By Robin GOLDSWORTHY

Yes, it rained during the Wine Walk on the evening of March 10. But the event, hosted by the Montrose Shopping Park Assn., will be remembered by most of the attendees as an opportunity to get out, meet friends, do some shopping and taste some wine. The wine was poured by shop owners eager to introduce their wares as well as their wines.

“We were able to engage with more people who stopped by our store,” said Kim Kelly of Merle Norman Cosmetics – Montrose. She attributed the uptick in the store’s sales that evening to that ability to spend a little more time talking to ticketholders.

“We did well, though there were fewer people who took part in the Wine Walk,” said Kelly.

Dale Dawson, owner of Mountain Rose Gifts and business administrator/events coordinator for the MSPA, confirmed that fewer people purchased tickets to the event but those who turned out had a good time.

“The rain intimidated people,” said Dawson. “But we had a steady flow of people who came to buy tickets.”The Wine Walk was the third one hosted by the shopping park association and many of the participants had taken part in the previous two events.

“For some people, this was their third Wine Walk,” said Dawson. “People are being endeared to the event.”

The Walks are a chance for ticket purchasers to visit some of the shops in the Montrose Shopping Park that they might not otherwise visit. In addition to wine many of the 33 participating stores also served food.

“People loved our homemade food,” said Kelly.

In addition to the wine and food, many of the participating stores offered a discount on their goods and services. Merle Norman Cosmetics offered a discount on their merchandise and, coupled with the $10 scrip provided by the Montrose Shopping Park Assn. at the beginning of the evening, deals were to be had.

Tickets to the event were $45 and 15% of the proceeds were donated to the La Crescenta Woman’s Club, whose members sold tickets, provided shopping bags and the signature wine glasses. The balance of the funds raised, said Dawson, offset the cost of promoting the events and purchasing the tote bags and wine glasses.

And despite the weather, Dawson said the event was considered a resounding success.

“No one complained and everyone seemed to have fun,” he said.

“We look forward to the next one,” added Kelly.

  robin goldsworthy