For the second year, we’re partnering with The Factory at Franklin + Franklin Transit Authority to provide FREE TRANSPORTATION during select Saturdays in November and December (2015) as part of our “Hop & Shop Trolley” initiative!
To help encourage friends and family to experience the joy of “shopping small,” the Hop & Shop ride–which is heated and handicap accessible–will make its first roll from The Factory parking lot at 10 a.m. on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 28. The Hop & Shop Trolley will also run Saturday, Dec. 5 and Saturday, Dec. 19 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a short break around 1 p.m. for the drivers.
Participating passengers will enjoy festive music on the decked-out trolley, which will run from the front of The Factory in 30-minute increments. The ride will start at The Factory at 230 Franklin Road, and take its passengers down Main Street and Columbia Avenue, as well as businesses on the First through Fifth avenues of Main Street. There is no need to reserve space or tickets for the trolley. Simply park at The Factory, and look for the pick-up signs at the front of the building.
PLUS: On Friday, Dec. 4, The Factory will also open its “Trees of Christmas” exhibition in the lobby, providing Hop & Shop guests with an extra festive layer to its downtown Franklin experience! Be sure to shop The Factory’s antique stores, boutiques, art galleries and more before jumping on the ride to Main Street.
Though downtown Franklin has two free parking garages in its hub, both fill up quickly during the holiday season. With around 1,200 free parking spots at The Factory, accessibility to Main Street is made easier with the Hop & Shop Trolley. Shopping and dining with our dozens of ‘indie’ merchants is truly a one-of-a kind experience that you can’t find elsewhere. We’re hoping we can help create a new tradition for families, a seasonal kick-off that promotes relationships in an enchanting environment!
In its sixth year, Small Business Saturday was founded to help independently owned merchants gain more exposure, and encourages people to shop at locally owned businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The single day has grown into a powerful movement, and the DFA supports the movement.
For more information on Small Business Saturday go here.
Psst: The trolley will not be available during Dickens of a Christmas, the two-day street festival Dec. 12-13 that attracts thousands of folks and includes many street closings.