The Saratoga Village Development Council, a group made up of Village merchants and concerned residents, is dedicated to cleaning up the Village and improving the business climate. At a meeting on Nov. 29, the council came up with the idea for late night Thursdays in the Village.

"We had a discussion about things to do to revitalize the city and this was something that came up," Brian Berg, the council's secretary, said. Berg is the owner of Berg Software Design in the Village. "As a software designer, this won't affect my business. But I have an office downtown and I have an interest in the vitality of the city. It's kind of fun being part of making something happen that's good for the community."

So far, Skin Prophecy Boutique, FloBell Women's Fashion Boutique, Harmonie Day Spa, Indo Teak and Gifts, Studio 57, M.E. Benson's Antiques, Saratoga Chocolates and Gallery Saratoga have committed to staying open. More merchants are expected to participate.

Lillian Benson, 84, of M.E. Benson's Antiques on Big Basin Way, has been selling antiques in the Village for 24 years and still works the counter after selling the store to her daughter. "I'm slave labor," she said.

Benson said her store usually does its best business between 7 and 7:30 p.m., when people come out of the restaurants and walk around town. She said she stays open late as long as there are customers in the store.

Benson said she thought that other merchants staying open late on Thursday nights is a great idea. "I have been trying for 20 years to get them to do this," she said. "I'd like to see them stay open every night."

Benson said she is impressed with the efforts Jill Hunter has been making in the Village. Hunter sits on the planning commission, founded the Village Gardeners and is also the chairwoman of the Saratoga Village Development Council.

"Jill Hunter has been fabulous," Benson said. "She's coercing people into staying open. She's a great customer and a wonderful lady that's doing so much to help this town."

"People don't come downtown because the stores aren't open and the stores aren't open because people don't come downtown" Berg said. "We hope this is a good way to bring people out. If it is successful, it might become a permanent thing."