Merchants form new group to push commercial growth

East Lake’s commercial district is showing some life after a long decline, and a group of merchants and property owners have formed a new group to help accelerate this positive trend.

The East Lake Business Alliance, currently with 10 members, was formed in November, according to Vince Amaro, owner of Estate Liquidators on First Avenue North. The group is not yet organized officially as an LLC or nonprofit, but that hasn’t hindered it so far, Amaro said.

“There's no president or anybody in charge,” he said. “We are all equal. We are pretty much on the same page about everything.”

Amaro pushed to start the group, along with Robert Bouchillon of Burch Corporation on Oporto Madrid Boulevard, and said he hopes all of the merchants in the area will join. Other members include Vance Ballard of B&B Construction and Dr. T.C. Branch of Oporto Animal Clinic, Amaro said.

The group has a clear purpose, according to Amaro.

“We don’t want to have parades or events,” he said. “We are trying to address issues, solve problems and do something positive for the commercial area.”

The group, which replaces a now-defunct merchants’ association, can fill “a need to network different businesses in the neighborhood together,” said Ed Finton, owner of Four Corners Equipment on Fifth Avenue North.

“It’s about working with the city to eliminate blight in the neighborhood,” Finton said. “We’re trying to get the area cleaned up where people are enticed to come in.”

For more information, call 296-6770.