Despite challenges associated with the recession, New Rochelle”™s downtown Business Improvement District (BID) is actively promoting the city”™s small businesses.
“Like all communities, New Rochelle has faced challenges in this difficult economy,” said New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson. “Fortunately, the great majority of local businesses are weathering the storm. The city continues to work in partnership with the BID to provide targeted assistance and promotional help to various business sectors.”
Ralph DiBart, executive director of the BID, recently recruited six local designers to decorate two apartments in Avalon on the Sound East, a 40-story high rise apartment building. The apartments were fully furnished and accessorized by more than 35 New Rochelle businesses who participated in the Downtown Showcase.
The apartments will be open for public viewing over the next month.
“Even during periods of a recession you have to forge forward and work harder and have all the businesses join forces,” DiBart said. “The showcase demonstrates we have the community excited about shopping locally.
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Recognizing that retail across the country is struggling, the BID has been working with the local businesses to better educate people on the diversity of goods and services that they can get downtown. We have already sold thousands of dollars worth of merchandise from the showcase.”
Louis Vaccaro, co-owner of Main Street”™s The Curtain Shop and co-chair of the BID, said art and dance studios, including a yoga studio down the street, has brought shoppers to Main Street.
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And with big-box competitors like Home Expo and Linens N”™ Things recently closing, it has been easier to attract new customers.
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“I am proud and happy I am still here,” Vaccaro said. “From my perspective, I have been on this street most of my life, and I am happy with the way things are going. I”™d like to push the fast forward button if I could, but I think we”™re on the right track. I”™m really looking forward to the holiday season.”
And since last year when high-end consignment furniture store Consign It on Main moved in right next door, Vaccaro has seen an increase of new customers.
However, Vaccaro said the addition of a bookstore, a shoe store and possibly an electronics store would attract more shoppers to downtown New Rochelle.
DiBart, who is working with property owners to fill empty storefronts and improve their store”™s facades, said despite the recession, “in downtown New Rochelle we”™re constantly leasing space.”
DiBart said September”™s fall sidewalk sale also generated thousands of dollars in sales for the businesses on Main Street.
“I think most traditional main streets love to have sidewalk sales,” DiBart said. “It brings shoppers in. They’ve asked us to do more next year.”
For more information, visit the New Rochelle BID web site www.newrochelledowntown.com.
