Main Street Warsaw awarded Sharon McIntosh — a customer of Buffalo Street Emporium — the All Is Bright Customer Reward program grand prize of $500 Kosciusko Cash and $1,500 in gift certificates from participating downtown businesses on Monday, Jan. 6. Shown in front from left are Bob Vitoux, OrthoWorx; Doug Hanes, 1st Source Bank; McIntosh; Cindy Dobbins, Buffalo Street Emporium; Terry Sweeney, Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce. In back: Matt Smith, Art of Dance; Krista Brown, Maggie’s Coffee & Treats; Michelle Smith Hansen, Glam; Rob Parker, Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce; and Tim Hamann, Male Fashions. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union.

By David Slone
Times-Union

WARSAW — Being a supporter and customer of small downtown Warsaw businesses paid off Monday, Jan. 6, for Sharon McIntosh. Main Street Warsaw awarded McIntosh — a customer of Buffalo Street Emporium, 116 S. Buffalo St. — the All Is Bright Customer Reward program grand prize of $500 Kosciusko Cash and $1,500 in gift certificates from participating downtown businesses.

Main Street Warsaw staff, presenting sponsor 1st Source Bank Market President Doug Hanes and some of the participating businesses gathered at Buffalo Street Emporium Monday to participate in awarding the prize and to congratulate McIntosh.

“I love small family-owned small businesses and I’m all about supporting (them). They’re the ones that support the T-ball games, the Girl Scouts, all of that type of thing,” McIntosh said after the award presentation and photos.

“So, if Warsaw could convince a small family grocery store to come to town, I would be all in because family is what gets us through the tough times, and I am just so grateful for this award of gift certificates and I plan on helping a lot of people out.

”During the holidays, Main Street Warsaw and nearly 30 downtown businesses offered the All Is Bright Customer Reward program, which started on Black Friday, Nov. 29, and ran through Dec. 23.

Customers who made purchases downtown were asked to text the word “Warsaw” to (574) 313-5775 to receive directions on how to submit their receipt to be entered to win weekly gift certificates, according to a release provided by Main Street Warsaw.

During the contest, 10 weekly $25 gift certificates also were awarded. In all, more than 400 entries were submitted, with an average receipt of $72 and nearly $27,000 in total receipts