Chamber of Commerce to Work to Establish its Presence on Main Street

Local business owners and the Chatham Area Chamber of Commerce agreed, in a meeting Tuesday night, that improving the parking situation on Main Street is the key to improving business.

Nearly a month after local business owners coalesced in opposition of a Business Improvement District for Main Street, the Chamber is looking to rebuild its relevance in the community, they said.

"We are reaching out tonight for suggestions," said Chamber President Andy Copp, who is also the owner of Café Beethoven.

About 25 people showed up to the meeting, most of them members, looking to give their perspectives on what is behind the perceived apathetic attitude of local businesses. A number of individuals said part of the problem is that many businesses owners do not know very much about other business owners within the community.

F. Gerald New owners Paul and Catherine Norbury emphasized the importance of businesses getting to know what others have to offer.

"We make a point to encourage people to shop in town," said Catherine Norbury, who emphasized word-of-mouth advertising as the best way to increase business.

Business owners have repeatedly said they opposed the BID because they felt it meant forced government involvement in local business. Copp conceded that there was a "enormous amount of misinformation" about the BID as the vote neared. Many businesses were worried the BID tax would cost hundreds of dollars more than was quoted by a BID committee, which consisted primarily of local business owners.

When asked what, if anything, the government could do to help businesses, Copp stressed the importance of signage that lets people know where they can park. Business, he said, is discouraged when people are worrying about parking.

Spring Street Designs owner Dezi Folenta , who said he planned to join the Chamber as soon as the meeting was over, emphasized the same point, saying that he has offered to pay parking tickets for clients who often need more than two hours to be helped.

"There is a tremendous amount of talent in Chatham," said Folenta, of the town's potential. "The Chamber of Commerce is looked at as a product. 'What am I getting out of it?' Businesses are looking for a result."

In addition to the work it will do to improve parking downtown, the Chamber will also look into advertising at the train station in an effort to try and reach thousands of daily riders so they can shop in Chatham, rather than at the nearby mall.

Copp shared a story of how a nearby bakery helped him meet an order for a customer.

"Just because we are somewhat of the same type of businesses does not make us enemies," he said.

According to the Chamber's Board of Directors, the Chamber has about 200 members. About 20 percent are Main Street businesses, and only a fraction of those participate in Chamber events.

"We have a lot of events, breakfasts, dinners, but no one comes to share their ideas," Vice President and Decorating Den owner Cheryl Smith said to the gallery of about 25 fellow business owners. "[The current Board of Directors has] been together for four years and we're getting drained, because there is nobody new."