Some months ago, business owners at the eastern edge of Ketchum started throwing around ideas to bring people to their side of town.
There have been stores operating at that end of Ketchum for some time, but this group has grown, and with the addition of Iconoclast on the northwest corner of Spruce Avenue and Sun Valley Road, foot traffic has increased. Two churches anchor the other corners across Spruce Avenue where Sun Valley officially begins.
Dubbing the block "On the Edge of Ketchum," or more familiarly as "The Edge," the owners decided to throw a bash of some kind on Memorial Day weekend.
"Before Gary (Hunt) passed away, he came over and we were brainstorming about what to do," said Julie Zapoli, proprietor of Ketchum On The Fly. "We wanted to create a dynamic event to bring people to the area to shop and show off these great stores. We wanted to create a bond between the business owners, to collaborate on an effort."
On Saturday, May 24, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., the 15 business within the block and in the Walnut Avenue Mall will remain open, hold specials and sell raffle tickets. But the event has another purpose now. Hunt died on May 10, and the event will benefit the children of his wife, Sarah Hedrick. The Hunt Hedrick David Children's Fund is set up at the First Bank of Idaho.
"We're using this now as a way to bring our community spirit together for our friend and neighbor who we lost and love," Zapoli said. "Our vision was always to bring awareness to this end of town where we have some really original, creative and entrepreneurial businesses."
The street will be lined with colorful umbrellas from The Open Room. Shops will offer all sorts of refreshments, including wine and champagne, grilled foods, cookies and other treats.
Each store will sell raffle tickets for a combined raffle drawing on June 15 during a block party in the Walnut Avenue Mall at Ciro Restaurant & Market. Winners don't have to be present for the drawing.
There will also be a silent auction during a poetry reading at Iconoclast books on June 7. Businesses that will also donate a portion of their proceeds to the Hunt Hedrick David Children's Fund during the On The Edge event are Ketchum on the Fly, The Open Room, Gilman Contemporary, Ciro and Topnotch.
The eastern edge of Ketchum will be the site of a block party benefit on Saturday. Photo by Dana DuGan
