Goll's Saw Big Boost From Mob The Merchant

Saturday mornings are fairly predictable at .

"Everything is always the same here," Susie Goll said.

But when the , it was anything but normal.

Susie Goll said the family bakery was prepared, though, thanks to some doubled efforts in the days leading up to the first "Mob The Merchant" event in .

"It went really well," she said. "We did probably $500-600 more than we usually would on a Saturday."

And thus, the first edition of Main Street's Mob The Merchant can be called a success.

"I can't wait to see how the Mob the Merchant goes for the next business," Goll said. "I think it'll be a good thing for Have de Grace."

It will be a good thing for the long-time, family-owned shops, in particular.

As the news broke of it's impending closing earlier this spring, 's owner, Kelly Falkenstine told that on the other end of the Washington Street business district.

"We honestly don't make any money here," Goll said. "We barely get by. There's nothing else I'll do because it's all I've ever done. But [Mob The Merchant] helped us. It was like here, here's the money for the bills for the week."

Goll's also opened its doors for First Friday last month for the first time, setting out samples. Ten new customers returned the next morning after taking the samples.

It's a new mindset in business at Goll's—which also will be open selling slices of cake and pie for First Friday on June 1.

Goll said with every purchase during the event two weekends ago, customers were given a raffle ticket to enter for two tickets to the Havre de Grace Seafood Festival's August concert. There were 150 tickets in the drawing for a winner—another indication of the traffic increase the store felt that Saturday.

to .

With some momentum in the early stages, the movement might help some businesses remain the staples they've become in downtown Havre de Grace.

"We'll hold on," Goll said. "We're not going anywhere. As long as I'm able, we'll keep it going. I don't want to ever see it go."

Judging by the turnout, neither does the rest of Havre de Grace.