Business owners in the North Hills Shopping Center are eager to revitalize the area that's seen several businesses vacate in the last years.
Owners organized Second Saturday as a monthly community event to draw in patrons and get passersby to take a second look at the center.
Each month will have a different theme, said Cara Copeland, event principal organizer and owner of The Sun Deck tanning salon.
This week Second Saturday will have a health fair theme. It will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Planned booths include chiropractor Dr. Ken Hartzog, breast cancer information from University Hospital and dance and exercise demonstrations from The Family Y.
Inflatables will also be on site for the children and Subway will pass out cookie coupons.
Next month's event will have a craft theme, and Copeland said she's hoping to attract local artist who want to show their work.
"I'm open to ideas and suggestions," she said.
The idea for a Second Saturday event came in part with a Second Saturday missions event by TrueNorth Church.
Volunteers gather at the church office in North Hills on the second Saturday of every month to do volunteer work around the community.
TrueNorth missions pastor Mike Fiedler said the church plans to continue their own Second Saturday, but right now have no plans to erect a booth at the North Hills Second Saturday.
"I love what they're doing," he said. "We're just doing our normal thing."
Copeland said she hopes the event will benefit businesses in the shopping center.
She said she is still trying to attract more vendors to the event. Anyone interested in participating should call her at (803) 341-9834.
Reach Lisa Kaylor at lisa.kaylor@northaugustatoday.com.
