Throggs Neck Merchants Association - Articles of Interest

Bronx Times Reporter & Penny Pincher Article - May 28, 2009
John Cerini - TNMA President May 28, 2009

The Throggs Neck Merchants Sidewalk Sale was held on last Saturday & was a great success as always, thanks to you for coming out, and to all the merchants who participated. We hope you had the opportunity to take a ride on the Trolley and stop by the stores for some of the great discounts and giveaways. Hundreds of Kids enjoyed their faces painted by clowns posted at 5 different locations. The Trolley will be back this coming Saturday if you missed it. If you have lived in Throggs Neck for a while like I have you would have to agree with me on this, Throggs Neck is a Great place to live. As residents we do not want vacant stores on our main corridors, and therefore we thank you for shopping locally and keeping the businesses thriving. Throggs Neck is fortunate to have such a variety of stores available. Any successful community is a collaboration of the elected officials, the residents, the schools, the churches and of course the merchants. Throggs Neck has "A rated" everything. We the merchants hope you enjoyed the sidewalk sale and had a Great Memorial Day! God Bless our Soldiers.

In July we will be having a fund raiser baseball game between Throggs Neck Merchants and Westchester Square Merchants. We have been able to get Councilman Jimmy Vacca to Play for Westchester Square, and Senator Jeff Klein to play for Throggs Neck. This day will be a fantastic addition to our already strong relations with our neighboring communities. We hope we can count on the residents in Throggs Neck to come out and cheer on our Throggs Neck team, as I am sure Westchester Square will be bringing their own cheering section. In the spirit of camaraderie, let’s show them who has a louder voice. The Throggs Neck Little League has been great in allowing us the opportunity to use their field and support the merchants. Admission will be free, we will be having raffles this day to raise money for the Throggs Neck Volunteer Ambulance Corp. We are all looking forward to the unity of our communities. Please look to our future articles for more information on the date of the game.

This week’s Merchant of the week is Throggs Neck Shotokan Karate-do locate at 3843c East Tremont Ave. Sensei Angel Mercado Jr. decided to share his enthusiasm and love for martial arts with the Throggs Neck community in October 2006. With more than 25 years experience, Sensei Angel knows people join for many reasons such as, self defense, structure and a consistent work out, while others like to work in a group. Learning Martial Arts can help you in life by building confidence and concentration skills. Classes are held Tuesday thru Friday 5:30-6:30 for children and 7:00-8:00 for adults. For more information, call (718) 409-1404 or visit them on the web at www.throgsneckshotokan.com

TN Merchants score $20,000 grant
Daniel Beekman May 15, 2009

Self-funded, the Throggs Neck Merchants Association has preserved E. Tremont Avenue. Now the TNMA aims to fortify E. Tremont and make Throggs Neck a must-shop destination.

The city’s Department of Small Business Services recently awarded the TNMA a $20,000 grant for economic development. TNMA president John Cerini and his fellow merchants promised to recruit new members and increase foot traffic. "We want to keep people here," Cerini said. "We want to keep Throggs Neck strong."

Cerini applied for a number of grants; SBS denied the TNMA in 2007, preferring to support NYC’s most down-and-out neighborhoods. Grant-less, the TNMA raised $25,000 to sponsor a sidewalk sale and holiday lights. It donated U.S. Savings Bonds to 60 worthy students. It hosted business seminars, launched a website and participated in a Halloween parade.

Eventually, Cerini and the TNMA impressed SBS. The city agency has mailed Cerini a $10,000 check. The TMNA will receive an additional $10,000 pending quarterly reports.

The TNMA hopes to produce a monthly coupon book soon. Distributed at member restaurants, shops and beauty salons, the book would offer tear-away discounts and deals. According to Cerini, the SBS grant would help pay for it. The TNMA will continue to advertise in The Bronx Times-Reporter and The Penny Pincher. It will donate U.S. Savings Bonds to 75 students at 15 schools this spring, and could expand north of Waterbury Avenue to include merchants like Creative Image Hair Salon, La Strada Restaurant and Sylvan Learning Center.

"We’re going to brainstorm," Cerini said. "We’re going to consider other forms of advertising, maybe television."

Tara Lane of Guys & Dolls Hair Salon praised the TNMA.

"[Cerini] has done a great job," Lane said. "Look at the other neighborhoods. You see 'for rent' signs. Here, business is booming."

Wayne Baker of Frank Bee Costume and Frankie’s Carnival Time agreed. On May 23, during the TNMA Memorial Day Weekend Sidewalk Sale, Baker will serve cotton candy and popcorn. Bobby Love, an 80-year old crooner, will serenade shoppers in front of Frank Bee.

"The merchants association has been working hard," Baker said. "[Cerini] and the others have given the neighborhood hope."

Baker hopes the TNMA will use the SBS grant to make E. Tremont a fun place to shop. Before Cerini deposits the $10,000 check, the TNMA needs to secure 501c6 non-profit status.

Throgs Neck Merchants
Jimmy Vacca - NYC Councilman 13th District October 24, 2008

Last week the growing Throggs Neck Merchants Association held its first-annual dinner dance and it was quite successful. Along with Throgs Neck icon Jim McQuade and the Penny Pincher's own Barbara Perrone, I was honored to be recognized by this great organization.

I must take this opportunity to urge all our residents, especially during these rough economic times, to patronize their local merchants. Do not bring your business outside the community because our local merchants are there when our community needs help or organizations such as schools, churches or senior groups reach out. They deserve your support.