AYDEN — First Friday is back in full swing in the Town of Ayden, giving residents and visitors a chance to see what the town has to offer.
June 7 was the second First Friday in the town’s second year. On First Fridays from May through December, the Downtown Ayden Inc./ Main Street committee has highlighted downtown businesses and other town attractions.
The Ayden Museum offered extended hours, giving people the opportunity to come through and see its exhibits. Bill Norris of the Ayden Historical and Arts Society gave guided tours and shared what’s new and upcoming with the museum.
Norris said that resident artist Phil Barth is working on a mural that will be displayed this coming fall, based on a picture secured from Carolyn Rouse taken back in the 1890s.
“It depicts an old Atlantic Coastline Railroad train coming through and the Ayden Train Depot at the time, and this will be exploded into a tremendous mural for our wall outside,” Norris said.
Ayden residents George Synder, Denise Helms and Kelly Askew are all members of the Greenville Quilters Guild who meet from 4-6 p.m. on First Fridays at Veterans Memorial Park in Ayden to display quilts for everyone to see. The Ayden Community Garden Club also opens its garden in the park to the public.
On West Avenue, the Jamerican Hot Dogs food truck was parked outside of Town Hall and the first 100 people who came by got a free meal combo. DJ Lady B was on the ones and twos, spinning records with feel-good music for summer dancing in the street.
Doris Conner with Downtown Ayden Inc. said that the First Friday initiative has really grown, and she encourages all the local business in the area to participate and come up with their own specials and incentives to bring people into their establishments.
Town Commissioner Cindy Goff was at Gwendy’s Goodies on First Friday. She said that the initiative has really benefited the town and the local businesses.
Goff said that there are lot of things people are doing in Ayden on First Fridays, and that individuals and residents are coming together and saying, “Let’s do more for our town.”
“What we’re trying to do is draw people into Ayden to see what we have to offer and that we’ve got a lot going on,” said Goff. “We’ve got new businesses opening here and we’re wanting to develop a town that’s walkable, where people can get from one business to another, providing music, entertainment and things for families to do.”
Gwendy’s Goodies owner Gwendy Yiznitsky said that she loves the concept of First Friday, and now that she has a full-service bakery at a new location on Lee Street, the business can offer dinner.
Yiznitsky said that she thought this was a great opportunity to highlight the pizzas that the business makes, so she brought in some live music and had a nice crowd inside and outside of her business.
“We’ve got the Oakdale Drive Band, lots of people enjoying that music, and we have six types of pizza,” said Yiznitsky. “Four of them are unique, we’ve got a Brussel Sprout Goat Cheese Bacon, a Jalapeno Popper, a Roasted Red Pepper Feta, and Buffalo Chicken Pizza, plus sausage and cheese for the more traditional pizza lovers.”
Yiznitsky said that she has been in the new location for eight weeks now, and she loves the fact that their menu has expanded to offer breakfast, lunch and dinner. Things are going great, she said, the staff is thankful for the community’s support.
“It’s been a lot of fun; we just love our community and we love the town of Ayden,” said Yiznitsky. “This is a great opportunity to just enjoy some good food, enjoy some good music, and get to know your neighbors a little bit better.”
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