Sea Bright retailers form new business alliance
Long-term goal is to bring events to the borough
BY MELISSA KARSH Staff Writer

SEA BRIGHT - A newly formed business community group is "taking a bite out of Sea Bright"with newideas to spice up the town and its businesses.

The Sea Bright Business Alliance is made up ofmembers of the Sea Bright business community and the young organization already boasts 11 members who have paid into the dues.

The long-term goals of the business alliance include bringing events to the town and the primary focuswill be on cooperative marketing, Councilwoman Peggy Bills said at the Feb. 19 Sea Bright Council meeting.

"The primary focus that they are looking to do is coordinating marketing, which means they are combining their efforts for marketingwithmore people and lessmoney to create a better business atmosphere and bring in more retailers," said Bills, who attended the Feb. 13 business alliance meeting.

Along with Bills, Mayor Maria Fernandes was also in attendance at the group's third meeting.

Fernandes commented about the group at the council meeting, saying they are "a very active group."

The group, which named Scott Kelly of the Mad Hatter Pub and Eatery and Brian George of NorthshoreMenswear as co-presidents, is planning a "Taste of Sea Bright" event in May and is also working on a Web site. According to Bills, Taste of Sea Bright would include a food fair with kiosks from different restaurants and businesses, allowing people to sample the food and browse through the participating stores' merchandise.

"You can go and taste a little bit from every restaurant. If you haven't been there, this is your chance to try it out," said Bills, adding, "The retail businesses can have a kioskwhere they can give samples, they can invite you to see what they're about and it will give a chance for Sea Brighters and outof towners to get a taste of Sea Bright so it's very exciting."

Bills said the proposed date for the event is May 17 with a rain date on May 18 and the group is thinking of holding the event again at the end of summer if all goes well.

Bills, Joan Osgoodby and Barbara Turbak, who are both volunteers on the recreation committee and Sea Bright Business Alliance officers, came upwith the idea for a Sea Bright BusinessAlliance by canvassing the different businesses and asking if they were interested in forming a type of borough chamber of commerce, according to Bills.

"I'm in the Monmouth Beach Business Association so I had Barbara [Turbak] and Joan [Osgoodby] come tomymeetings," said Bills.

She said the Sea Bright Business Alliance is somewhat modeled after the Monmouth Beach Business Association and other local business organizations.

Bills also said that a number of years ago a similar organizationmade up of a group of businesses based in Sea Bright.

Another undertaking of the organization will be a business directory to promote the businesses in the town.

The directory would include information about the stores,where they are located and what they offer.

"We are going to look tomeet the needs of all the different types of businesses, not just the retail [stores] but all the downtown," said Bills. "We're looking to attract more retailers to fill up any empty storefronts andwe're looking for patrons fromSea Bright and outof towners."

Sea Bright Business Alliance Co-President George said at the Feb. 21 Sea Bright SmartGrowthmeeting that the business alliance would work in conjunction with the recreation department to bring events to Sea Bright once the ongoing beach project is finished.

"Things look rosy. We're very happy about what's going to happen," said George of the organization's plans.

He added, "Wewould like to bring people to the beach. The greatest asset thatwe have is the beach."

He suggested holding events that included a dance competition, talent competition, Miss Sea Bright competition,American Idol competition, showing free movies or having free concerts.

Bills said the group is actively looking for new members and to attract more business and letters have gone out inviting all the businesses in Sea Bright to join and to "make a difference in their community."

"I'm very excited with the projects that we anticipate and it was great to see all the businesses come together with that energy it's wonderful," said Bills.

Dues are $100 for annual membership and future meetings will take place on the second Thursday of each month at the Sea Bright library at 7 p.m., according to Bills.

Some of the businesses that are currently part of the organization include the Mad Hatter Pub & Eatery, Northshore Menswear, Advanced Marketing, Lia at the Northshore Emporium, Valley National Bank, Driftwood Beach Club, Ichabod's Bar & Grill, Adrenaline, Andy K's Dairy & Deli, Bain's Paint & Hardware and The Liquor Store at Sea Bright, said Bills.

According to Fernandes, The Liquor Store at Sea Bright will be having a wine tasting during the Taste of Sea Bright event.

For more information on the organization or to join, contact Osgoodby at (732) 842-3426.