Tremont biz hold Valentine’s dinner; comtemplates a BID

The Tremont Business & Community Association held a St. Valentine’s Dinner & Dance at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tremont on Thursday, February 12 for seniors and those in the community who want to see the mid-Tremont area thrive.

TBCO chairman Radame Perez presided over the festivities, which included a free meal with all of the trimmings catered by Salsa Caterers located at 4006 3rd Avenue, and sponsored by Fine Fare at 708 E. Tremont Avenue, Webster Pharmacy at 753 E. Tremont Avenue, Urban Starzz at 515 E. Tremont Avenue, and Aponte & Associates Insurance Agency at 656 E. Fordham Road.

Well over 100 people packed St. Paul’s church hall for dinner and dancing. Merchants and clergy discussed a brighter future for an area that was once written off by many – and now TBCO is even in the process of forming a Business Improvement District.

“During these tough economic times, we are now more than ever pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps and making this community a better place to live and work,” Perez stated. “I was raised in this neighborhood and I want to make sure that it improves and becomes a more vibrant place. The entrepreneur spirit is often something that inspires people to do more – it doesn’t settle – and I don’t think that the businesses and the community want to settle.”

Perez said that he is working to make sure that both the shopping areas in Tremont, Bathgate, and the surrounding blocks, thrive –through the creation of a B.I.D. and other measures.

“The creation of a B.I.D. means that our neighborhood right in the middle of E. Tremont Avenue will be cleaned and spruced up regularly,” Perez said. We need the support of the community and merchants for the creation of a B.I.D.”

Perez stated that working with St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tremont, located at 1984 Crotona Avenue, is the perfect venue for the TBCO because it is such a respected place in the neighborhood. The celebration included a multi-lingual address – in English and Spanish –by TBCO officers to the crowd.

Formed in 2006, Perez has been chairman of the TBCO since September 2008.

Tremont Business & Community Association, BID