MARY AND ERIC THIBAULT
First Fridays in Beaufort, Celebrating the Heart of Downtown
story by KAREN SNYDER photos by SUSAN DELOACH
First Friday photos by PAM KEITH & DAN GREEN
When people come to Bay Street, whether they live here or are a visitor, they interact more here than anywhere else in Beaufort, and they see what a truly welcoming town we are,” says Eric Thibault, artist and co-owner of the Thibault Gallery with his wife Mary, and president of the Downtown Beaufort Merchants Association (DBMA). “We truly are the welcoming committee and ambassadors of Beaufort,” he says, referring to the dozens of retailers and businesses in the historic district.
And, welcoming they are! Both native Beaufortonians, Mary and Eric embody small-town living at its best. Visit their gallery at 815 Bay Street, and you’ll be greeted with a friendly “hello” and an atmosphere not typical of an art gallery. Open and airy, bright and colorful, you’ll find no mazes of walls to navigate or “museum” lighted hallways to travel. Instead, you’ll feel immediately at home with the displays of Lowcountry art and other crafted pieces of the more than a dozen local artists the Thibault’s often call their “family.”
Both artists themselves (Eric becoming an artist later in life), they achieved their dream of owning a gallery in their hometown in January 2014. But shortly after that, they realized something was missing. With their outgoing natures and personalities, Mary and Eric felt a bit of a disconnect with the businesses along the Bay Street corridor.
“There just wasn’t any fellowship between us,” explains Mary. “We needed something to enrich our businesses and where we could work together, help everyone to be successful, and learn from one another.” It was not long after that, a friend of Mary’s from Maryland mentioned the concept of “First Fridays” that were happening all around the country. Mary quickly did her research focusing on a successful First Friday model happening in York, PA.
“I realized this was just what we needed here in Beaufort,” admitted Mary, who then got to work with her husband, going door to door to invite Bay Street businesses to participate. “There was a lot of reluctance at first. Everyone kept telling us they tried similar things in the past, but they just didn’t work.”
Yet, Mary and Eric were undeterred and continued to offer their business neighbors the opportunity to put their name on a First Friday event poster for just $10.00. With only nine participants onboard, First Friday Beaufort was launched in March 2014 with Mary and Eric celebrating the Grand Opening of their gallery at the event.
Mary admits, “It was so emotional for me when closing Bay Street for the first time in April 2018 and seeing thousands of people enjoying the event,” confirming that she and her husband’s efforts had paid off.
Since that time, the Thibaults remain committed to growing the event, now celebrating its 6th year with more than 36 businesses participating as part of the Downtown Beaufort Merchants Association (DBMA), established in August 2017, and who now owns the event.
According to Eric, DBMA’s mission is to “promote the downtown area as a blend of shopping, dining, and lodging through organized events and promotions to provide a clean, safe, and friendly environment that will enhance the Beaufort experience for locals and visitors alike…”
And the Thibaults, together with the DMBA’s seven-member board and First Friday planning committee of which Mary is a part, are ensuring that this mission is accomplished. First Friday in Downtown Beaufort now draws anywhere from 1,000 to 2,000 visitors on the first Friday of each month, depending on the monthly theme and whether or not Bay Street is closed for the festivities.
“You’ve got to build excitement,” says Eric, about why DBMA is committed to the First Friday concept, “and that’s just what you get!” The event is year-round, free, and open to the public. It’s a celebration of all things Beaufort — part shopping, part art, part music, part food, and a whole lot of fun. Each month has a seasonal theme and includes live bands, scavenger hunts, demonstrations, and events in the stores, with wine, hors d’oeuvres, and prize drawings offered by many of the merchants. Some of the event themes include: Spring Fling (April), Salute to Mom (May), Dads & Dude Downtown (June), Football in the South (September), Eat, Shop & Be Scary (October), and Night on the Town as part of Beaufort’s holiday weekend event in December.
“We couldn’t do it without the support of the City and City Council,” explains Eric, who quickly acknowledges that it was the relationship that was built with the City Manager’s office that accounts for its on-going success. “From organizing the event to arranging social media and booking entertainment, there are so many city employees like Linda Roper, Rhonda Carey, and Tara Hodges who make it all happen.”
According to the Thibaults, some of the most well attended First Fridays are those when Downtown “Main Street” (Bay Street) is closed, which happens four times a year in April, June, September, and December. “Our attendance can sometimes double during those months,” but indicates shutting down a street owned by the state of South Carolina (not the city) isn’t always easy to do. “You have to apply 30 days in advance to close it.”
“When the street is closed, we often get asked by patrons why there are no food trucks as part of the event,” says Mary. “But food trucks and outside vendors will not be part of the event,” she indicates, explaining the purpose of First Friday is to bring “business into the businesses” in downtown Beaufort and “to encourage everyone to shop local and that includes eating in our restaurants.”
Likewise, the Thibaults explain that invited buskers are only permitted in downtown Beaufort during First Friday events and that outside businesses and organizations are not allowed to set up tables to sell their products during the event. “We’re here to support DBMA members with businesses in historic Beaufort.”
Though the Thibaults admit they may have had the initial idea to begin First Fridays to Beaufort many years ago, they realize that its continued success is dependent upon others. “We need experienced people to grow this concept beyond our knowledge,” says Mary. “We want to keep it fresh,” adding that there are always news businesses coming to Beaufort, while others are changing and growing. “We need their expertise to keep us thinking outside the box and to benefit everyone.”
As far as their vision for the future, Mary says they hope to expand the reach of First Friday events past the Bay Street corridor to surrounding streets to include all of historic downtown.
Most important, Mary says, “We’d love to find a long-term sponsor for First Fridays,” indicating that sponsorship would help underwrite the costs associated with their efforts. “And, we’d love to have more volunteers to support the event,” mentioning, for example, “it would be great to have local USCB students and military personnel involved.
“We’d also love to make the hours for First Friday a bit later. Right now, the event is 5 pm to 8 pm If we change it to 6 pm to 9 pm, then those who are arriving home from work will have plenty of time to participate and enjoy well into the evening.”
It’s clear that Eric and Mary Thibault have more than a vision for just their artwork, but also for the town they love and call home and for the local businesses that help it thrive.
“Our downtown IS the heart of Beaufort,” says Eric. “The downtown merchants have the most influence on how a person experiences our town. It’s what keeps them coming back and why so many desire to live here.”
For more information about First Friday events and schedules, please visit the First Friday Beaufort SC fan page on Facebook or www.firstfridaybeaufortsc.com.
