Local businesses in Downtown Midland saw a boost in foot traffic as families and visitors took part in Mini Golf on Main, a free 18-hole course set up along sidewalks throughout the city’s shopping district.
The event, which ran through June 28, invited players to pick up putters and scorecards from Joyful Tantrum and explore downtown as they played.
Joseph Green, general manager at Molasses Smokehouse and Bar, said the event helped create a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere that drew people into local businesses.
“It’s huge with the community engagement and that’s the whole reason Downtown Midland does the Commons,” Green said. “It’s just a spot for you to come down with your family and hang out like it’s your backyard.”
The course wound through the Pedestrian Plaza, a section of Main Street between Ashman and Rodd Streets that’s closed to vehicles from June 2 through October 1. The space features outdoor dining, games and live music. It’s part of the Commons Refreshment Area, where visitors can carry drinks between participating businesses.
At Serendipity Road and Joyful Tantrum, where players began and finished the course, sales associate Alauna Millward said the event brought in a steady stream of new and returning customers.
“We’ve gotten more people entering the stores to not only grab the clubs and the balls, but also to stop by, look around, grab some treats and snacks and water and then some toys,” she said.
Dru Sepulveda, co-owner of Modern Explorers Guild, said events like this encourage people to slow down and spend more time downtown.
He said his store has seen an increase in customers purchasing games that reflect the outdoor activities, like lawn darts and other tactile products. For Sepulveda, the value goes beyond sales.
“It’s going to make sure that this location is an actual place that they think of as downtown and not just a transitional space that they go through to get somewhere else,” he said.
For some families, Mini Golf on Main has become a summer tradition. Samantha Hoeffner said her kids look forward to the event every year.
While golfing, they stopped for dinner at Pizza Baker and grabbed drinks at Three Bridges Distillery.
“It’s been our tradition since we moved back home,” Hoeffner said. “The kids know it and love it and if we don’t come down, we’re in trouble.”
Though the event has been positive overall, some business owners said it came with small challenges. Staff at Serendipity Road and Joyful Tantrum have had to stay extra alert during busy times due to recent shoplifting. At Modern Explorers Guild, a statue was taken from an outdoor display and tossed into a bush, and some product setups were vulnerable to wind and rain.
Parking has also been an issue during events, though city officials are exploring ways to expand access.
Even with those concerns, local shops said the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks.
Hoeffner, who moved back to Midland several years ago, said she’s glad to see downtown becoming a livelier place where families not only gather but keep coming back, something she didn’t see as much growing up.
“We really love seeing something happening here in our small town,” she said.
