A modest crowd waited at the Boothbay Register newspaper offices as the clock struck 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, to find out which business would be the recipient of the first-ever Cash Mob.

The idea of the Cash Mob started at On Board Fabrics during a discussion between owner Molly Hutchins and Boothbay Register ad representative Sarah Morley.

It's been a long, cold and snowy winter, which means decreased sales and slow business for the few stores that remain open year-round, such as On Board Fabrics. They were talking about ways to increase business, and the idea of Cash Mobs, which have been done nearby in Bath, came up.

Participants in the mob had purchased a ticket worth $20. Those that came for the announcement at 1 p.m. got a special surprise, an extra ticket for free, which had been donated by people that couldn't make the actual event or the banks who sponsored the mob (The First, First Federal, Bath Savings and Key Bank). One lucky Mobber, Cathy Latter of Boothbay, received two extra tickets.

A total of 16 tickets were sold, which equaled $320 in extra business for the winning store, Sherman's Book and Stationery Store. After the winner was announced, the mob headed down Townsend Avenue to shop.

As the doors opened, two kids in the mob headed right for the Legos in the back of the store. Some knew exactly what they wanted to buy, while others wandered around looking for something to catch their eye.

“We're excited,” said Emma Benner, who was working behind the counter on March 28. “It's great that this helps the town.”

“It should be fun,” said Suzanne Raudenbush, who was also working that day. “I'm glad it supports local businesses and lets people know there are some of us open all year.”

Sherman's also helped the Mobbers’ (and any other shoppers’) money go farther, as everything in the store was 25 percent off that day.

“Sherman's has such good stuff, and it's all 25 percent off,” said Sue Hartgrove. “My husband is getting two books he wanted upstairs.”

“I think it was a great idea and I hope it's the beginning of a tradition,” said Jeff Curtis, owner of Sherman's. “Normally during this time of year, the Boothbay Harbor store has the lowest sales. But on Saturday, they had the highest sales of all five stores.” (The other locations are in Camden, Freeport, Portland and Bar Harbor).