In a move embracing growth and new businesses, Downtown Arlington will launch its new “First Thursdays” program this fall, partnering local businesses with artists. 

On the first Thursday of each month, participating businesses will extend operations into the night past regular business hours. First Thursdays will debut Oct. 3, mixing restaurants, retail and artful activities. 

The night’s partners include Division Brewing, where pizza eaters can participate in pumpkin painting. Nepalese restaurant Taipo will host live music; The Mosaic Market will offer a guided Zentangle workshop and complimentary coffee, and Ann’s Natural Grocery will open its windows to window painting.

“Local artists come to find their teeth, national artists come to find their fans,” said Maggie Campbell, Downtown Arlington’s president and CEO, at the organization’s annual meeting Sept. 18.

First Thursdays sees the downtown Arlington area embracing its role as a state-designated Cultural District — a fitting title partly thanks to the presence of Theatre Arlington, Levitt Pavilion and Arlington Music Hall. 

“It’s going to become the kind of thing where if it’s the first Thursday of the month, you go downtown because you’re going to find something cool,” Campbell said.

Many of the businesses participating are new faces to Arlington, with multiple the result of the city’s 2018 investments in Abram Street, which cuts straight through downtown.

Since the street’s revitalization started, it has been lined with several apartments and new businesses like Inclusion Coffee, Insomnia Cookies and Commodities, a streetwear and sneakers shop.

The Downtown Arlington Management Corp. is a nonprofit managing the area in collaboration with the city, property owners and business owners. Since the organization’s formation in 2006, it has spearheaded many of the efforts to revitalize downtown.

Also at Downtown Arlington’s annual meeting, speakers lauded downtown’s strides toward urbanization and anticipated future challenges as the area embraces walkability. 

Downtown Arlington now sees 1.7 million annual visitors, according to data presented at the meeting. Since 2014, the area has seen 38 new public art pieces and 31 new restaurants. Property values have increased by 168%, and downtown jobs have more than doubled.

Drew Shaw is a reporting fellow for the Arlington Report. Contact him at drew.shaw@fortworthreport.org or @shawlings601. At the Arlington Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.