long branch newsletter march 2016 final
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Volume 9
Supported by:
Long Branch Business League Issue 2 March 2016 Long Branch Business League
Join the Business League
Over the last four years the Long Branch Business League, with its Dis-cover Long Branch! initiative, has gradually built a more exciting im-age for Long Branch commerce. We brought the community the suc-cessful Super-Block Party last May; we started a Salsa Night series this September and we have helped install art work.
What is more, the Business League's newsletter keeps you up-to-date on important events, local business news, and business tips.
What are the benefits to you of membership? Preferred access to store design improvements Assistance with marketing and business planning Help with Enterprise Zone tax credit applications Greater visibility in business league marketing materials
And with big changes coming to our area because of the Purple Line, now more than ever we need to stand together to make sure all of us benefit from the expanded customer base the Purple Line will bring.
Making Long Branch successful for everyone.
IN THIS ISSUE
Business Success in Long Branch
Page 1
Furniture Store Opens
Page 1
People Profiles: Helen Kim
Page 2
Loan Fund Just for Long Branch?
Page 2
Cyber Web Computer Expands
Page 3
Small Business Workshop
Page 3
Resources:
Small Business Development Center
SBDC provides counseling and classes. Coun-
selors speak Spanish and other languages.
301-403-0501x11
7100 Baltimore Ave, Suite 303,
College Park, MD 20740
Enterprise Zone Tax Credit Program
Access to County tax credits for real estate
improvements and employee hiring.
Mr. Pete McGinnity
240-777-8126
Montgomery County Council
240-777-7900
Department of Permitting
Responsible for all permits to make property
improvements and signage.
permittingservices.montgomerycountymd.gov
240-777-0311
DED’s Small & Minority Business Empowerment
Resources and training for small businesses.
Judith Stephenson
240-777-2012
Montgomery County Police
Non-emergency dispatch for Long Branch:
301 279-8000
All emergencies: 911
Montgomery County (All other services)
For all Montgomery County services there
is now a single number you can call, this
includes bulk trash pickup
(5 requests annually)
311 (English)
311 + 1 (Español)
Department of Liquor Control
DLC licenses and regulates businesses that
sell alcohol, and provides education and
assistance to businesses and their
employees.
Emily DeTitta
240-777-1904
Business League March Gathering
Wednesday, March 2, from 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
El Golfo Restaurant, 8739 Flower Avenue
Special Lecture: Maryland’s Neighborhood Business Works loan program Long Branch Business News, a monthly publication , Paul Grenier, Editor 301-622-2400, x 41 [email protected]
Business activity in Long Branch grew in 2015 according to a survey of 22 small businesses conducted by Montgomery Housing Partnership.
Some 64% of businesses owners reported that business was good in 2015, while less than 10% reported that it was bad. An even larger percent of owners, 71%, said that they had seen an increase in the number of customers in 2015.
In another encouraging sign, two-thirds of Long Branch businesses surveyed reported an increase in sales compared with the previous year.
Commercial Long Branch’s most
prominent vacancy, the former liquor
store at 8701 Flower Ave., is about to
get occupied by a business whose
slogan declares ‘la Casa se esta
quemando,’ that is to say, ‘the house is on fire.’
2015 A Bigger Success Story for Long Branch Business
Carlos Perozo, President Long Branch Business League [email protected]. 301-587-4829 or 301 812-4141
See Furniture, p. 3
See Business Survey p. 2
New Furniture Store on Fire (but in a Good Way)
The play on words advertises that
the prices at Casa (Spanish for
house) Furniture are reasonable.
Owner Spiro Laousis told the News-
letter that Casa keep its prices low
by manufacturing all of its furniture
Upcoming Crafts Workshop
Slavic Easter crafts and cloth dolls
workshop planned for Saturday,
March 26th at Rainbow Laundry.
For details email Vika at:
Not all the news was positive, however. Profit growth did not always keep up with sales increases even where they took place. Only 27% saw an increase in profits, while 38% of businesses surveyed saw a decrease in profits and 38% didn’t change. Clearly, a number of businesses are working harder and better, but not seeing a correspond-ing increase in benefits.
The probable explanation – though the survey did not supply any definite answers – are the increases in costs. A number of Long Branch businesses have voiced concerns about steadily increasing costs of utilities, of food products needed in restaurants, or increasing rents.
A wide variety of businesses were surveyed, including restaurants, laundromat/dry cleaners, grocery stores, as well as service businesses ranging from financial services to cell phones.
A State Loan Program ‘Just’ for Long Branch
Maryland’s Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) will be discussing its premier small business lending pro-gram, Neighborhood Business-Works, at the March 2 Long Branch Business Meeting at El Golfo (for details, see p. 1).
The loan program has special terms and is available only in the so-called Sustainable Communities in Maryland. Long Branch is defined as a Sustainable Community.
Any business that thinks it may wish to grow some day should attend.
For more about the Neighborhood BusinessWorks program, see: http://dhcd.maryland.gov/Business/Pages/NBW.aspx
Business Survey, from page 1
3
DiscoverLongBranch.com DiscoverLongBranch.com
Furniture Store Opens Getting to know Reliable Cleaner’s ... Helen Kim
and mattresses in the United States, at its
factories in Liberty, North Carolina. There are
four other Casa Furnitures in the greater
Washington area.
“We are one of only five manufacturers in the
entire United States that manufactures living
room sets in the U.S.,” Spiro said. The store, which will open on March 1, sells everything
from living-room love seats to bedroom sets.
Please welcome this new addition to our Long
Branch business community, and remember
that ‘buying local’ is a good business and
economic development success strategy.
Contact store manager Maria Lovera at: [email protected]
make anything.
Here’s another thing. I remember the names and faces of
practically every customer who comes to our store, sometimes
even their phone number. Usually I know whose ticket to pull as
soon as the customer walks through the door. If someone comes
back after many years I can still remember them.
Reliable Cleaners is located at 8736 Flower Ave.
Profile of Helen Kim (from page 2)
(Furniture, from page 1)
See Profile, page 3
Cyber Web Computer Changes Hands, Grows
Job title: Co-owner, Reliable
Cleaners on Flower Ave.
Years on the job: Twenty
years. First my husband
Yong Kim and I worked
here as managers for some-
one else, then after a few
years we became the owners.
Grew up: On a family farm
in a small town in Korea.
Childhood memory: My
parents had a vegetable farm
and from when I was very
young I helped do the work –
watering, weeding and taking care of the farm. It was such hard work, all year
round, summer and winter it never stopped! That’s why I am still so strong.
Current home: Silver Spring, Md.
Job in another life: I like people, and I would like to work with people in need,
maybe as a social worker or volunteer.
Daily habits: Every morning when I come in [to Reliable Cleaners], the first
thing I do is take care of my plants. If they don’t need watering sometimes I just
talk to them. I also call my parents in Korea every single day.
Person you would most like to meet: Pope Francis. When he was here I had
no time, I had to work at the store, so I couldn’t go out to D.C. to try to see him!
Favorite app: KakaoTalk. It allows you to send text messages in Korean.
Favorite music: Classical.
Favorite vacation spot: Cancun, Mexico.
Favorite restaurant: All the hotel restaurants I’ve visited in Cancun, Mexico,
were wonderful. They blend many different food styles.
Bucket list: To go on vacation with all my family for one month. It doesn’t
matter where. Just one month to be together and forget everything else!
Family: Married, one son.
Hobbies: My home is filled with plants. Whenever I have time, I am always work-
ing with my plants.
Startling fact: My husband, Yong, who co-owns with me Reliable (Dry) Cleaners,
is one of only a handful of master tailors in the whole Washington area. He can
Helen Kim and husband on vacation.
Cyber Web, Long Branch’s only computer sales and repair store,
located at 8703 Flower Avenue next door to the new furniture store
(see story, p. 1), went through a major renovation this winter,
thanks to its energetic new owner, Patricio Proano.
For several years, the friendly Mr. Proano has been responsible for
computer repairs at Cyber Web Computer Store. When its previous
owner, Jose Melara, retired, Proano took over as owner of the computer store, which specializes in laptops.
Proano immediately invested in an impressive remodel of the
interior, giving it a clean new look. He also created separate offices
for the other services inside the store.
Those other services now include: an MVA-certified tags and title
service center, a travel agency, and the Hernandez Allied Insurance
Co. The El Rosal sewing cooperative remains, as before, in the
lower level, but has a brand new production room.
Hernandez Allied also offers a range of services, including
commercial, auto, and general liability insurance, as well as worker’s
compensation. Hernandez told the Newsletter he has a particular
knowledge of the construction industry and specializes in business services to contractors, including paper work and notary public.
Workshop on Prospering in Times of Change
The Silver Spring Regional Center and CASA invite small business owners, merchants, and entrepreneurs to a series of workshops to:
Explore ways to strengthen the capacity of small businesses to thrive and prosper
Identify shared interests and challenges
Explore the development of a Local Capital Access Center (LCAC) to address shared concerns
Develop an action plan to create a LCAC to serve our needs.
The first workshop will be on Thursday,
February 26 from 8:30am-11:30am at the
SS Regional Center, One Veterans
Plaza. Register/learn more by calling Renato
Mendoza, 240-296- 2904, rmendo-
[email protected]. [From the Crossroads
Development Authority Newsletter]