By Rikki Cason<br><a href="mailto:rikki.cason@journal-register.com">E-mail Rikki</a>
Tasting their way up and down Main Street, more than 250 people filled the streets Saturday for the first Ale in Autumn.
“The event was a huge success,” said Medina Business Association President Cindy Robinson. “It was a really, really nice time.”
Ale in Autumn was sponsored by the MBA and offered a different type of beer for tasting in 22 downtown businesses.
Tastings included local micro breweries, Belgian, Irish, German, Chinese, English and Jamaican beers, a pumpkin ale and many others.
“We sold out of tickets and glasses,” Robinson said. “People were very happy with the selection of beers. Everybody we talked to said they had a great time.”
Similar to last season’s Wine About Winter, Ale in Autumn brought local businesses new customers who may not have not gone in, otherwise.
“The new businesses were so excited,” Robinson said. “They definitely want to participate again.”
Robinson said this season’s event had four more businesses participating than Wine About Winter.
“I thought it went great,” said Historic Village Bed and Breakfast owner Betty Rogowski. “We’re on board for the rest of them.”
Rogowski was impressed by the number of people who came into her business for the event.
“There were more people in this house than I thought it could hold,” she said.
Business owner Tom Snyder said that not only did the event bring more business into local stores, it also promoted more businesses to join the MBA so they could participate in the event. He said this helped make the MBA stronger overall.
“As a business owner it was terrific to see almost 300 people come through the lumber yard,” Snyder said. “As a village board member, I always think it’s great to bring 300 people into the Medina Business District, incident-free.”
Because of the success, organizers are planning to hold this event again next fall. The second annual Wine About Winter is also being planned for February.
Contact reporter Rikki Cason at 798-1400, ext. 8227.
