BID Aims For More Merchant Involvement

Mayor Pro-Tem Doug Tessitor stood on the sidewalk in the Glendora Village Friday night and marveled at the buzzing activity around him.

Nearly a thousand people strolled down the street with a wine glass in hand, poking in and out of open businesses for the .

“This doesn’t happen in Glendora,” Tessitor said. “To see this in our Village is amazing.”

was one of a series of events coordinated throughout the year to drive some much-needed foot traffic to the businesses in the Glendora Village.

Since it officially formed in September 2009, the Business Improvement District has been the coordinating council on most of the events hosted within the Village.

Although it’s been less than two years since the formation of the BID, Gary Boyer of said the improvements to the downtown area have been significant.

“You can just see the difference,” said Boyer, who assisted in the development of the BID. “There are more people frequenting the Village and the area looks more aesthetically pleasing.”

Manicured trees, overhead banners and increased street lighting were all part of BID beautification projects to enhance curb appeal.

Operating with just a few active volunteer members, BID members are encouraging more Village business owners to come to its next meeting Tuesday, Feb. 15 at 8 a.m. at the Redevelopment Department 224 N. Glendora Ave.  to help plan future BID events.

However, not everyone has been on board with the BID.

Since city council passed the resolution in April 2009, the BID has received a mixed reception from local business owners.

About 250 retailers and restaurants share the two-block area with professionals and personal services, including realtors, lawyers, accountants, salons and laundry professionals.

Several business owners in the Glendora Village spoke in anonymity to Patch, expressing critical opinions regarding the BID.

Some business owners feel the events that close off Glendora Avenue to cars take up parking spaces and drive away potential customers. Each business within the BID’s boundaries must pay an annual fee ranging from $50 to $600 to help cover the expenses for the events, which some feel don’t really benefit them in any way. Others question how the fees imposed on business owners are being spent.

It’s a sentiment BID member and owner Annette Nemeth said she understands – she used to feel the same way when the BID initially passed.

“I actually didn’t vote for it,” Nemeth said. “The city never walked into my showroom. I thought, ‘How are they going to improve my business when they don’t even know who I am?’”

Still, Nemeth decided to attend a BID meeting to see how her money was being spent.

“Most of the events don’t support my business,” Nemeth said. “The clientele that do come through here are not my clientele. But I thought the BID can be a way we can improve the look and feel of the Village.”

Communication among all the business owners proves to be another challenge, said Nemeth.

“Not everyone has e-mail or computers,” said Nemeth. “We have a Web site, but that’s a work in progress. I think a lot of business owners are feeling isolated, with just a few people making all the decisions. I think educating them and letting them know we want their input is one of the things I think we can improve on.”

But the increased traffic to the Village, regardless of the demographic, can be valuable to any business in the Village, said Boyer.

“We advertise and we get people to the front door of your store,” said Boyer. “It’s your job to figure out a way to sell them something.”

BID coordinators say regardless of the discontent from factions within the Village, their mission continues to be the success of the Glendora Village.

“The Village is the heart of Glendora,” said Boyer. “We are the caretakers of the Village.”

The Business Improvement District meets Tuesday, Feb. 15  at 8 a.m. in the Redevelopment Department 224 N. Glendora Ave.

For more information, visit http://www.villageglendora.com/