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THE RESTAURANT RUN
EAT, DRINK, SHOP!

DATE: Sunday, March 21, 2010
TIME: 12:00noon to 5:00 pm.
PLACE:  Downtown New Bedford

The Restaurant Run is an opportunity for Downtown Businesses to take advantage of the thousands of visitors that the New Bedford Half Marathon brings to our city. Marketed to the general public of the Greater New Bedford area – through all available local media and to all Marathon participants (2,300 runners and their friends and families), 900 volunteers and 275 members and supporters of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick organization.
 
A Restaurant Run brochure/map is produced by DNB, Inc. and is the entry for participants to win great prizes. Enter the contest by visiting at least half of the businesses listed on map, getting their official stamp on the map, then drop the form at one of the designated locations: The Bay; On-a-Roll or Elaine's Black Whale. Completed contest entry forms will be collected at 5:00 and brought to the Catwalk Bar & Grille where winners will announced.   
 
The Map shows the location of each participant and will tell you what special they are offering –ie: a free sample sized food or beverage or special race day discount. You decide what the sample or special is offered from your business.
 
PARTICIPATION FEES ARE:

Restaurants/Pubs will pay a fee to be listed on the brochure/ map
$75.00 DNB member $100.00 non-member
Retailers/non-profits/coffee shops/breakfast/lunch shops (no alcohol)-
- will pay a lower fee to be listed on ticket/map
$25.00 DNB member and $35.00 non-member
Each participating business will receive 5 Half Marathon T-Shirts for employees.

All runners will receive Restaurant brochure/maps with advance with their registration packages and/or at the weekend registration desks at the YMCA.
 
Information will be posted with down-loadable pdf's on-line through the  DNB, Inc web-site and the New Bedford Half Marathon Race Committee's web-site and through the race sponsor, The Friendly Sons' of St. Patrick.
 
DNB, Inc. Volunteers will distribute maps in advance of the weekend at the participating venues, runner registration, and to the spectators during the race. Participants are strongly encouraged to offer a special to anyone with a registered race number. Music is a great draw and signs welcoming the public and runners, sandwich board with balloons or in windows are visible draws.  Play up the green and white theme of the race.
 
For more information or a registration form: contact DNB, Inc. at 508-990-2777 or dnichols@downtownnb.org. Or click here to download a registration form.

WINGS COURT NEIGHBORS COMING TOGETHER  -
First Clean up date scheduled for Sunday, March 7.

A meeting was organized by a combined effort of JT Ghim of the Ginger Grill, DNB, Inc and the Chamber of Commerce by reaching out to the businesses affected by the condition of Wings Court. Held on January 27th with approximately 25  merchants and tenants from the abutting buildings, DNB, Inc, Chamber and city representatives in attendance.  
 
Meeting was opened by Kevin Pelland, President of the Board of DNB, Inc.  He talked about the purpose of the meeting being to find out what the merchants and tenants ideas are for the use and clean up the Court and what the city has planned.
 
Representatives from the city's planning dept. attended and informed us of the Gateway Urban Park Grant that  will be designated for Wings Court and Custom House Square, where is could have a great impact and the design and appearance of both areas. The 2 spaces will be worked on together as they are linked in the overall plan for pedestrian passage to green spaced through downtown and the National Park. This fall under the “long term” plan for these areas – Wings Court being the more doable project at this time.  It also stated that when it comes to plans for this space, we must always keep in mind that Wings Court is City land which means City liability and that it is a public space, not just abutters space.
 
What the group in attendance was immediately concerned with the how they, as local businesses can move thing along to have a positive impact on the condition of the Court for this spring/summer season. Attendees said they have and would continue to do beautification projects on their own – but a coordinated effort would work better. DNB, Inc. suggested a scheduled clean up day in the Spring should be set so a group effort to clean up, garbage brush, clean out planting beds, trim branches, etc can be done in organized manner with the help of the city to provide trash and brush removal and equipment for trimming, digging, cleaning, etc.  City reps. Said the dedication of vigorous and invested abutters is great, they could talk to the DPI director about a plan to work with the group to provide these in kind services. Create a partnership with the City and WC abutters.  Talk continued about security issues and police presence and lack of signage identifying the space clearly as Wings Court.   
 
A follow up meeting was held with Mayor Lang and representatives from City departments including Police, Planning, Licensing, EDC along with Wings Court abutters and interested parties in attendance.

The Mayor expressed his concern for all the issues presented and the difficulty the City faces in maintaining services with current budget situation.  That City Departments will work with us whenever possible to keep Wings Court, clean and safe for all residents and businesses to enjoy. That requests for permits for usages of the Court will be reviewed individually.  
 
In order to move forward with what the Wings Court group could do now, it was suggested that a date for the clean up be set, coordinated with city and abutters. Diane Nichols spoke with JT Ghin as he is representing and disseminating the information to abutters.  It was agreed that the first clean up should be before the Restaurant Run. The scheduled date is Sunday, March 7 – time to begin TBA - The city will make some tools available  for use and pick up the debris that we gather on  Monday morning. It was suggested that in April, we follow up the cleaning with another day aimed at trimming of trees and shrubs, removal of dead planting, preparing flower beds for planting. Waiting until April allows some budding that will let us know what existing plants are viable. City representatives from parks and cemetery departments will be advising us on appropriate times for trimming, planting, etc as well as what types of plants will do well in the area and suggest a coordinated look to the planting.

Replacement of the faded banners was suggested with possible replacement as a way to identify the area as Wings Court.
 
If you would like to become involved and sign up to clean up on March 7th , contact either Diane and DNB, Inc. or JT at the Ginger Grill.

Big Changes in Historic Downtown Area
BY LAUREN DALEY

To paraphrase David Bowie, cha-cha-cha-cha changes are happening in downtown New Bedford—moves, expansions, and even a Wedding District!

Larissa McLaughlin has decided to close Blush Beauty Bar on 29 Centre St to spend more time with her newborn daughter and 3-year-old son. “This is the time; I can always have a store, but I can’t always have my kids little,” McLaughlin said.

Blush will close its doors on Feb 27. “It was a difficult decision. I bawled my eyes out. Blush was another child,” McLaughlin said. “I’m really sad; I loved the neighborhood; I loved being a unique shop for my customers, but I have to do what’s best for my family.”

Although she won’t have a brick-and-mortar shop, McLaughlin will still do wedding and special occasion make-overs, along with cosmetic consultations, by appointment. Clients can call (508) 272-1284. (See below for more on the new Wedding district.)

Christian Farland, engineer at Thompson Farland Architects, has partnered with Dennis Cohane, owner of Catwalk, to create Rose Alley Townhouses, LLC. “We’re proposing four three-story residential town houses and a garage below in the lot is right behind Rose Alley Ale House,” Farland said. “The square footage on all townhouses will be 1,600 square-feet; all of them will have water views.”

Rose Alley Townhouses LLC have formally met with the Historic Commission and
the surrounding neighbors, and “we had a really positive feedback from them
all,” Farland said.

“We still have to go through planning board and zoning. We’re hoping to start
construction this spring, around May or June.”

In other changes, Colo Colo Gallery will move from 27 Centre St. into the old
Blush space at 29 Centre Street.  Mare’s Studio is moving from 98 Front St.
location to the Colo Colo Space.

“Presently, we’ve purchased where Skin was, and where Colo Colo was,” said
call Donna Mare, who runs the studio with her husband Nelson. “Skin is our office space; we’re attached by a door internally to Colo Colo, which will be our camera room,” she said. “It’s a wonderful move, we’re very existed, the visibility is more than we could’ve asked for. It’s only positive. We never even considered leaving the area, perfect timing.”
Mare’s Studio will have a Grand Opening at 27 Centre Street on May 9 at 1 p.m.
Michelle Carr Photography moved in early February to 89 North Water St., above
The Bay Clothing store.

“The new location will offer my clients gorgeous natural light, brick walls
and natural floors,” Carr said. “I’m excited about the new atmosphere.”
 
And The Celtic Coffee House at 42 No. Water St. is “looking at the possibility
for expansion in the near future,” said owner Philip Dwayne.

CUSTOMERS FALL IN LOVE WITH CITY’S “WEDDING DISTRICT”
By LAUREN DALEY

When Larissa McLaughlin closes Blush on Feb. 27, she’ll start to work her wedding make-up magic inside Sound XPlosion, on 761 Purchase St, right next to Lumina images and Molly B. Cake.

“We call it the Wedding district—a DJ, a makeup artist, photographers and cakes,” McLaughlin said. “It’s a way for all of us to stay downtown. I’ll be down there mid-March.”
Chris Saraiva, owner of Sound Xplotion, said betrothed customers “love the idea of having four vendors in one spot.”

“Essentially, what we have officially in the district are Molly B. Cakes, myself for a disc jockey, Lumina for photographer, and Larissa for make-up. We’re working on two more vendors to join us soon,” he said. The idea of gathering all the city’s wedding vendors into one space is mutually beneficial to lovebirds and business owners.

“Working together like this is bringing us so much more business,” Saraiva said. “When customers come in, they meet with four vendors at once, instead of traveling around. We all recommend each other. It makes sense from both sides to make it a one-stop shop.”
The Wedding District went over big this past AHA! when they had a cake-tasting and open house.

“People loved how convenient it is,” he said. In fact, it’s looking to be such a good business venture, the district is courting two other vendors right now. “We have couple of other vendors we’re looking into. Hopefully in three months we add two more businesses,” Saraiva said.

The Downtown New Bedford, Inc.
Loan Program and Business Partnership Program

Did you know that small business planning assistance is available at DNB, Inc. through our partnership with the Mass. Small Business Development Center?  The SBDC offers free and confidential counseling in areas including:  Business and financial planning, cash flow analysis, marketing and sales strategies, organizational and personnel help,  and more.  These services are available with one on one or group consultations with their professional staff delivered right in the DNB, Inc. office.

Downtown New Bedford, Inc. has for many years offered commercial loans to businesses and potential businesses located in the geographic downtown area. These loans generally offer a reduced rate, a favorable term or some other valuable incentive to do business in the downtown. Below is a list of the many options available under the Loan Program. Each loan request is uniquely different and requires a seasoned commercial lender to analyze and underwrite the borrowing need properly and appropriately to match and meet the businesses needs.

Term Loans: Commercial term loans are generally written for a specific purpose: to purchase equipment, inventory, commercial vehicles, etc.
Time Loans: Commercial time loans are, by their nature, written for a much shorter period of time, usually 30, 60, 90 and sometimes up to 180 days for a very short term borrowing need.
Demand Loans: Commercial demand loans have no fixed maturity and are payable in full at any time. These types of loans are reviewed frequently and are sometimes converted to a term loan.
Real Estate Loans: Commercial real estate loans are written for a variety of purposes and are structured in a variety of different ways to coincide with the purpose of the loan.
Lines of Credit:  Commercial lines of credit are often used for working capital purposes to fund timing differences between when a business expends cash to produce a product or provide a service and when that business receives payment for the product sold or service provided.

Providing a carefully prepared, accurate and complete loan application with up-to-date financial information is critical. You want to make the best possible presentation in your initial loan submission, since you may not get a second opportunity. The credit analysis process is rather simple. There are no secrets or magic tricks.  Keeping your business bankable is your responsibility, but you are not alone. DNB, Inc. can help you through the process by using our resources that include the Business Partnership Program and SEMA Small Business Development Center.

For more information about the Downtown Business Loan Program or Business Partners, call us at 508-990-2777 or e-mail us at dnb@downtownnb.org.