Discover Pacific Beach, the area’s business improvement district, is trying to bolster business this summer with the launching of two events this month: summer sidewalk sales on Garnet Avenue and late-night shopping on Thursdays, dubbed North PB Nights, along Turquoise and Cass streets. “They’re a work in progress,” said Discover PB executive director Andy Hanshaw. “They’re new events that we hope will grow and become a new PB tradition.” Summer sidewalk sales Four stores at the beach end of Garnet Avenue will take their products to the sidewalk on Saturday, July 11 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. to kick off the summer sidewalk sale series. The sidewalk sales are planned for the second Saturday of each month for the remainder of the summer and, hopefully, into the fall. “We’re envisioning merchants inviting shoppers to come on outside and enjoy PB and enjoy a great selection of merchandise,” Hanshaw said. “Hopefully we can grow this into entertainment on the streets.” Thus far, four retailers are on board: Pangaea Outpost at 909 Garnet Ave., Raw Clothing at 940 Garnet Ave., Surf Club Surf Shop at 952 Garnet Ave. and Buffalo Exchange at 1007 Garnet Ave. Discover PB hopes to get more shops on board and extend the monthly shopping event beyond Garnet Avenue. “The sidewalk sale can appeal to both visitors and locals because it’s more geared in the heart of PB, where there’s more tourist traffic,” Hanshaw said. Hanshaw said he does not expect sidewalks to be excessively cluttered or dangerous on Saturdays when sales are held. As an incentive for vendors to join the sidewalk sale, Discover PB is offering a 20 percent discount to power-wash the front of participating businesses. Stores can apply for the $100 right-of-way permit through Discover PB that Hanshaw said helps streamline the process. The city requires retailers to have a right-of-way permit to set up outdoor displays, A-frame signs or sidewalk cafes. The permit would also cover outdoor sales. “If retailers have the ability to put out A-frame signs or outdoor displays or sidewalk cafes,” Hanshaw said, “they should be getting a public right-of-way permit.” For more information on the summer sidewalk series visit www.pacificbeach.org or call Discover PB at (858) 273-3303. North PB Nights Neighbors on Cass and Turquoise streets will now have the option to shop or relax in their neighborhood on Thursday evenings as Discover PB launches North PB Nights starting July 9 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. “The idea was to come up with a creative way to showcase the area and have a festive evening one day a week, starting in the summer, to encourage folks to come out and experience an evening in north PB,” Hanshaw said. A gift store on Turquoise Street, an art gallery on Cass Street and a stylish consignment store on Cass Street will stay open three hours later until 9 p.m. Musicians will play indoors and outdoors along the streets. Because the area is partially residential, Hanshaw said most of the performers will be individual musicians rather than bands in order to keep the noise down. “We are encouraging other stores and restaurants to stay open later on Thursday night so that we’ll have more options for folks to enjoy the area, to take advantage of specials, to come on out to experience a night in north PB,” Hanshaw said. Participating retailers include Turquoise Coffee at 841 Turquoise St., The French Gourmet at 960 Turquoise St., Patina Gift Store at 957 Turquoise St., Gallery at Land’s End at 4984 Cass St. and Cream of the Crop at 4683 Cass St. The retailers will be marked to denote their participation, and Hanshaw said Discover PB’s website will indicate which retailers are participating. “The longer vision of it is to provide even more outdoor types of amenities, such as a farmers market and outdoor food cart,” Hanshaw said. “It could evolve into something greater than just stores being open.”