When the clock hits five on the first Friday of every month, downtown Bloomsburg comes alive in a way that feels almost magical. It’s more than just kicking off the weekend—it’s like the town shakes off the dust and rediscovers itself. What kicked off as a low-key trial run in one coffee shop has grown into something bigger, spilling onto the streets and giving Main Street a pulse that everyone tunes into. First Friday isn’t just an event anymore; it’s the town’s monthly ritual, turning sidewalks into a lively mix of vendor stalls, tunes floating from doorways, and folks bumping into friends over a drink or a bite.
The Vision
Justin Hummel and Kimberly Kus are the ones steering the ship now, but this wasn’t their idea. It all traces back to Luke Haile, an associate professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Science at what’s now Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg. Haile, who went to Bloomsburg himself and has a side gig slinging vintage clothes online, spotted potential in Brewskis’ big open layout right after it reopened in 2019. “Luke approached us wanting to be a pop-up vendor on one of our evenings,” Kus remembers with a grin. “He was relentless on making this meeting.” That push paid off big time. His setup showed there was real demand for fresh ideas in town. Pretty soon, the goal shifted: pack those underused spots with makers who couldn’t swing their own shops yet, letting bars and cafes double as launchpads for homegrown creators.
Community Impact
Fast-forward three years, and you can see the ripple effects everywhere. It’s turned into this natural connector between lifelong locals and the kids up on the university hill, blurring those old town-versus-gown divides over shared laughs, meals, and melodies. “We saw Brewskis organically blend the students and locals,” Kus says. “So now seeing First Fridays do that for the whole entire town and students makes me so happy.” Places like The Capitol clear out their tables and flip on the lights early, making room for as many as 13 vendors on the dance floor. It’s not all about sales, though—it’s the buzz that counts. “It’s not about necessarily the offerings,” Hummel puts it. “It’s about the vibe.”
Personal Reflections
For Kus and Hummel, the real high doesn’t come from the hustle of setup—it’s that quiet breather once things kick off. Kus says her best part hits right at 5 p.m., when the frenzy dials down. “Once it’s 5 o’clock, we always have like a first Friday discussion,” she explains. “What places do we want to go to this first Friday? Like, who do we want, you know, music-wise to go check out? Are we having dinner? You know, like, that’s my favorite. Because we’re able to enjoy it as a patron instead of just organizing first Friday.” It’s their chance to step out of organizer mode and dive into the vibe they’ve helped create.
Behind the Scenes
Pulling it off takes grit, though. Hummel compares wrangling all the small business owners early on to “herding cats,” with everyone scattered by their own schedules and lives. “The hardest thing is not getting a response at the proper time,” Kus confesses. But as the months rolled on, that frustration faded into something steadier. Folks in town have bought in, building a rhythm where things hum along even if someone’s late to the email party—consistency has bred that kind of reliability.
Looking Ahead
To keep the fire going, they’ve got eyes on expansion. Picture this: closing off Main Street to cars for a full-blown pedestrian bash. Hummel floats ideas like a shuttle zipping in a loop from East Street through campus and back downtown, making those hills less of a barrier. They’re also eyeing more family-friendly tweaks, like ramping up kid stuff at the library or turning the YMCA’s trial childcare into a regular thing for parents needing a break.
Get Involved
Students, this is your invite—whether you’re vending or just wandering. The hills might be steep, but the payoff’s worth it. If you’ve got an Instagram hustle or something cooking, hit up Kimberly Kus at [email protected] or slide into Downtown Bloomsburg Inc.’s (DBI) Instagram DMs. It’s all about jumping in and shaping what’s next for this town tradition.