DBOA: Retail association aims to unite downtown merchants

A new downtown organization is bringing retailers together in hopes of growing commerce in center city Springfield.

Downtown Business Owners Associa-tion, formed in October and chaired by Sidney Ray of Bella Bags & Boxes.com, is serving as a downtown merchants organization.

Ray said she started the organization after moving her residence and business downtown; other downtown groups, such as Urban Districts Alliance and Downtown Springfield Association, were not suited to her retail focus.

It didnt seem like either of the two organizations really were set up to meet my needs as a business owner, Ray said.

DBOA aims to support, promote and invest in downtown businesses, emphasizing retail, she said.

But is it just adding to the organizational alphabet soup downtown? Springfield Center City Coordinator Vern Morgan thinks it might.

Already there is DSA, UDA, UNA, DDEC and CID, otherwise known respectively as the Downtown Springfield Association, Urban District Alliance, Urban Neighborhood Alliance, Downtown Dining and Entertainment Commission and Community Improvement District.

That function is definitely needed, Morgan said of a merchants group. To me though, thats what DSA was formed to be and is well-suited to be. In a perfect world, Id like to see that energy and function working within an existing group, rather than form a new one. But what theyre doing, I applaud it; thats necessary.

Morgan suggests DSA could take on the merchants group role, or DBOA could operate within DSA.

Im open to any ideas they have, Ray said about working with other groups.

Ray said she did not launch DBOA to rival existing associations, but to be the voice of downtown retailers. It also differs in that it is a for-profit organization, she said.

Though membership is small to begin with there are four members Ray has grander visions.

Its not just a Springfield, Missouri association. I see a future in this where theres a DBOA office in every major downtown thats revitalizing, Ray said.

The first DBOA chapter office is likely to open within a year in Los Angeles, where Ray lived for five years before returning to Springfield. Ray still has business contacts there, as well as in San Diego and Denver, where she also hopes to get chapters started.

Membership

The Springfield association is made up of Greg Cantrell of Quixote, Thuy Dam of So You Boutique, Summer Riley of Allure Limousine and Nate Webster of I Thee Wed Productions. DBOA meets monthly on Sundays at Rays loft and business, 210 S. Campbell Ave.

Ray said membership is open to business owners located downtown or those interested in moving downtown, which explains the membership of south-side retailers Cantrell and Dam.

Quixote co-owner Greg Cantrell would like to open a second store downtown. But for him, thats still at least a year down the road.

Nothing immediate but we want to help keep the vision alive there, said Cantrell, a San Francisco native. Theres been a lot going on down there with the clubs and bars, and its time to have some life down there during the daytime as well.

Quixote sells contemporary and exotic furniture and accessories from a storefront at 1570 E. Battlefield Road. He and his brother Curtis recently entered a partnership with owners Stan and Sherry Fauscett. The Fauscetts handle the importing and the Curtises run the retail end.

His business would be perfect down here, with all of these lofts, Ray said.

Ray plans to open a retail store Dec. 1 for Bella Bags & Boxes.com in the space below her Campbell Avenue loft. She said the 1,500-square-foot showroom will carry about 15 product lines.

Finding retail tenants has been slow going for some downtown developers, however.

Sam Freeman, owner of the former Inferno at 220 S. Campbell Ave., thought he had secured a retail tenant, until the party backed out. He did not disclose the retailers name.

I would very much prefer to have retail, Freeman said. I would love to have that for a tenant and I think thats what we need there.

Freeman continues to market the space as a retail opportunity.

Developer Scott Tillman has yet to name a retail tenant for the first-floor of his five-story building at 315 South Avenue, the former Mansfield Opera House. The retail space, completed in the spring, is part of a $900,000 renovation that includes restaurant and office space.

SPI Downtown

Ray said the associations tag line is SPI Downtown. SPI stands for support, promote and invest.

The group plans to support business owners by exchanging time, products and/or services; to promote through event hosting; and ultimately to invest in new businesses seeking start-up capital, Ray said.

DBOAs first event is a Halloween masquerade to benefit AIDS Project of the Ozarks.