia, who owns EAT at 5201 Hohman Ave.
The Arts on the Avenue event is the beginning of a push to promote not only his restaurant, but also everything that is going on around it, he said.
“We want to celebrate it all – the culinary, visual and performing arts,” he added. “You don’t change the fortune of a town on a dime. It’s little things over time. That’s what will bring an entirely new feeling of downtown Hammond.”
Garcia purchased the Woolworth building a few years ago and has done extensive inside renovation. His restaurant/entertainment venue is scheduled to open to the public by the end of the year. It will be available for weekend brunches, private parties and catering events.
Kelly Grand and her daughter Yazmine Roberts live in Calumet City, a few blocks from where the recent action was taking place. The pair used to shop in downtown Hammond when Yazmine was growing up.
“They had everything down here; we bought school clothes and things for the house,” Grand said. “Then it was all gone. Now things are coming back. Not like it was – but these new things (like today’s event) are showing people that it’s fun again to come downtown. I like what’s happening. It’s clean and safe here.”
Paul Henry’s Gallery, located on Sibley Blvd. behind EAT, offers on-going events, such as a weekly Jam session. Gallery owner Dave Mueller is happy to see progress in the area and feels public events are one way to showcase the changes taking place.
“Many people aren’t aware of what we’re all about,” he added, referring to the various businesses and organizations located downtown. “The Arts on the Avenue event and others like it are a great way to get people here. They help to erase the pre-conceived notion that downtown Hammond is a ghost town. It definitely is not.”
To that end, many other long-standing endeavors have joined the ‘Annual’ designation of a downtown Hammond event.
In September, Bizarre Bazarre is a daylong, popular destination event that takes place in Harrison Park.
Hundreds of people visit dozens of vendors, participate in crafts and games, ride the ponies and enjoy entertainment and a large car show.
In December, the Christmas Story Comes Home event features the iconic movie, A Christmas Story, written from a book penned by Hammond native Jean Shepherd.
Myriad of activities take place in various downtown buildings, as well as the Indiana Welcome Center.
More information about Hammond events is at gohammond.com.
Sue Ellen Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
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