Middleton business owners take action

By Heather Killen

Spectator

NovaNewsNow.com

A group of business people has been working together to find new ways of promoting and revitalizing the Town of Middleton.

More than a dozen members of the local business community have been meeting informally over the past few weeks to brainstorm how to turn things around and bring more people into town.

Lorrie Penny, owner of the Middleton Subway franchise, said the meetings have been very productive. The group invited a Halifax-based facilitator to talk about how downtown businesses in Metro were able to revitalize the Spring Garden Road area.

While small business once thrived in prime locations along Spring Garden Road and Barrington Street, the trend was mostly reversed with business parks and malls drawing many customers away from the downtown core.

Penny said the Middleton group is hoping to organize a few special events over the next few weeks to enhance what the town is planning, in an effort to draw more people into Middleton during the Christmas season.

It’s also looking at ways to support the Middleton Farmers Market so it can become bigger and better.

She added that Peter Terauds, owner of Pasta Jax & Ribs, and Glenn Langille, owner of Cash and Carry, first suggested the business community get together and look at how they can strengthen and support the business core.

Vera Errington, deputy mayor, said she attended two meetings so far and is optimistic about the group’s direction and enthusiasm. “It’s a very positive thing, we’ll all benefit,” she said. “Whenever we all work together and look at what we can do to bring in new business, we all win.”