Fri. Mar 29th, 2024

An organizational meeting for the beginning of a Merchants Association was held last evening at C&C Furniture in downtown Tyrone. A group of Tyrone merchants attended the meeting to discuss what it will take to develop an association for merchants in Tyrone.
A Merchants Association could possibly do things to bring and promote business in Tyrone, but necessary steps need to be taken to be able to form such an association of any form. Merchants who did attend offered input and ideas on ways to perhaps form an organization for Tyrone business owners in effort to attract other businesses to Tyrone, along with giving Tyrone merchants an opportunity to have their voices heard.
Organizer, Charles DiMemmo, felt good about the first meeting. “I think we had some productive things turn around. We’re going to talk to people about advertising and the cost for a full page ad to try and market Tyrone a little better.”
DiMemmo said that T.J. Maxx and Dollar Tree are interested in placing businesses in Tyrone, but didn’t feel comfortable dealing with a Chamber of Commerce that controls the merchants. One reason why DiMemmo feels Tyrone needs an association for the merchants only.
“We talked about perhaps becoming a part of the Chamber in Tyrone, which some agreed and some didn’t,” said DiMemmo. “We’re going to have something here for the merchants, but it remains to be seen whether we are going to associate with the Chamber or be separate from them.”
DiMemmo added, “Even if we became a retail division of the Chamber, we could possibly be a separate entity, holding our own meetings and what have you.”
Rob Orr, manager of The Shoe Fly (Levine’s) provided intelligent input for beginning something like a Merchants Association, without taking anything away from the good work the Chamber is doing for Tyrone.
Morris Levine, who didn’t attend the meeting, but is an influence for the idea of an association for merchants, told DiMemmo that the merchants need to stick together to see changes in Tyrone business.
Othella Anderson, owner of O’s Sew Shop, was highly interested in forming an association for the merchants of Tyrone, but realized that others must be involved to make it happen.
“We need somebody in borough council who will do something for us,” said Anderson. “Look what happened to places like BD’s Restaurant and Hullihen’s Pizza. If they had help and were a part of an organization maybe they might still exist.”
Anderson added, “Main Street Manager came in and took over, and did nothing really for the merchants.”
The merchants who attended agreed that it will take a couple more meetings to get organized and decide on what direction they wish to take.
Tyrone merchants will hold another meeting for merchants only on August 19th at 6:30 p.m., at C and C Furniture, 8 West 10th Street. They will be discussing a possible sidewalk sale in the upcoming weeks that will be well publicized, along with continued discussion on organizing an association for Tyrone merchants
DiMemmo noted, “We should have our own organization to make decisions and market Tyrone, and I think everything’s going to work out.”

By Rick