News

Happy New Year! It is officially 2023 but we here at the Bloomfield Center Alliance (BCA) are still reflecting on some of the amazing moments that happened in Bloomfield's downtown. We have compiled a list of our TOP TEN moments from the last year.

Facade Grant Program

The Bloomfield Center Alliance is committed to revitalizing the look and feel of Bloomfield Center. Through our Facade Grant program, which assists existing business owners interested in enhancing their businesses and properties, we awarded $8,500 to curb appeal enhancements. Recipients included:

• Mr. N. Kapidia - Owner of 65 Washington Street
• Bucco's Restaurant
• Havana Restaurant & Cafe

Awarded NJ State Grant

The State of New Jersey's Main Street New Jersey Program awarded the BCA a $42,000 grant. This money allowed us to purchase:

• Sixteen (16) new hanging light pole brackets and planters
• Twelve (12) new black metal trash receptacles
• Thirty (30) decorative Bloomfield Center decals to be affixed on the receptacles
• Fifty (50) new custom designed vertical banners that will be installed on downtown light poles in 2023 (spring)

The grant program provides business improvement district (BID) organizations like the BCA the funding and resources needed to make various improvements around the district that help attract new businesses, encourage more investment from the private sector, and increase the number of visitors attending local activities and shopping at downtown stores/restaurants.

Bloomfield Center Welcomes 11 New Businesses

• Casa De Flora Bar
• Small Officer
• Aloha Krab Cajun Seafood Boil and Bar
• Q'enko Organic Cuisine
• 7 Doors Down Ramen Company
• Sugaring NYC Organic Waxing Studio
• So Juicy Restaurant
• Total Wireless
• Zura Blooms Yoga
• Cricket Wireless
• AC Dance

Sponsors

The success of 2022 is largely due to the generosity of our sponsors. The BCA was successful in securing $15,500 in sponsorship for events and programming from:

• Clara Maass Medical Center
• Provident Bank
• Lynnes Nissan
• Level Up Urgent Care Center
• Jack's Super Foodtown
• Cedar Realty
• Green Thumb Industries(GTI)/RISE

ImPRESSive Coverage

Bloomfield received a great deal of BUZZ in 2022. We started out the year with a profile in the New York Times.  As the year progressed, articles on Bloomfield Center and many of its events, activities, and businesses were published in over 40 publications  - many covering our news stories several times throughout the year resulting in hundreds of press stories. Notable publications and media coverage, included Pix 11 News, USA Today, News 12 NJ, NJ.com, The Montclair Girl, Mommy Poppins, Bloomfield Patch, Tap Into Bloomfield, Bloomfield Info Project, and many others.

Cruise Nights

The Bloomfield Center Alliance partnered with the Bloomfield Cruisers for another summer of classic tunes and cool cars. Featuring:

• Theme Nights
• Free Gas Card Raffles and Prizes to Attendees 
• Tabling from Provident Bank, Clara Maass Medical Center, and Bloomfield Info Project
• Free Drawings from cartoonist Will Torres
• Special bike night featuring all female motorcycle club the Garden State Girls

Bloomfield Center Restaurant Week

Restaurant week is a great opportunity to explore Bloomfield's cuisine, with several restaurants offering pre-fixe and discounted menus.

• Check in table featuring live music from Bill Tally, giveaways, and complimentary drink tickets from Aloha Krab Cajun Seafood Restaurant and Six Points Pub
• 15 Participating Restaurants

Downtown Walking Food Tours

Food is always a great way to create community and Bloomfield Center does food and community so well. Bloomfield Center hosted 2 walking food tours in 2022.

• SOLD OUT food tour hosted nearly 30 guests
• Social Media Influencers were invited on the tour which resulted in a ton of coverage including Beyond the Plate, Edible Jersey, BaristaNet, and more
• 2 tours - 8 Participating Restaurants

Holiday Events Were a Hit

• Halloween Party in Six Points Plaza

Trick or treating with the Bloomfield Center Alliance and Clara Maass Medical Center (sponsor)

People and pet costume contest

• 3rd Annual Holiday Hunt
  

Small Business Saturday

Visit from Santa Claus, Victorian-style carolers, and a live ice sculpting demonstration

Bloomfield Center hunt for holiday gifts with bingo style board listing twelve participating stores

Raffle prizes donated by local small businesses

• Tiny Tree Decorating Competition

Over 1000 votes

Sugaring NYC Organic Waxing Studio chosen as the Viewer's Choice winner

Dinner Under the Stars

In 2022 the BCA collaborated with more businesses and diversified the offerings and performance types of our long standing Dinner Under the Stars summer concert series. Some notable highlights included:

• Partnered with Zura Blooms Yoga and AC Dance to host Yo-Salsa, a fusion of outdoor guided yoga and salsa dance lessons
• The first ever "Pride Under the Stars" in partnership with Bloomfield Pride
• Disco Night with DJ Ralph turned Washington St. into an epic dance floor
• Local small business owners and artisans sold their merchandise at the Bloomfield Center Bazaar along the one block of Washington Street

***Honorable Mention - Social Media & Email Campaign Growth

• 2,048 Email Subscribers
• 40% Open Rate
• 64,339 Facebook Reach
• 185.9% Instagram Reach Increase

***Honorable Mention - BCA Volunteers

The Bloomfield Center Alliance team grew a bit this year. We were fortunate to welcome two incredible volunteers who were helpful, knowledgeable, and a wonderful surprise. Special mention to our volunteers Eva Darron and Brenda Nero for assisting with our community outreach, tabling at many of our events, and helping with various marketing and graphic design needs.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Sincere thank you to everyone that helped make 2022 such a huge success. There are so many great things we are planning for 2023 in Bloomfield Center! Stay tuned, but in the meantime, please . . . 

CHECK OUT THE 2022 HIGHLIGHT GALLERY HERE