Brigantine business growth attributed to city investments, Chamber of Commerce
BRIGANTINE — The island has seen its fair share of businesses come and go, but the city and the local Chamber of Commerce are taking steps to try to bolster local merchants year-round.
Over the past decade, the city has worked with the Brigantine Chamber of Commerce to grow the island’s local economy and help its small business owners succeed, Mayor Vince Sera said.
The city has invested more than $2.7 million in revamping its business district streetscapes, in addition to sponsoring/co-sponsoring events with the chamber to help attract businesses.
“We knew that if the city committed to making substantial improvements and investments, that the business owners would do the same. We are now seeing many owners making big investments to improve and beautify their own businesses,” said Sera. “As a result of the efforts from both the city and the chamber, we are seeing a steady growth in the number of new businesses that have opened on the island over the last few years.”
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The city does not have a single way to track its businesses, said Ryan Hurst, the deputy city manager.
“Our Chamber of Commerce plays a pivotal role in connecting businesses, advocating for their interests and promoting collaboration. Through networking events, educational workshops and advocacy initiatives, we strive to empower our members and facilitate their success. We maintain ongoing communication with local and state groups to champion business advocacy, actively participating in those pertinent discussions,” said Maria Sacco Handle, president of the chamber.
The chamber has 168 members.
“There seems to be an overall rejuvenation of the existing business in town. Many have updated their storefronts by adding awnings, landscaping, outdoor seating areas and more. Several businesses have grown so much over the last few years that they moved to a larger location or added additions,” said Barbara Rote, the chamber’s secretary. “For the first time in years, we have more business owners looking for rental space than available properties.”
In the past few months, the island has seen several new stores open up, Rote said.
Some include Sandy Jack’s Deli, which offers English and Irish specialty products; Brigantine Pet Supply; Ola Kai Functional Fitness, one of the island’s two gyms; and The Teal Tail, which just had its grand reopening in April at its new 1001 W. Brigantine Ave. location.
“Business has been amazing so far,” said Andie Gay, the social media manager for Brigantine Pet Supply. “Because we are such a new business, we don’t quite know the challenges specific to operating a business in a beach town just yet. We hope that because of the population on the island and the community’s sense of supporting local businesses that we will see sustained support and business throughout the year, as well as a bump in the summer season.”
Gay said her parents, Dawn and Andy Gay, were inspired to open a pet store in Brigantine because there wasn’t a place on the island where people could buy pet food or supplies.
“We are still seeing lots of new faces every day, which is super fun, but we also even have a few regulars already who we are so grateful for and have loved getting to know. We love to see our customers bringing their dogs into the store so we can meet them and watch them pick out toys and treats,” Gay said.
Since Ola Kai opened last July, Christina Perry, the owner alongside her husband, Jimmy, said business has been great. The business has 85 full-time members, a number that is expected to increase during the summer.
“We actually exceeded our goals for the first year, and now we’re gearing up for summer,” said Perry. “Growing up here on the island, where my dad had a business, it’s exciting to see the commercial side of the island really coming to life. With the island’s summer and winter populations all growing, we thought it was a nice time to open a business, and that the island could handle two gyms.”
Sera said the city has aggressively pursued grant money to help pay for investments and redevelopment in three of its main business districts — the Central Business District, the Lighthouse District and the area where the Acme Plaza is off Brigantine Boulevard.
To regulate short-term rental properties due to resident concerns, Brigantine revamped its short-term rental ordinance in October, but haven’t appointed anyone to be the enforcer as outlined in the update.
The Central Business District was the first district to receive a $758,448 streetscape grant in 2015 for decorative lighting, crosswalks, planter boxes, benches, bike lanes and bike racks, Sera said. That work was completed in 2016.
The city then invested $814,000 in the area along West Brigantine Avenue between 31st and 34th streets, which was completed in 2022.
With $1.2 million in grant funding awarded by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration to promote alternative transportation methods, the city is wrapping up its Lighthouse District streetscape project to beautify and encourage walkability in the area.
“We’ve made major investments in all of our business districts and have worked very closely with the Brigantine Chamber of Commerce to build our shoulder season,” Sera said.
He also noted the Economic Development Committee, chaired by Councilman Mike Riordan, works hard to develop new and exciting ideas to boost the local economy.
“We remain committed to fostering a business-friendly environment that encourages innovation, growth and sustainability,” the chamber’s Sacco Handle said. “Together, we are shaping Brigantine’s future as a vibrant hub of commerce and opportunity.”
GALLERY: Business development in downtown Brigantine
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