Opportunity Knocking - Dunwoody needs a permanent community marketplace

The Dunwoody Green Market (DGM) opens shop  at the Dunwoody Post Office on Wednesday mornings.  It's a great little outlet for local farmers (and lately, artisans and cooks) who will never get shelf space at Kroger or Publix to offer their wares directly to the public that seeks out small business to purchase from. 

Why is it perched at the Post Office?  Good question with an interesting story.  Originally the "green market" was to be an organic farmers' market hosted at a church.  Problem:  churches (and other houses of worship) are zoned residential.  And according to our city ordinances, there is to be no business with customer contact in a residential zone.  (That has been slightly modified with a SLUP procedure.  However, if my neighbor the violin teacher had to go through a couple of circles of hell to get one student at a time in her home, imagine the response to a market with several hundred shoppers.)

Making an exception to the ordinance for enterprises housed at religious facilities would not hold water when the inevitable lawsuits spring up.  The city council was not ready to overhaul the ordinances regarding zoning and business operations.  What to do?

Bob Lundsten came up with the idea of asking the Post Office to allow the market to borrow their property once a week.  US Post Offices are by definition federal land.  City ordinances don't apply.  So while the DGM is in the Post Office's good graces, the market opens every Wednesday - legally.

How lucky do you feel existing at the whim of the Feds?  I wouldn't.  The USPS can revoke its permission at any time.  They can close that location and sell the land, which they routinely threaten to do.  Or the market can stifle its own growth to fit within the property it's allowed to use.    The market is already growing - it's not just "organic farming" anymore.  You have artisans, prepared food sellers, bakers, a pizzeria(!!) and who knows what else will be added from time to time.  The other businesses in Dunwoody Village that DO pay taxes without finding a loophole tlike DGM has aren't too thrilled.  Plus, there are other business enterprises that are either home-based or otherwise don't rise to the level of a stand-alone brick-and-mortar storefront that need outlets to meet their customers.  Then you have mobile enterprises like the "upscale mobile restaurants" (read:  roach coach w/out the roach) like "Hail Ceasar". 

With a variety of vacant commercial properties that can be negotiated, it's time for one of these landlords to organize the good old fashioned Flea Market.  I wouldn't call it a flea market though.  Anything with "flea" in the name isn't going to be considered upscale enough for Dunwoody.  How about Community Market? 

The Premise  (This is general there would be a lot of details and bugs to work out.)

Find one of the many legally-zoned storefronts in town not currently used.  Examples:  the Ace Hardware at Mt Vernon and Dunwoody Club or the old Blockbuster next to Azima Salon and the BP gas station near the Village. 

Persuade the landlord to convert the unused storefront into a part-time (at least) or full-time (ideal) marketplace.  Charge rent to whoever has something to sell or promote.  The DGM could potentially negotiate a rent for all of its members and camp in its own section.  In addition, home-based businesses promoting themselves, not-for-profits selling for charity or doing other promotions could also rent spots.  Or even brick-and-mortars could promote their wares.  Any specialty seller looking to carve their niche would have a leg-up to build their following.

By paying rent for a space, taxes get collected and the landlord doesn't have to wait forever for a permanent tenant that doesn't want to change the zoning.

Said landlord could even charge the roachless roach coach to park and sell lunch.

Retail spaces are already zoned for (wait for it...) retail activity so zoning issues are avoided.  If you find a big enough space, you're going to have plenty of parking.  No matter how much people opine regarding alternate transportation, "smart cars", bicycling, or other ideals, people drive their cars.  Especially when they shop.  Even to a local organic "green" market.  The parking lot today was full of cars and SUVs, not Segways.

Retail spaces also have rest rooms.  Lots of people bring lots of kids to the DGM.  Where you have kids, you have need for bathrooms.  Especially if they have diaper changing tables.  That doesn't exist in the current location.

Retail spaces are easier to operate rain or shine.  That roof comes in pretty handy when the rain finally returns.  Electrical power also makes for a wider variety of merchants to join in.  An indoor open-concept community market could operate year-round, even if the DGM is closed for the winter.

The Ace Hardware location would be my first choice.  Don't know if they're getting a tenant or not.  I've heard that Kroger has loosened its grip and a contract is in the works.  The DGM and other merchants could still work in that area.  Like that restaurant in Orchard Park that has been sitting empty forever.  (Yes, I know, it's in Sandy Springs but it came to mind.)  Given the niche audience that DGM and other small merchants market to, there would be no competition with Kroger, or any major supermarket.

There are probably many more storefronts that would fit the bill for this venture that I can't even think of.  Anyone know a landlord willing to take a shot at making some money and gaining some community goodwill in the bargain?

Atlanta Panhellenic is 2nd Runner Up for Outstanding Alumnae Panhellenic Award

From the Atlanta Alumnae Panhellenic Association:
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The National Panhellenic Conference announced via their Facebook page that AAPA is the 2nd runner up in their annual Outstanding Alumnae Panhellenic Award. Since 2005, AAPA has ranked in this award competition every year it is eligible. In 2009, AAPA was 1st Runner Up for Most Outstanding Alumnae Panhellenic. AAPA won Most Oustanding Alumane Panhellenic for the 2003 - 2005 biennium.

Congratulations to all 21 of our member sororities for their work in serving women in need, providing scholarships for women in college and grad school, and professional networking and friendship for NPC women of all ages!
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The Atlanta Panhellenic has been working with SDOC Publishing for internet services since 2006.  Since taking over the maintenance of the site, there have been two distinctive design changes, the development of a growing news blog, major hosting upgrades, addition of interactive functionality (event calendar and online RSVPs for events), extensive social media integration via Facebook and LinkedIn, and a comprehensive intranet including closed email distribution and private document management.

For fall of 2011, I'm planning further architectural upgrades and greater interactivity, especially internally among the 21 (!!!) individual sororities.

Congratulations, AAPA and continued success for the coming academic year.  I am very proud to be of service.

Opportunity Knocking - Dunwoody Music Festival

Small businesses looking for a local market need look no further than Brook Run Park in October.  The Music Festival, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce is looking for food vendors, artisans, business exhibitors (including non-profits) and sponsors.

There's some way for everyone to get involved here, from small businesses with limited (read:  almost no) budget to large corporations.  Small local businesses have the advantage because of the face-time contact.  The Chamber is expecting 10,000 sets of eyeballs to see your logo, purchase your products, or visit your booth to learn about your services and you.  Food vendors - or restaurants who can create a mobile setup - this one's for you.  (Anyone got the number of that "Hail Ceasar" salad truck that was in the July 4th parade??)

You can submit your application in less than 5 minutes online at http://www.dunwoodymusicfestival.com/.  If you have any issues with any of the forms in the application menu, post a comment and I'll get right on it.

Food vendor applications are due AUGUST 30.  (That's 2 weeks from now, gang! Don't put it off to the last minute.)

Marketplace and Business Exhibitor applications are due September 30.  First come, first served.

Marketplace vendor booths are $195 each and Exhibitor booths are $500.  Discounts apply for early submission.
Food vendor pricing is more detailed.  Check out the Food Vendor Application for more info.

Yes, the Chili Cook-Off will be back too.  Info will get posted as soon as Oktober gets it over to me.

See you there!