The annual meeting of the South Orange Village Center Alliance (SOVCA) was well-attended Monday night, as residents came to Ricalton’s to meet and mingle with Trustees, local officials, and members of the SOVCA board, and to hear about the Alliance’s accomplishments of the last year and what is ahead for the Village’s future.
The SOVCA board asked attendees what stores and businesses they would most like to see in town. The most frequently mentioned answer, said SOVCA Chairman Matt Glass, was a hardware store or a HomeGoods or other housewares store. Other answers: a gift store like Maplewood’s Perch Home, a craft beer bar, a year-round farmers market and various chain stores and eateries.
There were several exciting announcements, including:
- Rite Aid is returning as the Title Sponsor for PlayDay, which will be held Sunday, Sept. 20th. Last year’s inaugural PlayDay was a huge success, and this year’s promises to be even better, said SOVCA executive director Bob Zuckerman.
- The Board of Trustees has approved a new and improved grants program that will match (up to $2,500) facade improvements made by local businesses. This program includes any and all facade improvements that will beautify the exterior of a local business. So far, the owner of the building that houses Victor’s Florist has agreed to make major facade improvements, said Zuckerman, and SOVCA’s Design Committee is working with her on that project.
- March Village Madness, a new promotion based on the NCAA basketball tournament, with 64 participating businesses. Collect sales receipts from local, participating businesses from March 15 through April 5. The person with the largest total amount of money spent will win $500 of gift cards to local merchants.
- Restaurant Week is from April 6th through 12th. Participating restaurants will offer 15% off. Look for more information coming soon.
