spring 2014 longtime businesses underscore ironbound’s ...€¦ · (left to right) manny guerra,...

The Ironbound Business Improvement District (IBID) presented community service awards to Lynier Richardson, former CEO of Brick City Develop-ment Corporation (BCDC), Michael Davidson, Executive Director, Greater Newark Convention and Visitors Bu-reau (GNCVB), Lauren Hall, Director of Marketing, GNCVB, Chip Hallock, President & CEO, Greater Newark Regional Business Partnership, Hal Laessig and Yoland Skeete, Sumei Arts Center, Steven Yglesias, Mompou Tapas Wine Bar & Lounge and IBID President, Luis Nogueira, EXIT Realty, Lucky Associates, Jacinto Rodrigues, Chairman & CEO, Crown Bank, Victor Nichols, Publisher of NewarkBound

Call Ironbound at 973-491-9191 or visit us on the web at www.goironbound.com

Spring 2014

IBID Presents Community Service AwardsClean & Green Team Provide Four Season Services

Ferry Street Optical Celebrates

From shoveling snow and clearing cross-walks through this challenging winter, to removing garbage and graffiti in the heat of summer, the IBID’s Clean & Green Team are committed to their job of keeping the district’s streets looking their best.

Under the direction of Operations Direc-tor Chris Bernardo, the IBID has forged effective working partnerships with multiple City of Newark Departments including sanitation, neighborhood services, traffic and signals, plus Newark’s Police and Fire Departments, Ironbound community organizations and individual businesses and residents. A dedicated crew of street team members provides services that help keep the district clean, safe and welcoming.

Mayor Luis A. Quintana, East Ward Councilman Augusto Amador, Act-ing Deputy Mayor of Economic and Housing Development Dan Jen-nings and Urban Enter-prise Zone Director Ollyn J. Lettman were among the dignitaries who joined Peter Pantoliano, the owner of Ferry Street Op-tical, for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and dedication of the renovated facade of the eyeglass shop and office building at 106 Ferry Street in the Ironbound District. Ferry Optical has served the Ironbound community for 25 years.

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Call Ironbound at 973-491-9191 or visit us on the web at www.goironbound.comCall Ironbound at 973-491-9191 or visit us on the web at www.goironbound.com

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Newark’s Ironbound has been a hub of business and manufac-turing since the completion of the Morris Canal and the first railroads in the 1830s. Today, the Ironbound is home to twice as many businesses as the rest of Essex County, according to data compiled recently by Liberty Corner, NJ-based consulting firm FinPro for ConnectOne Bank, a Bergen-county based lender expand-ing in the state, including a new Ironbound office.

The firm’s study showed that there are roughly 600 busi-nesses per square mile in the district, compared to fewer than 300 for the rest of the county. That mix of predom-inantly small to medium-sized companies is also quite diverse, including everything from retailers and restaurants, to wholesalers, construction and manufacturing firms.

Included in the mix are a number of businesses that have long Ironbound histories while continuing to contribute to the dis-trict’s significance as one of Newark’s most important economic generators. “The mix of new and established businesses helps keep our business district a thriving and vital community,” noted IBID Executive Director Seth A. Grossman.

Leslie Furniture (showroom 206-208 Ferry Street/warehouse 93 Ferguson Street) started with a small upholstery and plastic slipcover manufacturing company located in the heart of the Ironbound and quickly grew to a furniture retail business. Owned and operated by the Guerra family since 1975, Leslie Furniture is dedicated to personal service and discounted furniture prices in both retail and wholesale. They continue to earn high marks from longtime Ironbound residents and the many newcomers moving to the neighborhood, as well as those that have moved out of the area but continue coming back to purchase.

Leslie Furniture has been recognized by both the community and the furniture industry, earning the designation “Retailer of the Year” by the Metropolitan Furniture Association of New Jersey. Free delivery and set-up is available for most purchases in the tri-state area and only 3.5 percent sales tax is charged on purchases because Leslie Furniture participates in Newark’s UEZ Program.

While contractors at the many current construction projects in the Ironbound District and across the City of Newark count on Ironbound Supply (146 Jackson Street) for their needs today, the company has been a leading Industrial Pipe, Valve and Fitting wholesale distributor since 1963. Whatever your plumbing and heating equipment and supply needs, Ironbound Supply offers one hour or less response time on all quotes and inquiries, a plus on local job sites. Ironbound Supply also serves customers throughout the State, with all orders shipped within 48 hours of

purchase. The company was recently featured in a video pro-duced by Newark’s BCDC, which supports economic develop-ment in the City.

Luso Americano traces its origins to 1928, a tough time for any business with the imminent crash of the stock market and looming depression, but particularly so for a Portuguese lan-guage publication serving a small market and competing against much larger English language newspapers. Cur-rent publisher Antonio Mat-inho took the reins in 1979, with editorial and other de-partments moving to a new building (66 Union Street) in addition to the company’s

historic home at 88 Ferry Street. Today, Luso Americano remains the only Portuguese language publication with a national circula-tion serving Brazilian and Portuguese communities not only in the Ironbound, but across the United States and in Canada.

Longtime Businesses Underscore Ironbound’s Long Commercial History goironbound.com

(left to right) Luis Nogueira, one of the recipients of the Ironbound Community Service Awards presented by the Ironbound Business Improvement District, was congratulated at the recent awards ceremony by Steven T. Yglesias, IBID President.

From the cover:Clean & Green Team Provide Four Season Services

“We have received nothing but consistent praise for our Clean & Green Team for the work they do, both through personal thank you’s we have re-ceived, to positive Facebook posts recognizing their hard work and express-ing appreciation for the job they do,” noted the IBID’s Executive Director Seth A. Grossman. “In their brightly colored safety vests, they are highly visible representatives that demonstrate the day-to-day importance of the supplemental programs we provide and the benefits they deliver to the people who live and work in the Ironbound, and the thousands of visitors we welcome to Newark in our district every year.”

Mayor Luis Quintana and Councilman Augusto Amador and representatives of the IBID, BCDC and the Newark UEZ Program were among the dignitaries who joined Ferry Street Optical’s Peter Pantoliano for a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the expansion and enhancement of the store and building at 106 Ferry Street.

(left to right) Manny Guerra, John Silva, Jack Guerra, Gina Guerra and Shawn Guerra make shopping at Leslie Furniture a pleasure for people who appreciate a family-owned and operated business.

Spring 2014

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2014 is one of those pivotal years for Newark. A new Mayor will be elected with a number of new Council people, a great sports event will be played that is important to our neighborhood (not the Superbowl, the Soccer World Cup), and a new hotel is being built in the Ironbound and another downtown. These are signs that we are moving ahead, and that happens when we work together.

On May 14, AAA, the automobile club, has chosen the Ironbound as a key regional destination, and is holding an open house at the Portuguese Sports Club on Prospect Street. This means, we have succeeded in putting the Ironbound on the map as a reliable, family-oriented, and fun destination. Not many urban areas can say that. The fact is our community specifically, and Newark as a whole, has a number of world class attractions at less than a third of the price of NYC. Our number one concern at the IBID is our customers and making sure we surpass their expectations. And, we do that not only with our clean and safe teams, our outstanding marketing and advertising, our partnerships with the City, and our pro-active planning; we do that with every business in our community. You make people feel welcomed and appreciated, and we thank you for that.

This year, we are working particularly closely with the Greater Newark Convention and Visitors Bureau, which has opened a new office downtown, and a Transportation Assistance Portal, a kiosk, at Penn Station. A prominent feature of that interactive touch screen kiosk is the IBID’s feature video of the Ironbound. If you haven’t seen it, check it out. I believe the video is unlike anything previously produced about the Ironbound or Newark. Much like NewarkBound Magazine – don’t miss the fourth issue of the award winning publication which is coming out in June followed by the next edition in the fall. The IBID helped launch that magazine and today it is the most sought after publication about the Newark region available. And, the Ironbound is front and center.

An important part of Newark is the arts commu-nity. It is crucial to not only our business success, but the quality of our community. We have a vibrant, outstanding arts community and the Newark Arts Council and various arts galleries and studios are top notch. We have an opportu-nity to turn the Prospect Street Fire House into a Community Arts & Cultural Center with studio and office space, galleries, teaching, multimedia, dance and theater space. This Center will take

the entire community to bring to fruition. It is a big investment, but it has a big and real payoff. It is worth going for. Sumei Arts Center, Council-man Amador and the IBID have lead the way so far, but we will need a bigger coalition. The IBID will dedicate itself to this until we reach a satisfactory conclusion. It’s all about managing the right partnerships, having a good plan, and sticking to it.

Sincerely Seth A. Grossman Ph.D. Executive Director

Vamos Trabalhar Juntos Para Manter O Ironbound Limpo

Let’s Work Together to Keep the Ironbound Clean

Vamos A Trabajar Juntos Para Mantener Ironbound Limpio

A Message from the Executive Director

President’s MessageAt the time this newsletter went to press, it appeared that winter was finally behind us. I am sure very few people in the Ironbound District were sad to see it go. The extreme cold plus significant piles of snow and ice made life difficult whether you owned a store or restaurant in the Ironbound, lived or worked in the district, and for people who shopped and dined locally.

I want to acknowledge a job well done and join in the many positive comments the IBID has received about the hard work and dedication of our Clean and Green Team during this tough stretch and year round. Whether they are clear-ing the snow and ice from sewer drains and sidewalk crossings to make things safer during the winter months, or cleaning up the streetscape by remov-

ing garbage, graffiti and stickers in the heat of summer, they are ambassadors who ably represent our investment towards making the Ironbound District a welcoming place for all of our stake-holders.

In the months ahead, our district will host a number of events that draw large numbers of visitors to Newark. Festi-vals celebrating the many cultures who contribute to the Ironbound community. Charity events like Gooch’s Garlic Run which brings thousands of law enforcement officers on motorcycles to raise money for sick and injured kids. Soccer mania, in the form of passion-ate fans cheering their favorites during the World Cup soccer tournament in Brazil plus Red Bulls supporters on match days. Everyone is welcome to

join in the fun and experience all that the Ironbound has to offer.

We believe these events help show-case what’s good and positive about Newark’s Ironbound. They also remind us of the challenge we face every day to keep our streets clean and safe. In partnership with the City of Newark’s Departments of Neighborhood Ser-vices, Sanitation, Traffic & Signals, and the Newark Police and Fire Depart-ments, we are working hard to make sure everyone enjoys an enjoyable and memorable Ironbound experience.

Magazine and Roosevelt Donat, Director of Government Relations and Strategic Planning, BCDC. The awards were presented in recognition of outstanding contributions, com-mitment and service to the better-ment of the City of Newark and the Ironbound community.

In presenting the awards, Seth A. Grossman, Ph.D., the IBID’s Ex-ecutive Director, noted the personal ties to Newark and the Ironbound community of each award recipient. He underscored the importance of building upon the partnerships that support the Ironbound’s continued success and growth and revitalization efforts throughout the City.

“From helping our community dur-ing the recent property revaluation process, to supporting the Iron-bound’s artistic and cultural heritage, to marketing the best that our City and our business district have to of-fer on behalf of the people who live and work in the Ironbound and the thousands of visitors we welcome each year, each of these individuals has contributed to cooperative efforts in support of a shared vision for Newark and the Ironbound District,” Grossman concluded.

The renovation of the store and office space was funded in part by an Urban Enterprise Zone Citywide Façade Improvement Grant of $50,000. The pro-gram is part of an integrated UEZ commercial corridor revitalization strategy that included $3.2 million in streetscape improvements on Ferry Street. These investments have resulted in more than $30 million in private investment along Ferry Street within the last five years. Councilman Amador noted how pleased he was to see another longtime Ironbound business participate and urged other district business and commercial property owners to take advantage of the UEZ program.

The store was originally opened in 1909 and is believed to be the longest con-tinually owner operated store in Newark. The renovation of the store and the entire building (roughly 2000 square feet) has expanded the business with not only a beautiful glass storefront but expanded display and product and exami-nation areas as well. This expansion has resulted in the creation of one full-time job and increased doctor hours. Ferry Optical employs six people.

Pantoliano says the building is one of Newark’s “greenest” contributing to more effective treatment and an overall better shopping experience. The building uses the same ultra high HVAC system that is used by the world’s largest casinos in Las Vegas, even down to the fresh scent of lavender or green tea bamboo. Other improvements include ultra high efficiency LED low voltage lighting which is easier on the eyes and a fraction of the carbon footprint providing savings in terms of energy costs, ultra violet 24 hour a day lighting and disinfection, ozone and oxygen injection for healthy breathing when in the building, along with new high tech self UV disinfection equipment to ensure a healthier environment and more accurate exam results.

“The Office of Newark’s Urban Enterprise Zone is very excited to celebrate the completion of yet another façade project. Our grant program provides the private sector (i.e., business and property owners) the opportunity to contribute to the enhancement and beautification of several major com-mercial corridors located in each of the city’s five wards,” noted Ollyn J. Lettman, MPA, Director of the Newark Of-fice of the Urban Enterprise Zone. “In the hope of continu-ing to spread the impact and benefits of this initiative, it is important that every owner of an eligible UEZ-certified business consider contacting our office to discuss how they can also take advantage. It will not only improve their own storefront’s “curbside appeal” and help attract new and repeat customers, but also help transform the surrounding neighborhood.”

“For business and commercial property owners in the Ironbound District and throughout the City of Newark, this program represents an important opportunity to make improvements and upgrades that they want and need to be competitive,” stated Seth A. Grossman, the IBID’s Executive Director.”

For more information about UEZ certification and the façade improvement program (including details on the other eligible commercial corridors in each of the city’s four remaining wards), contact Ollyn Lettman at 973.424.4154, ext. 1010 or by email at [email protected].

From the cover: Community Service Awards

From the cover: Ferry Street Optical Celebrates

New Ironbound Video A Showcase for the City East Side Student Interns at IBID

The IBID partnered with Ironbound natives Igor and Yuri Alves of DreamPlay Productions to produce a new short film to help create excitement and interest in the Ironbound District and the great things conveniently close by in Newark. The film showcases the experience of a young couple who enjoy cafes and restaurants, international shopping, arts and nightlife that highlight their time together in the Ironbound. The film can be found on YouTube and Vimeo and on the goironbound.com website, and is being showcased by various Newark marketing partners. A micro-site, meetironbound.com, was also developed specifically to showcase the video and the many businesses and organizations that contributed to its success.

Jeffrey Decen, a junior at Newark’s East Side High School is completing an internship with the Ironbound Business Improvement District. Jeffrey handles the distribution of the IBID’s informa-tional and promotional materials in addition to other support services. Jeffrey also participates in a plethora of activities ranging from sports such as wrestling to a student body group within East Side. “I greatly appreciate the opportunity that the IBID has presented me in furthering my busi-ness education for my future career in financial business,” Jeffrey concluded.

(This article was written by the IBID’s intern Jeffrey Decen)

Steven T. Yglesias, President

Electronic Waste Collection EventNewark businesses and residents emptied their cluttered closets, drawers and offices to take advantage of a free collection event for household and business generated e-waste held at Peter Francisco Park in the Ironbound District in April. The event was hosted by the IBID in partnership with Panasonic, Covanta, the City of Newark and Urban Renewal Corporation.

Items collected included computer laptops, monitors, mice, keyboards and peripherals, CD/VCR/DVD players, small home office copiers/fax machines, MP3 players, photo/video cameras and more.

Electronic products including computers, cell phones, CD players, cameras, office machines and electronic games contain a wide variety of materials that should be recycled, which reduces energy use and the need to mine more raw materials from the earth. Electronics can also have adverse effects on the environment if not disposed of or recycled properly.

“The businesses of the Ironbound District have been long-time supporters of the City’s mission to make Newark one of the nation’s greenest cities, and the April celebration of Earth Day made sense as the perfect time to host the collection event,” noted Seth A. Grossman, the IBID’s Executive Director. “We were pleased to be a partner in this event to make Newark a cleaner and healthier place to live, work or visit.

Anti-Litter Poster Contest AwardsArianna Alves of Hawkins Street School and Karina Barrios of Oliver Street School have been named the winners of the IBID’s annual Anti-Litter Poster Con-test for Ironbound students. IBID board members cast their ballots for their favor-ites from among 50 entries received from five different Ironbound schools - Ann Street, Hawkins Street, Ironbound Catholic Academy, Oliver Street and Wilson Avenue.

Alves was the winner among 1st through 4th graders. Barrios was the winner among 5th through 8th graders. All of the participating students will receive cer-tificates for their efforts. The winning students, along with their art teachers, other

school representatives and their fami-lies, will also receive trophies signify-ing their success in drawing attention to the IBID’s “Let’s Work Together to Keep the Ironbound Clean” quality of life initiative.

The IBID will print thousands of postcards featuring the artwork of the win-ning students plus information about the Ironbound District’s trash pick-up and recycling schedules as well as rules and regulations regarding waste disposal. The postcards will be distributed through the Ironbound’s schools, and to district business and commercial property owners, as well as other community members. IBID Office Manager Leysly Roldan coordinated all details of the contest, work-ing with the principals and art teachers from the Ironbound’s schools regarding the contest rules and submissions and also supervised the judging by the IBID’s board of directors.

The contest was sponsored this year by Covanta, Investors Bank, Commercial District Services (CDS) and East Ward Councilman Augusto Amador.

IBID Intern Jeffrey Decen, a student at East Side High School’s Big Picture Academy, and IBID Office Manager Leysly Roldan, display the winning entries in the annual Ironbound Anti-Litter Poster Contest.

Spring 2014

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spring 2014 longtime businesses underscore ironbound’s ...€¦ · (left to right) manny guerra,...

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