WESTWOOD, N.J.—In his 19 years with the Chamber of Commerce in Westwood, Mike Fitzsimmons can’t recall having six new businesses debut at one time.
But that’s what happened on March 20, the crisp bright day chosen for the borough’s second Shop the Hub event, a celebration of small business, delicious dining, and family fun.
Fitzsimmons, the chamber’s secretary this year, and the owner of Westwood Gallery, told Pascack Press, “Not only is it a testament to growth in Westwood and the entrepreneurial spirit of small business, it reflects on the community as a whole who support shopping and dining locally.”
Noting Mayor Ray Arroyo and the Borough Council’s busy itinerary—ceremonial oversized scissors in tow—Fitzsimmons said, “The mayor and council members showed great stamina completing the three-hour marathon, and fortunately, the scissors remain sharp and we have more ribbon for the next group sure to join.”
The officials welcomed Jay Mota at Prudential (54 Westwood Ave.), B&S Kitchen (48 Westwood Ave.), Jack Potatoes (288 3rd Ave.), Liquorland (301 Center Ave.), The Paula Clark Real Estate Group of Northern NJ, (99 Westwood Ave., 2nd floor) and Prohibition (170 Center Ave.), just six of more than 12 new businesses setting up shop in the borough, which takes great pride in its position as “The Hub of the Pascack Valley.”
Event organizer Celebrate Westwood was delighted with the day, telling Pascack Press, “Inspired by the effects of the pandemic shutdowns and capacity restrictions on local small businesses, the event linked 35 businesses across town to encourage business-specific specials, sales, and promotions while cross promoting industries.”
CW’s Lauren Letizia and RoseAnn Ciarlante noted that the favorable weather added to the zest of the day.
“Working with our local businesses was a lot of fun, especially since we were able to step out from behind the screen and greet them all at the beginning of the day,” Letizia said on March 24.
She added, “Our partnerships with local business owners are growing and we are elated to be able to create events that benefit both the business and their regular and new customers.”
In addition to 33 businesses in the downtown district, Celebrate Westwood was pleased to welcome Westwood Super Cellars and the Bergen Restore, which combined to make the event stretch 2 miles across the borough.
All Westwood businesses with a brick-and-mortar presence within the borough were invited to participate, Letizia said; even those that did not formally sign up took advantage of the additional foot traffic around the central business district—and brightly colored balloons that indicated participants—by putting out impromptu sales racks, sidewalk tables, and welcome signs.
Letizia said municipal parking saw an increase of 60% in the use of the ParkMobile app as compared to the previous Saturday.
“Many businesses reported seeing new customers, many of whom had been visiting Westwood for the first time,” she said.
In all, the event seemed to discharge a North Pole’s worth of enthusiasm pent up since the understandable cancellation of December 2020’s Home for the Holidays Parade, which typically draws many thousands downtown in the unofficial start of the winter holiday season but last year was seen as too risky.
Celebrate Westwood’s first Shop the Hub event was part of its 2020 invention “Winter on Westwood Avenue,” which brought the borough mini, festival-like events.
Now, with vaccine going around, and hope for brighter days presumably warming everyone’s heart, Shop the Hub is a reminder that this is a borough, and a valley, all about the magic of connection.
Ciarlante told Pascack Press, “We are grateful for the support of the Westwood Chamber of Commerce, which jumped in to bring the ribbon-cuttings to this event, adding another important element of celebration to the day.”
She said Celebrate Westwood is seeking feedback from all Westwood businesses to gauge the event’s effect on sales and traffic.
“So far, very limited data suggests that participant businesses saw increased or significantly increased sales and foot traffic on Saturday when compared to the past 12 months, and roughly the same or slight increases in sales and foot traffic as compared to pre-pandemic times. Celebrate Westwood plans to report out on complete survey results in the future,” she said.
Arroyo, on his route, had plenty to talk about with the new arrivals and their families and staffs. Pressed into pandemic war footing shortly after he took his oath of office, he now greeted familiar faces, waved to families on their promenade, and seemed to be basking.
And he used the occasion here and there to trumpet the borough’s effort against the pandemic, noting that since partnering with Pascack Valley Medical Center CEO Emily Holliman in February, the borough has been able to help more of its seniors get vaccinated.
“Councilwoman Cheryl Hodges [the borough’s first council liaison to PVMC] and a dedicated group of resident volunteers have enabled 295 Westwood seniors to receive their first doses of the Moderna vaccine,” he said.
Fifteen were scheduled with Northwest Bergen Regional Health Commission and a pop-up clinic it hosted in Mahwah on March 5. Moreover, 280 appointments were set up over three days since, he said.
Arroyo said the borough’s vaccine partnership with PVMC also has benefited the Westwood Regional School District, wherein another 80 doses were reserved for teachers and staff, and delivered on March 19.
“Inoculating our teachers is another step towards restoring a normal learning experience for our children,” he said.
Next on Celebrate Westwood’s agenda:
- Chalk the Park, Sunday, April 11, with Westwood Recreation;
- Lunch on the Lawn, Saturday, May 22 with artists from The Art School at Old Church;
- Arts on the Avenues, a summerlong event featuring local musicians and artists;
- The next Shop the Hub event is set for June 5 and will feature entertainment from Mama D and the Vexations in Veterans Memorial Park.
For much more information visit celebratewestwood.org.