GROVE CITY — “Cash mobs” have become a major project for the Grove City Chamber of Commerce.

Beth Black, chamber executive director, said the events, which started last year, help generate interest in local businesses.

“They’re going really well,” Black said.

A cash mob is a group of people that goes unannounced to a locally-owned store and spends money.

People who want to participate in the event meet at the chamber office, 119 S. Broad St., at 10:30 a.m. on the third Saturday of the month. After the meeting, they go to the store.

The location of the event is kept secret until the morning it takes place, but Black said the chamber gives hints beforehand.

She said that participants have to be willing to spend at least $20 at the business.

“And, often times, we find them spending more,” Black said.

Black first heard of cash mobs in the fall of 2011. Buffalo, N.Y., claims to have held the first in August 2011. Since then, cash mobs have taken place in several states.

Black took the idea to the chamber’s directors, who were interested in holding such an event in Grove City.

The first one took place in May 2012 at b’gifted, a South Broad Street gift store. The event generated $400 in sales.

The events have generated more than $8,000 in sales for 16 local businesses.

The largest amount of sales happened in June 2012, when 10 people spent $1,000 at Burdick’s, a South Broad Street men’s clothing store.

Tom Burdick, owner of Burdick’s, said the event was nice and brought a good amount of sales. He said that one of the attendees bought a suit, which led to the sale total being so high.

“A suit is a big-ticket item,” Burdick said.

He said the event brought sales similar to a holiday sale period.

“It was definitely a boost to the business,” Burdick said.

Businesses who are members of the chamber and want to have one of these events get put on a waiting list.

“We’ve not repeated (businesses) yet and I don’t think we’ll be repeating for a while,” Black said.

She said the cash mobs usually are surprises for businesses, although the chamber sometimes gives businesses a heads up that a cash mob will be coming.

Black said, for some businesses, the cash mobs were the biggest sales that they have had in a while.

She said many people who go to these events often do not realize the stores exist or that they contain items they like.

“It’s having pride in your community and wanting to support the businesses who take the risk of being in business,” Black said.