Business Improvement District

Last week, we reported an update on the downtown gull situation.

BID Director Don Burkel asked that we share the following information with readers:

If you are having a problem with gulls landing / nesting on your building there are some possible solutions by the USDA Wildlife Services:

• String 100-pound test fishing line in a grid pattern
• Use a “BirdX” (sound system)
• Use inflatable “Scarymen” by Reed Joseph Co.

If you need some advise on your particular gull problem, Carl Cranker, biologist for the USDA Wildlife Services, would be willing to visit your property. There is no fee for consultation and accessing your situation. If you want the Wildlife Services to perform a service, i.e. remove nests or eggs, there would be a fee involved. You can contact him directly by calling (315) 532-4835 (cell) or email: carl.c.cranker@aphis.usda.gov .

Members of the Batavia Downtown Business Improvement District gathered Friday for a luncheon and awards presentation to a few of the people who supported downtown in 2010.

Charles Men's Shop received the “Spirit of Downtown” award. Above Don Brown, left, and Dave Howe, second from left, accept the award from Victor Gautieri, outgoing president of the BID board, and Don Burkel, BID director.

Jeffrey Gillard, who could not be at the luncheon, was honored as BID member Volunteer of the Year.

Krysia Mager and Leanna DiRisio, pictured below, received Community Volunteer awards.

Victor Gautieri, above, finished his term as president and by BID rules must take a break from serving on the board. Paul Marchese, below, finished his term as vice president and is also termed out of the board.  

Shoppers have until Dec. 24 to enter for a chance to win a $500 shopping spree in downtown Batavia.

The Business Improvement District -- better known as the BID -- Promotions Committee started "Shop in the Zone for the Holidays" on Dec. 1. Participating downtown businesses will be handing out shopper's cards to anyone who asks for them. No purchase is necessary.

Shoppers have to visit at least 12 of the 30 participating businesses, and then deposit their tickets at one of the following drop-box locations:

• Adam Miller's Toys & Bicycle, 8 Center St.

• Marchese Computer Products, 220 Ellicott St.

• O'Lacy's Irish Pub, 5 School St.

• The Daily Grind, 85 Main St.

• Valle Jewelers, 21 Jackson St.

On Dec. 27, a lucky winner will get $500 to spend at the participating businesses.

BID officials see this as a two-way benefit. Executive Director Don Burkel said that it attracts business in the downtown area while familiarizing people with available services.

"I encourage people to participate," Burkel said. "500 dollars is a fair amount of money, and there are a lot of goods and services (at downtown Batavia businesses) that everyone can use."

Krysia Mager, a member of the BID Promotion Committee, calls this " a chance to get people to shop and dine in downtown for the holiday season."

You can find all of the businesses taking part in "Shop in the Zone for the Holiday Season" at www.downtownbataviany.com.

Again, shoppers must visit at least 12 of them and collect a shopper's card from each one.

For more details, contact Burkel at 344-0900.

Rick Segel , an author and nationally recognized expert on small-business marketing gave a dynamic presentation to about 50 small-business owners or their representatives today. Comedy is part of Segel's pitch and he generated quite a few laughs during the first session. The program went from 9 a.m. 1 p.m. and was sponsored by the Business Improvement District and the Chamber of Commerce.

On Thursday, June 17,  the fourth annual Downtown Batavia Public Market opens at the corner of Ellicott (Route 63) and Center streets. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

This year there are some new vendors, including two wineries which will sell wine and offer tastings. There's also a vendor selling homemade Italian cookies and treats.

Plus, the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County will offer free nutritional programs and information. The City of Batavia Police Department will provide free child car seat inspections. And other special events are planned.

Shoppers can expect to find a wealth of locally grown produce and foods. These include baked goods, fresh sweet corn, tomatoes, onions, berries, peaches, apples, cheese, honey, maple syrup, cut flowers, herbs, garden accessories and lots more.

Stop by and have lunch, served from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Jackson Street Grill/Belladessa's will offer hot dogs, hamburgers and pizza for sale along with beverages.

"Support the downtown that supports our community," says the sponsor, the Batavia Business Improvement District's Public Market Committee.

For more information, call 344-0900 or visit this website <www.downtownbataviany.com>.

Vintage Reserve partners Tim Walton (left) and Rob Credi (right) are pictured with Elefunk Clothing founder Jeff Birge.

Rob Credi is not shy to owning and managing businesses in downtown Batavia and he is at it again. Credi recently teamed up with Tim Walton, to open Vintage Reserve retail clothing at 214 East Main Street, inside the building that houses TopLine Shirt Company, a screen printing and embroidery company that Walton owns.

Credi, who was the owner and founder of Main Street Coffee, and most recently the manager of The Daily Grind coffee shop owned by Ken Mistler, said "The timing worked out perfectly. Tim approached me and told me that he had space that he needed to fill and I always wanted to get into the screen printing and clothing business so it was perfect".

Vintage Reserve currently offers three full clothing lines and has styles for both men and women. The store's self named brand, Vintage Reserve, a line developed by Credi is a line that offers retro styled clothing that is themed on music and the rebirth of our culture. Walton developed Narrabeen Surf Co., a beach styled lined that represents the surfer and beach theme. The last line is an urban styled line, Elefunk Clothing Co., that was originally established in 2002, by founder Jeff Birge and Tim Torrey.

"We want to be the clothing store where you want to go when it's time for clothes shopping. We hope people give us a look before traveling to the mall to buy their outfits." Walton said. "Our prices are competitive and our styles are ones that people want to wear".

Currently the store offers a variety of shirts and has plans to expand to pants, hoodies, bags and other clothing accessories.

Credi and Walton celebrated their official grand opening of Vintage Reserve on April 10 and have had an overwhelming response from the local community. They recently launched their online webstore, www.vintagereserveonline.com, and have been able to expand their customer base to as far as California and Montreal.

Photo courtesy of Nate Oaksford/ NMO Photography

The Batavia Business Improvement District held its annual meeting and awards luncheon today at the Homestead Events Center in Batavia City Centre.

Top photo, Rick Mancuso, co-owner (with his brother Ben) of T.F. Brown's accepts proclamations from Sen. Mike Ranzenofer and Assemblyman Steve Hawley. Also pictured, Don Burkel, executive director of the BID, and BID President Victor Gautieri.

Bottom photo, William Parker, winner of "Spirit of Downtown Community Volunteer Award," Mary Valle, "Spirit of Downtown BID Volunteer Award," and Rick Mancuso, "Spirit of Downtown Business Award."

Not able to attend, Ken Mistler, owner of Next Level Fitness & The Daily Grind, winner of "Spirit of Downtown Business Award" for a newly established business.

I was really pleased with how this picture turned out and I'm glad Don Burkel has given me an excuse to re-run it.  This morning he announced the winners of the BID's Holiday Window Contest, and Valle Jewelers won.

Second prize went to Adam Miller Toy & Bicycles and third prize to Spa at Artemis.

Honorable mentions: C.L. Carr/Mistler Building, Continental School of Beauty, Floral Fantasies and WBTA.

Previously: Downtown Christmas Lights

It's a complaint I heard from Downtown Batavia merchants last winter, and a sore subject that came up at a BID meeting over the winter -- snow piled up along Main Street. Now merchants are grumbling again after the first big snow storm this year.

The big mounds make it exceptionally hard for customers to come downtown, park on Main and walk into a business. Generally, when the snow is piled up like it is, only the driver can get out of a car and then must walk a half a block or more in traffic to the nearest opening to gain access to the sidewalk -- and then walk back to the business he or she wants to enter.

Ken Mistler, who is opening a gym at Main and Jackson in a few weeks, is also concerned about the practice of city public works crews piling up snow right in the middle of the parking lot behind his building. The large pile can take up as many as 20 parking spaces, and with several popular businesses on Jackson, that doesn't leave much parking room left with convenient access to those businesses and the gym.

He said he isn't worried about his customers walking some distance to get into the gym -- they are, after all, into fitness -- but he is concerned that the additional parking his gym requires means that customers of the Jackson Street businesses will find it harder to park and face longer walks.

Those 20 or so spaces are much needed, Mistler said, so he suggested the snow be piled behind the empty Latina's market, not in the middle of the most used parking area off Jackson.

City Manager Jason Molino said the city is constantly reviewing snow plowing and removal procedures, but removal is not a priority during a storm and can only be accomplished as manpower and equipment availability dictates.

"Our first priority, when we have a snow storm like yesterday, is to make sure the thoroughfares are clean, the major arteries in the city are clear, and then the side streets and then we get into snow removal," Molino said during an interview on Friday.

At the BID meeting this summer, Board President John Roche said downtown merchants need to be vocal about letting City Hall know that they want to see snow removal become more of a priority this year.

We'll see what happens.

There's something about throwing a pie in somebody's face that's just funny. Always has been, always will be. Same can be said of watching someone full grown and fully dressed suddenly drop into a tank of cold water against his will.

The latter is but one bit of fun in store for people who go to the fifth annual Summer in the City festival this Friday and Saturday. Food, drink, rides, music, crafts and more will be plentiful.

Now this business about dunking isn't free, although the festival is, of course. You must pay to get a chance to hit the thingamajig that, successfully done, pulls the whatnot and plunks politicians and the like into the aquasphere.

This mildly twisted amusement takes place in front of the Girl Scout Building on Main Street from 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday. The fine, upstanding stooges have volunteered their time for specific half-hours, so if you've got a grudge or a sense of mischief you might want to consider this option. You may not get another chance.

Plus, the money will go to buy supplies to build wood cook stoves for mountain folk in the Domincan Republic. They could sure use the stoves, according to Tim Rimmer, who along with Jon Rimmer is getting creative in ways to raise money for their cause as part of service to the Peace Corps.

Here are the dunkables:
3:00 – Bill Cox
3:30 – Mike Rimmer
4:00 – Steve Carr
4:30 – Cory Richenberg
5:00 – Ted Hawley
5:30 – Jay Gsell
6:00 – Hollis Upson
6:30 – Owen Gould
7:00 – Steve Hawley

Friday's festival runs from 5 to 9 p.m. and on Saturday from noon 'til 9 p.m. Entertainment will be provided by: McMahon Irish School of Dance; The Double Image Band; Ghost Riders; and Joey T & The Formula.

Children's activities include “I’ve Got Rhythm” KidsZone in Jackson Square. Plus, “Fun For Everyone Shows” will be returning with carnival rides and games in Jackson Street Parking Lot.

On Saturday, the Super Car Cruise is scheduled with over 450 vehicles of all types.

This event is sponsored by the Batavia Business Improvement District Summer in the City Committee.

For more information about “Summer in the City” Festival visit the B.I.D. website at www.downtownbataviany.com or call the following: B.I.D. at 585-344-0900 or Jeffrey Gillard at 737-3484 for more details.

Jeff Gillard, above, was honored as the volunteer of the year for the Business Improvement District, and Kent Ewell, owner of O'Lacy's was given the "Spirit of Downtown" award at today's BID annual luncheon.

Today's lunch was at Mother's Chicken and Fish on Ellicott. After our meal, owner Tim Chugg and I started chatting.

He's pretty upset that the new brick bench across the street from his store, outside the Pok-A-Dot, remains unfinished several months after the project was started.  There's been no sign of progress all spring.

I checked with Don Burkel at the BID, and he said there's an unresolved issue the DOT holding up the entire Ellicott Street project.

"We're anxious to get it finished, too." Burkel said. "We hope to have the entire project finished by late spring."