Depot Town's newest merchants collaborating on effort to promote area businesses
Depot Town Merchant's Association President and City Body partner Walter Ostrowski.
Tom Perkins | For AnnArbor.com
Another promotional organization is taking shape in Depot Town.
The Depot Town Merchant’s Association is evolving out of two groups actively promoting Ypsilanti's historic commercial district.
At the core of their mission, its organizers say, is an understanding that when one business does well, all others in the area benefit.
It also marks the first time some of Depot Town’s older business owners have passed the baton to a younger group of merchants.
Sidetrack owners Linda French and John McMillan used to be part of the Depot Town Association and created Depot Town Forward several years ago.
French used that group to start Thursday’s Cruise Nights.
Residents Carol Clare and Candace Pinaud formed Depot Town Promotions as a simple Facebook page several years ago, established themselves as a nonprofit, and created, among other projects, the popular "Saint Pawdy’s Day" pet parade.
But instead of Clare, Pinaud or French running the new group, Walter Ostrowski, a partner at City Body, Kim Ion of Kim’s Resale, Dawn Hitsman of Clover Computers and Cafe Ollie owner Mark Teachout are on the newly minted Depot Town Merchants’ Association board.
“All the younger merchants are very energized and it has everyone in a positive mood,” French said. “Everyone is getting to know each other, we’re working hand in hand with the DDA and we all want to do things that will bring business to Depot Town.”
The Merchants’ Association has held two informal meetings so far and plans to meet every six weeks. Around ten merchants and 20 others showed up to the most recent meeting, on July 11, at which the officers were selected.
The group is using the Depot Town Promotion’s 501c3 status and will file the new board and name with the state. Around a dozen merchants have expressed interest in participating, and organizers say they passed out fliers to all the businesses on the block.
Yearly dues are $10 and that money will be used to fund part of events or promotions that benefit the entire area, such as buying insurance for the pet parade.
Although there is a board and formal nonprofit, Teachout, the Merchant’s Association’s treasurer, said the meetings will remain informal and function more like a think tank that generates new promotional ideas.
Discussion topics at the last meeting included plans for more events or festivals and offering cross promotions in which a receipt from one Depot Town store gets you a discount at another.
“We’re just trying to promote all the businesses in Depot Town, trying to get more people down here and more people to notice all the different businesses,” said Ostrowski, the Merchant’s Association president.
Teachout said everyone agrees more events or festivals would be beneficial, though there aren’t currently any specific plans.
“Businesses make a lot of money during events like Cruise Nights, Heritage Festival or Beerfest and there’s times of the year that there needs to be more events — throughout the winter, for example,” he said. “We can try to attract more people through new events, though not from an outside source, but from us coming up with ideas for events we host ourselves.”
He added that having a Merchant’s Association offers a chance to network with the block's established businesses.
“The people involved in forming this have been the most successful in Depot Town, so for a small, brand-new business like ours, we can learn a lot from them,” he said.
The Merchant’s Association is one of several promotional agencies in Depot Town. Clare explained that the DDA is more involved in “bricks and mortar” work and bringing businesses into vacant storefronts, though both organizations are planning to work together. The DTA and the Depot Town Community Development Corporation are currently focused on organizing and funding the Michigan Roots Jamboree.
“The merchants' role is to coordinate with one another, self-promote and show our area in a positive light,” Clare said.
Tom Perkins is a freelance reporter for AnnArbor.com.
Comments
Steve McKeen
Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 7:53 p.m.
How long before this group starts in-fighting and another group is created? Oh, Ypsilanti, I love you so, but you are spinning your wheels.
Andrew Jason Clock
Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 7:24 p.m.
There is plenty of public parking in and around depot town. There is a large lot on Rice St. and another at River and Maple. There is also free street parking anywhere east of the river, and if all else fails, there are two hour lots downtown, only a couple blocks (or a few flights of stairs) away from Riverside park and Depot Town.
Dawn Hitsman
Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 5:24 p.m.
Great article. Clover Computers just signed a lease for 2 more spaces in Depot Town. Thank you Ypsi for your support. I love the Depot Town promotions organization- We have a great group of merchants and we are all excited about making this area grow.
Thinking over here
Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 4:22 p.m.
How is parking during festivals? I'd like to go to some festivals but am put off by what I perceive as a lack of parking...
slave2work
Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 3:31 p.m.
Regardless whether the police park down by frog island, or if they park on the street Hurray!!.. we still have some police to be there ( considering all the police in cities that have been laid off).. There is such a wonderful feel down in depot town.. I hope they keep up the good work, because personally, I relax when i get a chance to get down there. Peope need to stop being so dang gum negative!!.. Instead of finding fault try finding at least 1 thing postive.
Linda
Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 12:20 p.m.
This has been pulled from the Depot Town Merchant Face Book Page: Depot Town Merchants Lots of good things going on in Depot Town. Cafe Ollie is expanding, we are getting a Made in Mi shop selling Mi Beers & Wines, City Body is getting a complete makeover, The Food Co-op got a major facelift, Sidetrack got a new patio awning & paint job, Fantasy Attic is getting new awnings, Kim's resales new paint job, Freighthouse's new deck & Depot Town NEW strreets, bump outs & rain gardens. 2011 is looking good. <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#" rel='nofollow'>http://www.facebook.com/home.php#</a>!/pages/Depot-Town-Merchants/216478581713728
Cash
Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 12:14 p.m.
Andrew, I too have seen police cars parked next to the recycle center. Local posted the police were "near the recycle center" not IN it. Let's not dismiss everything the "local" says just because you disagree with the point..... I'm glad that Ypsi police are watching the area. Police presence can deter crime. Kudos! As we know, there are NO totally safe places !
Andrew Jason Clock
Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 12:02 p.m.
Um, local, you must not make it out to Depot Town very much for a, you know, local. Cross Street is being repaved currently, east of, west of, and in Depot Town, as well as the pedestrian islands expanded and plantings replaced. I'm down in the area quite a bit, and if there's one place the police DON'T usually hang out, it's Depot Town, because there are relatively few problems in the area. And the recycling cent is all enclosed behind a wooden privacy fence. So really, for a "local" I'm not sure where you're getting your information.
Steve Pepple
Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 11:45 a.m.
The last name of the owner of Kim's Resale Shop has been corrected. Thank you to the reader who pointed out the error.
local
Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 10:55 a.m.
Having Cross street fixed on the east side of DEPOT TOWN and the infamous building taken down on the corner would really help. Depot Town doesn't have the beautiful feel it use to: but leaving the locations and noticing cops hanging out near the recycle center in back parking lot is what really catches your eye. I hope this new board can help make it more attractive for people to come and visit.