Centennial Logoredbankrivercenterlogo...Celebrating 100 years of Red Bank!

4/18/2008
Red Bank RiverCenter Newsletter

Issue: 5

Welcome to Red Bank RiverCenter
 
Greetings!
 
Ahhhh...Spring is upon us!!  And people are coming out to enjoy the fresh air and nice weather.  We encourage you to welcome them with open doors and smiles. 
 
RiverCenter has been working with our local restaurants and business owners on three events to bring people out of their houses and into Red Bank.  Dine Downtown runs through the month of April, Spring Into Red Bank takes place April 26th, and Red Bank Artwalk is on May 3rd!  Lots to look forward to, great weather to enjoy!! 
 
Remember, we run promotional and retail events to bring people to town.  Once they're here, we hope you'll work to get them inside your business!
 
Happy Spring!
 
Best,
Nancy Adams
Executive Director
Programs & Services
 
Go Green!!  RiverCenter is considering starting a reusable bag program here in Red Bank. We would purchase the same strong yet inexpensive bags you see at grocery stores these days that are for sale for only $1 or 99 cents. Our bag would be the same type but with something like, "Shop Red Bank" on it. Just another way we are working to promote Red Bank; people use these bags for lots of things and take them everywhere. 
 
Encouraging reusable bags over the plastic bags is something we'd like to start doing in our business district; so if you would like to sell these at cost to your customers, let us know and we'll see if there's sufficient interest for us to order them.  Email exdirector@rbrivercenter.com or call our office.
 
Go Green Again!!  The borough will be collecting those annoying plastic bags and turning them over to a collector who will recycle them!  If you have clean, dry, high or low density bags (look for the numbers 2 or 4 on the bag) and want to benefit the environment; there will be a recycling bin at the Visitors' Center at Front St.  Recycle!!
 
Business to Business 
 
Spring Into Red Bank!  Thanks to the hard work of Rob from Red Ginger Home, Ellen from Soapmarket, along with some other business owners in cooperation with RiverCenter, Spring Into Red Bank is ready to go forward!!  Over 60 businesses will be participating on Saturday, April 26th from 10 AM - 6 PM.  Businesses marked with balloons will be offering Spring Specials.  So, mark your calendar!
 
Red Bank Employee Discount Expires April 30!  Ten Thousand Villages invites all Red Bank business owners and their employees to an exclusive discount during April.  Visit 69 Broad St. and receive 15% off your entire purchase!  Shop as often as you like!  They can be reached at 732-576-1621 or check their website.
 
A.H. Fisher Diamonds, 10 Broad St., is celebrating its 25th year in Red Bank by renovating its showroom.  They will be staying open for business during their renovations which will take place between April 21 and May 1.  Please remember A.H. Fisher will be open for business! 
Membership News 
 
Jobs Available.  Marc Ecko is looking for sales people!  Applications are being accepted to work for the store at 9 Broad Street.  Local residents are preferred!  Please contact Lisa at LisaJ@ecko.com or 917-392-2076.
 
Investors Savings Bank will hold its grand opening on Saturday May 10 from 9 - 2.  Prizes, raffles, low interest rates for new accounts all available.  The Bank is opening at 1 English Plaza facing on White Street.
 
Red Bank Business Owners' Message Forum
As mentioned in the last newsletter, we are creating an online message forum that is for Red Bank Business Owners to privately discuss any issues, trade products, or just be social. The forum is totally closed to the press and public. To join you must fill out the registration form and then contact RiverCenter, who will then approve your registration.  Important Note:  We have had some problems with the forum and ask that if you have joined, you go back to the site and rejoin, then email exdirector@rbrivercenter.com to let us know you did.  We're trying to work the kinks out, so thanks for your patience!
 
Community Partners
 
Attention Restaurants!!  As you know, you need a permit to have tables outside in the public right-of-way.  So, if you haven't already done so, please contact the Borough Clerk's office at 732-530-2740 to get your permit.  The borough will cite you if you have not obtained permission to have your tables outside, so don't forget!!
 
The Coastal Monmouth Plan Public Meeting and Open House is Wednesday, April 30 at 7:00 PM at the Eastern Branch Monmouth County Library, 1001 Route 35, Shrewsbury. If you want more information, go to their website.
Tips for Business Owners:  Stay Open!! 
Yes, the economy is bad right now. Yes, people are spending less. And yes, in order to stay in business you have to stay open!! 
 
In many downtowns, Red Bank included, merchants are reluctant to extend their store hours despite a strong awareness that today's lifestyles make it necessary for customers to shop and conduct other personal business in the evenings and on Sundays.
 
A downtown merchant once told me that businesses that are open from 9 to 5 are 'catering to the unemployed.' He was exaggerating to make a point, of course, but his observation was a good one: Nearly two-thirds of all retail sales in the United States now take place after 5 p.m. and on Sundays.  And these are the prime shopping hours for most younger consumers - one of your best sources of potential new customers, especially here in Red Bank where there are so many restaurants and bars open late.  So, please consider staying open later, if it means opening later in the day, that works too! 
In This Issue
Programs & Services
Business to Business
Membership News
Community Partners
Tips for Business Owners
Calender
Got Art?
Events
 
Dine Downtown!
  Prix Fixe Dinners Tues & Weds thru April. For more info click here. 
 
Spring Into Red Bank!  Over 60 participating businesses offering spring specials!  Saturday, April 26, 10 - 6.
 
Community Art Show at the Children's Cultural Center, April 26 & 27.
 
Centennial Parade & Picnic.  May 17, 11 AM parade through town to Count Basie Park for Picnic.
 
Centennial Boat Parade. May 18, along the river, 1 - 6.
 
Red Bank Elks Club's Centennial Boat Parade Fundraiser.  May 18, 1 - 6,  At the Elks Lodge, 40 W. Front St. Live music, Great views of Boat parade, BBQ, $20 Donation per person.  732-741-2750.
 
Got Art?  Red Bank Artwalk, Saturday May 3rd, 6 - 9 PM.
 
Paint the Town Pink, May 4 - 10. For info, click here.
 
StreetLife. Saturdays, June - August, 7 - 10 PM Sponsored by Bank of America.
 
An Event of Elegance.  Sponsored by Hamilton Jewelers, benefiting Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.  75 Ferraris will arrive on Broad and Monmouth Streets.  Sunday, June 22nd, 12 - 5 PM.  More info forthcoming.
 
Click here for more information 
Got Art?
 
The art galleries of Red Bank invite you to join them for a self-guided walking tour on Saturday evening, May 3rd from 6 - 9 PM.  Maps are available for the event at all the participating galleries and RiverCenter's office.  You can view the map online at www.redbank.com
 
Participating galleries are:
 
Kingsley Art Gallery, Inside the Galleria at 2 Bridge Ave.  732-530-3383. .
 
Chetkin Gallery, 9 Wharf Ave., 732-741-6116.
 
Laurel Tracey Gallery, 10 White St., 732-224-0760.
 
Inheritance Gallery, 30 Monmouth St., 732-530-5417.
 
CEL-EBRATION! Gallery, 30 Monmouth St., 732-842-8489.
 
McKay Imaging Photo Studio & Gallery, 12 Monmouth St., 2nd Floor.  732-842-2272.
 
Asher Nieman Gallery, 16 Monmouth St., 732-530-4003.
 
Art Alliance Gallery, 33 Monmouth St., 732-842-9403.
 
Beacon Fine Arts Gallery, 61 Monmouth St., 732-939-0888.
 
Galleries are open all day, feel free to tour before the "official" time if you like.
 
Enjoy!
Nancy Adams, Executive Director, exdirector@rbrivercenter.com
Harriet Cook, Director of Operations, rivercenter@rbrivercenter.com
Valerie Ryan, Program Manager, program.manager@rbrivercenter.com
Red Bank RiverCenter, 20 Broad Street, Red Bank 07701  732-842-4244