merchants

04-20-08 #32
New Downtown Merchants Association formed
    Nearly 30 merchants have joined forces to form a new Mount Vernon Downtown Merchants Association. The merchants held their very first highly successful meeting on Friday, April 18, at Harmony Designs Furniture & Interiors, located at 115 South 4th Avenue.
     Frustrated by a steady decline in business, merchants within the Fourth Avenue business corridor of downtown Mount Vernon have formed a new business group to help bring customers back. They will be known as the Mount Vernon Downtown Merchants Association.
     Robin Myers, owner of Harmony Designs Furniture & Interiors is the catalyst behind the creation of the new downtown association. "Our association plans to work very hard with community leaders and elected officials to re-energize our commercial corridors and provide a productive, informative and friendly networking system that will enrich our businesses and community as a whole," said Myers.
     During the meeting the merchants discussed the following concerns:

Safety

Parking for business owners

Sale of drugs

Loitering in front of their businesses

Unruly students walking home from school

Prostitution issues

     "People are afraid to shop in this area. New customers visit once and do not return due to fear," said a concerned merchant. "We need a police presence in this business district. Police officers on foot patrol is one of the ways we help revitalize our business district," said another merchant.
     All the merchants were in agreement that they need to work in a positive way with the new mayor and his administration in order to achieve results. Another meeting was scheduled for May 5.
     Merchants seeking more information about the new merchants association can call Robin Myers at: 914-699-0809

Some of the merchants posing for a picture at the end of the meeting

Robin Myers addressing the group