WARRNAMBOOL’S main street got a whole lotta love on Friday with the inaugural I Love Liebig market day.
Hundreds of people made the most of the Liebig Street promotion, which saw businesses take to the footpaths with food, music and bargains, creating a market atmosphere.
The event was the first of its kind was part of the larger I Love Liebig campaign to boost the economy of the CBD.
More than 45 businesses between Timor Street and Raglan Parade brought their goods to the street offering special discounts and promotions.
WARRNAMBOOL’S main street got a whole lotta love on Friday with the inaugural I Love Liebig market day.
Hundreds of people made the most of the Liebig Street promotion, which saw businesses take to the footpaths with food, music and bargains, creating a market atmosphere.
The event was the first of its kind was part of the larger I Love Liebig campaign to boost the economy of the CBD.
More than 45 businesses between Timor Street and Raglan Parade brought their goods to the street offering special discounts and promotions.
While there has been a focus in recent times on the number of empty shopfronts in the former “Golden Mile” shopping strip, Friday’s market was an opportunity to celebrate both the long-running businesses and the new arrivals.
Among the new shops that have opened their doors in the last twelve months are Daisy Boutique, Hunni’s Cafe, Baby Bird Boutique and Cafe and Style Active By Chloe.
Hunni’s Cafe owner Hunnah James, who co-owns the cafe with her husband Aaron, said the market day was an excellent initiative and that it was great to see the street so busy.
“It’s so good for the street,” she said.
“I’m really happy to see the street reviving with the new businesses.
“It would be great to have more days like today.”
The Rotary Club of Warrnambool Central set up a sausage sizzle for shoppers, which proved popular.
Rotary club member Mick Boswell said there had been a few emergency sausage runs throughout the day.
“We’ve run out of sausages twice,” Mr Boswell said.
Warrnambool resident Tonia McMahon joined the mass of shoppers on the street browsing the market stalls and praised the initiative as a good incentive to shop in Liebig Street.
“I’m for everything local, all the markets and so on,” she said.
“I made my sister come and have lunch with me so we could check it all out.”
The I Love Liebig campaign is an initiative of the main street’s traders with the aim of breathing new life into the city centre.
A series of events have been planned for the remainder of the year including a September shopping spree and an end of financial year sale.
The initiative received $50,000 in sponsorship from Warrnambool City Council.
Council local laws co-ordinator Peter McArdle said it was great see the street so vibrant.
“It’s gone terrifically well,” Mr McArdle said.
“It’s great that all the traders are having a go, people have gone to a lot of effort.”