LINDEN, NJ — City of Linden residents are being invited to get down to business.
Uptown Linden Inc., an organization dedicated to creating a robust business district in Linden, is sponsoring the city’s first annual Merchant’s Appreciation Day, to be held on Saturday, June 10.
The event will feature free food all day at the Promenade, a 5K color run, live musical entertainment, a farmers’ market and sidewalk sales.
Linden Mayor Derek Armstead will be speaking at the event, and council members have been invited to attend.
According to Mike Bono, executive director of the Special Improvement District and organizer of the event, the goal of the all-day merchants’ initiative is to bring people into local businesses.
“It will be bringing people to the downtown area for the day,” Bono told LocalSource in a recent phone interview. “There will be food, entertainment, and it will bring residents to appreciate the merchants we have there. We expect a very good crowd because of all the things we’re offering, like concerts, free food, the 5K run, and sidewalk sales. It’s our way of appreciating our merchants.”
The mission of Uptown Linden Inc. is to promote small businesses and local shopping, make grant opportunities accessible to merchants and to organize events that highlight the business district.
“I’m excited about it,” Bono said. “I really am. The SID committee has done a phenomenal job, and all members have worked diligently and tirelessly. Everything we do is for the merchants in the district.”
Third Ward Councilman Peter Brown Jr., who is on the SID committee, told LocalSource that the mission of the committee is to promote businesses in the city.
“We encourage shopping and we want to bring people down to the business district,” Brown said in a recent phone interview. “Kudos to the SID, who are really trying to bring exposure to the downtown area. The goal is to get people to come downtown, shop downtown and encourage activity downtown.”
“I’m hopeful the residents of the city will be there and then it will all be worthwhile,” Bono said. “It should be a great day.”
Merchants Appreciation Day will be from noon to 10 p.m. on North Wood Avenue. For information, visit https://www.facebook.com/uptownlindeninc/