By Nick Diamantides,
Staff Writer
Long Beach city officials and representatives of the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce kicked off a citywide tour of businesses last week to find out what needs to be done to improve the business climate in the city. The first phase of the tour passed through the Atlantic Avenue corridor in Councilwoman Rae Gabelich’s district (8).
“We have to reach out and partner with the businesses of our city,” Gabelich said. “We want more of them to take advantage of the programs designed to help them grow.”
Chamber President Randy Gordon added, “We want to listen to small business owners and see what the chamber and the city can do for them.”
Gabelich and Gordon were accompanied by Deputy City Manager Reggie Harrison, Kermit Hathcoat (officer in the city’s economic development bureau), Jonathan Kraus (Gabelich’s chief of staff), Matt Kinley (chamber chairman of the board) and Hope Altman (chamber interim-vice president for governmental affairs).
The seven officials visited three Bixby Knolls shops and had lunch with three restaurateurs. One of the things discussed was the enterprise zone that encompasses most of the city.
“The enterprise zone provides up to $35,000 in state tax credits per eligible employee in 72 percent of the city,” Hathcoat said “This gives business a direct reduction on their income tax. It’s an excellent way to provide health benefits to employees and to increase a business owner’s working capital.”
Two of the business owners visited by the tour group did not know anything about the enterprise zone and two said they didn’t realize that it included the Bixby Knolls area.
Gabelich noted that a very high percentage of business owners in Long Beach do not know they qualify for tax credits through the enterprise zone, and are also unaware that the city offers low-interest rate loans to businesses. “When the programs are presented, they can lead to healthier businesses in our community,” she said. “We have to reach out more and let people know that these programs exist.”
Harrison agreed. “We have made a great effort to get the word out about the enterprise zone and our business loan program,” he said. “These things are publicized in our city newsletter and on our Web site, and the chamber is letting its members know, and yet so many people do not know about these things that could greatly benefit them.” He added that the city would explore new ways of getting the word out.
Eric Vitwar, owner of Tuttle Cameras said that he recently found out about the enterprise zone and was preparing to apply for the tax credits it offers. He noted that he was also aware of the city’s business loan program. “I love Long Beach; they gave us the loan to buy this store from Harvey Tuttle,” he said. “If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be here.” (Vitwar had been an employee of the business since 1990 and purchased it in 1998.)
The tour group also visited Chroma Glass Designs at 4242 Atlantic Ave, where owner Krista Leaders said Bixby Knolls shops have a lot to offer, but not enough people stop to check them out. Chroma Glass sells custom stain glass and supplies as well as exotic glass, soaps and candles.
“This location has great potential but there’s not enough people,” Leaders said. “Traffic just speeds by and hardly anybody walks through the area just to visit the shops.” About a year ago, Leaders did much of the organizing for First Fridays, an event that features works of art in 10 different Bixby Knolls businesses on the first Friday of each month. “We estimate that 800 to 1,000 people come to First Fridays now, but we need a lot more people visiting the stores in Bixby Knolls on a regular basis,” she said.
Monique Johnson, owner of Sweet Treasures at 4226 Atlantic Ave., agreed. “There is no foot traffic,” she said. “If the city is serious about helping small businesses in Bixby Knolls it needs to do something to slow the traffic down on Atlantic Avenue and make this area more attractive to people who enjoy going for a walk.”
Gabelich said the plans were underway to address both of those issues. “I’ve been working with the traffic department for two years and recently the city approved the installation of two more traffic lights on Atlantic Avenue – one at Cartagena Street and one at Marshall Place,” she said. “They should be installed in about six months, and that will slow traffic down as it passes through that corridor.”
Making Bixby Knolls more pedestrian friendly is also in the works, according to Gabelich. “The Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association recently hired a consulting firm to design a streetscape plan that will attract a lot more foot traffic,” she said. “That plan will be discussed with Bixby Knolls business owners, landlords and residents in meetings scheduled for November.”
Johnson said vacant stores and buildings falling into disrepair were also making the area unattractive to pedestrians.
Gabelich agreed, but she explained that the city was doing more than many business owners realize. “We have hired a retail consultant firm to help us recruit more retail businesses, and we are stepping up code enforcement to make sure that buildings are kept up,” she said. “But, unfortunately, these things take more time than we wish.” She added that improving the appearance of Bixby Knolls required the concerted efforts of the city, landlords and storeowners. “They need to do things like actually plant flowers in their empty flower boxes or maybe put a park bench in front of their store,” she said. “There are a lot of little things that everyone can do that could add up to making the whole area more attractive.”
The tour ended with lunch at Nino’s Italian Restaurant where Nino’s general manager Carina Cristiano-Leoni and Larry and Cheryl Carter, owners of Johnny Rebs’ Southern Roadhouse, echoed the concerns expressed by other business owners.
Johnny Rebs has been closed since August 10, when a pre-dawn fire caused about $250,000 in damage to its building. Larry Carter said he expects the restaurant to reopen in January after the gutted building is demolished and replaced with a new structure. “Things are going well but the contractor who is going to rebuild it has made a suggestion,” he added. “He says the city should have one person who coordinates the permit process when a building project has to get permits from various city departments.”
Harrison responded that the city recently initiated just such a program. “We now have a project facilitator who does coordinate the permit process,” he said. “We plan on expanding that program so it is available to more people.” He added that he would try to arrange for Carter’s contractor to meet with the facilitator.
Cristiano-Leoni said the tour of city businesses was a good idea and she hoped it would encourage business owners and city officials to work together more. “I think more people are realizing they can’t do this alone,” she said. “Store owners, the city, the BIA and the chamber need to combine and coordinate their efforts to improve the business climate in Bixby Knolls.”
Gabelich agreed that the tour was a good idea. “I’m very excited that the chamber has taken this step toward partnering with the city to help businesses grow,” she said. “Even though we have differences of opinion on how some things should be done, it’s important that we work together to make Long Beach a better place to do business and a better place in which to live.”
For more information on Long Beach’s business assistance programs, phone (562) 570-3800. For information on the enterprise zone, phone (562) 570-3842.
