Bay Ridge brings back 1960s to attract Baby Boomer shoppers
Bay Ridge’s Third Avenue looked like Haight-Ashbury circa 1967 on Tuesday as a group of civic leaders turned back the clock on the shopping thoroughfare for a special event aimed at attracting Baby Boomers to shop there.
“Welcome to the 60s” was billed as a “senior sidewalk social” and featured concerts, dance performances, wine tastings, karaoke, fashion tips, casino-style games, raffles and other treats in an effort that organizers said was designed to encourage older adults to shop in Bay Ridge and to convince merchants to start catering to the over-60 crowd.
It was raining, but that didn’t stop senior citizens from coming out to enjoy the day being held in their honor. “It’s really such a nice thing,” said Judith Collins, who looked like she would have been perfectly at home at Woodstock in 1969, decked out in a headband and a necklace with a peace symbol.