BID Gives Charles of Glen Cove a proper sendoff at Annual Meeting
Glen Cove, NY – Last year was a good year for the Glen Cove Downtown Business Improvement District, and more events are in store for the coming year. The BID held its annual meeting at Noble Savage Brewery on Feb. 27, where more than 70 residents and business owners were given an overview the 2019 accomplishments and what they can expect for 2020.
Executive Director Patricia Holman announced the BID’s plans to add two special events this year.
“We are thrilled to announce that Downtown Sounds will be extended to one more concert on New Year’s Eve,” Holman said. “The community asked for it, we heard them and we’re doing it.”
The concert will be in Village Square plaza from 6 to 9 p.m. and Holman promised “other surprises” in addition to the concert to ring in 2021.
As downtown is home to several fitness businesses, including Glen Cove Fitness, Garcia Muay Thai, Glen Cove Yoga– the BID will add Fitness in Village Square for residents on Saturday mornings during July and August.
“This will give these businesses the opportunity to highlight their specialty,” Holman said, “while keeping Glen Cove fit.”
Holman’s report included a description of what the BID does, how it supports downtown businesses and how it makes and spends money. The BID is divided into four different committees: marketing, finance, special events and capital improvements.
The BID’s annual assessment is around $150,000, and the organization receives additional revenue from sponsors for the special events, which in addition to Downtown Sounds, includes the Halloween Parade and Festival and the Holiday Festival. In 2019, the BID received a $25,000 grant from Nassau County to assist with Downtown Sounds, so with the sponsorships, the BID’s total revenue for 2019 was $207,380.
The Downtown Sounds summer concert series is the biggest event organized by the BID, along with the assistance of committee members. In 2019, the series struggled early in the season due to the loss of city funding, but with the grant from Nassau County, sponsorships and funding from the BID and city departments, Holman said, “we had an incredible Downtown Sounds concert series. And this is exactly what happens when we all work together.”
She added, “I am happy to say we are back in the City of Glen Cove’s budget.”
The Downtown BID is responsible for capital improvements, which includes maintaining the walkways and landscapes downtown and adding seasonal decorations. Last fall, the BID purchased scarecrows that were hung on the lampposts and had 350 mums planted in the downtown area. In the spring, the BID purchases flowers for the hanging flower baskets downtown.
A large part of the BID’s effort is placed on marketing of the businesses and events downtown. This is done through social media, Constant Contact email campaigns, cooperative advertising and other initiatives that support the businesses.
Last year, a veterans discount decal was created to be displayed in stores that offer discounts to veterans and active military.
In 2019, four new businesses were welcomed in downtown Glen Cove: Noble Savage Brewery, Jalisco, Glen Cove Yoga and Dynamic Physical Therapy.
“2020 is an exciting time for downtown Glen Cove. In a few short months, Village Square will be open, there will be more storefronts filled, more restaurants and more residents calling downtown their home,” Holman said. “With this growth, success is expected, for not only new businesses that come in, but also for our existing businesses downtown.”
Ylisa Kunze, director of community engagement for RXR, gave an update on Village Square.
“We anticipate, construction pending, to open a leasing office on March 16 on the lobby level of Village Square for that property,” Kunze said, adding that the housing lottery for the 13 affordable housing units is now going on through the Long Island Housing Partnership.
The leasing activity for the retail is terrific, she said. Not able to name specific businesses until the lease is signed, she said there are leases out for a brewpub, an upscale Mexican restaurant, a healthy farm-to-table breakfast through dinner place, and a bank.
“We welcome the city making great use of the plaza and bringing life back to downtown,” Kunze said.
Mayor Tim Tenke thanked Holman and the BID board for their work, and said there are a lot of things that get accomplished due to the participation of the BID members.
“We’re looking forward to 2020,” Tenke said before swearing in the 2020 board members, “because so much will be happening downtown.”
While the BID is looking forward to the future of downtown Glen Cove, a longtime business will soon close. The meeting served as an opportunity to recognize Charles of Glen Cove and celebrate its longevity. Holman and the board members presented Doug and Sue Goldstein of Charles of Glen Cove with a glass trophy congratulating them for their 62 years of serving the community, and wished them the best on their retirement, and their daughter Kristen, the best on her future endeavors.
“The Goldstein family has dedicated their lives to making sure that if something broke in one of our houses or on our property, that we were able to fix it because of their business,” Tenke said, adding that 62 years is a long time for a business to operate in Glen Cove. “I’m very sad that you’re leaving, but so proud of what you did and how you represented your family here in Glen Cove.”
Nassau County Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton shared a story about her father-in-law, and how he seemed “lost” after retiring, and took a job at Charles of Glen Cove.
“It brought him back to life,” she said, “and I will never forget that. And I know you did it not only for him, but for so many people.”
Charles of Glen Cove also received recognition from the offices of Nassau County Executive Laura Curran, Congressman Tom Suozzi, Sen. Jim Gaughran and Assemblyman Charles Lavine.
To commence the celebration, the BID presented a cake to the Goldstein family.
