IRON MOUNTAIN — Linnea & Kristine will join the Iron Mountain Downtown Development Authority to sponsor this year’s Third Thursdays series.

The season will launch Thursday, May 18, with “Kicking It Old School.” In addition to extended store hours, the first event will feature the local band Next Myle performing from 5 to 8 p.m. at the downtown stage. They will also have food trucks and a children’s area with bounce houses.

Linnea & Kristine was founded in 1993 by sisters Linnea Marchetti, Kristine Cohodes and Karen Cerasoli and has since been a prominent fixture at 313 S. Stephenson Ave.

The owners of the flower and gift shop were the first to introduce the idea of offering extended hours to cater to customers who wanted to stop after work.

“We were celebrating our 25th anniversary at the time and wanted to do something special,” Marchetti said. “We started staying open later on the third Thursday and soon after other businesses joined.”

The positive response from the community and businesses prompted the DDA to create the Third Thursdays as a featured event.

“My goal is to build up Third Thursdays again,” said DDA Event Coordinator Kenzie Williamsen, noting the pandemic put the event on hold a couple of years. “This night out directly supports our downtown businesses.”

Linnea & Kristine looks forward to bringing back the event, which will give the shop an opportunity to highlight new merchandise. “We are much more than just a flower shop,” said Marchetti.

“We are always try to add unique things,” Cohodes said. “People are surprised when they come in.”

“It’s their 30th year — that’s amazing; so many things they have seen in their years of business downtown,” Williamsen said. “They have stayed the entire time and are thriving.”

She also stressed how the DDA appreciates them, along with all the businesses downtown.

For this month’s Third Thursday, Linnea & Kristine will give away a door prize as well as offer refreshments. They encourages everyone to follow their Facebook page for updates on Third Thursdays specials offered over the next six months.

Shoppers will be able to earn raffle tickets at participating businesses from 4 to 7 p.m. With Linnea & Kristine being the major sponsor, store patrons will receive three raffle tickets that evening.

To be eligible for the drawings at 7:30 p.m., tickets need to be brought to the downtown stage by 7:20 p.m.

All participants are encouraged to keep store hours until at least 6 p.m.

The focus of the event remains getting traffic through the doors of the downtown businesses — the music and added activities is just a supplement, Williamsen said.

“This really is something special; it’s just a fun event,” Cohodes said.

“There are so many amazing businesses downtown,” Marchetti added. “We love being a part of the community.”

Williamsen said the DDA’s website is currently under construction, and the new look will be launched soon.

Businesses can sign up to participate in Third Thursdays by going to the DDA Facebook page or emailing Williamsen at events@downtownironmountain.com.

Terri Castelaz can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 241, or tcastelaz@ironmountaindailynews.com.