PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

September 15, 2015

Media Contact:
Joel McAuliffe
413-594-1506
jmcauliffe@chicopeema.gov

CHICOPEE DOWNTOWN BLOCK PARTY

A HUGE SUCCESS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CHICOPEE The first ever Chicopee Downtown Block Party on Saturday,
September 12, 2015 was a huge hit, drawing upwards of 7,000 people for the one day
event that began at noon and lasted until 11:00 PM.

The event which included musical performances from legendary Western

Massachusetts rock band Fat and Chicopees own The Varlets drew people from all
over Western Massachusetts to Chicopees downtown.
I am very proud of what we were able to accomplish, said Mayor Richard Kos. We
couldnt have done this without the help of so many people. In less than two months
we organized an event with goal of bringing people downtown to see everything it has
to offer. Our community responded with great interest. It was a special day.
Since the event, owners of our vacant store fronts have seen several inquiries about
rental of their spaces, said Eileen Drumm, President of the Chicopee Chamber of
Commerce. This event did everything it was supposed to. Our vendors and
downtown businesses were thrilled with the turnout. Now everyone knows, downtown
Chicopee is alive and well, and is open for business!

City Planner Lee Pouliot, who wrote the grant application that secured a $7,500 grant
to help get this event off the ground, expressed his satisfaction with the turnout. 7,000
people came downtown to celebrate Chicopee and its downtown. It doesnt get any
better than that.
Chicopee restaurants Doogans Deli, Bernats, Babcis Pierogi, Milanos, and Masses
joined other food and merchandise vendors at the event. Wings Over, the popular
chicken wing chain that started in Amherst, Massachusetts debuted in Chicopee
serving their signature wings. They will be opening a location at 1408 Memorial Drive
in mid-October.

Parking issues which have been considered to be major concern for years in the
downtown were virtually nonexistent as 7,000 people packed our downtown, said
Mayor Kos.

The City earlier this year assisted in the opening of the Ferris parking lot on Center
Street to complement a number of other parking initiatives in the downtown.

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