Photos by Boss Babe, LLC by Charrie Stambaugh
Every community wants to thrive, and what better way to do so than by bringing people together through music and activities?
Final Fridays was established last year in Greenwood by Restore Old Town Greenwood (ROTG) to bring the community’s businesses together. The organization’s vision is stated as follows on the official website: “Restore Old Town Greenwood connects our diverse communities by promoting Old Town as a place to experience a variety of local businesses, leisure and recreational opportunities and to preserve and enhance the historical heart of our community.”
Megan Yeagy, ROTG board member and co-owner of Grafton Peek Mercantile and Grafton Peek Social Hall, has been involved in piecing together Final Fridays from the beginning.
“We reached out to a lot of local businesses to get them on board,” Yeagy says. “A lot of people were very excited about it. So with that we grew it a little bit, having live music out on the streets in the warmer months.”
ROTG established Final Fridays in July of 2024. Final Fridays runs from February to November, with core hours from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Last year special offers and activities included Chalk a Walk sponsored by Teal Canary, appearances of the library’s book bike, free hair tinsel from Penelope June Salon, a variety of live music and more.
“We want to promote kids to come out and chalk a walk,” Yeagy says. “But also if you just want a date night or an adult night out, it’s great for that too. We really want all people of Greenwood to come down and see because we’re trying to show that there can be something for everyone.”
Yeagy and her husband, Brian Yeagy, began Grafton Peek Mercantile and Grafton Peek Social Hall in 2023. After living in Indy for years, the Yeagys wanted a more small-town feel and moved to Greenwood. Mercantile hosts vendors of local and Indiana-made products, ranging from art to handcrafted items and beyond. For Final Fridays, the Yeagys keep Mercantile open late and showcase a couple vendors. Weather permitting, they host a booth outside the storefront to draw people in.
Yeagy’s reason for focusing her business on locally made items is the same reason she’s so involved in efforts to grow and deepen the community of Greenwood.
“It’s twofold support of your community.” Yeagy says. “Not only are you supporting this shop, you’re then supporting the local makers as well, so a lot of your money is going to stay right here.”
As with all small organizations, ROTG is seeking volunteers to help make Final Fridays happen.
“We’re actually talking with a few people at Greenwood High School,” she says. “A lot of the students are interested, which would be huge for us. The more help we can get, the bigger we can make it.”
You can support Grafton Peek Mercantile by shopping in person at 280 West Main Street in Greenwood, checking them out on Instagram or Facebook @graftonpeekmercantile, or visiting graftonpeekgreenwood.com.
Yeagy can be reached at info@graftonpeekgreenwood.com for more information.
