Exploring Downtown Clifton

Exploring Downtown Clifton

By Naoma Welk, Editor, Business Matters Magazine

Downtown Clifton is defined as Main Avenue from the City of Passaic to the intersection of Route 46 and Main Avenue; three hundred businesses call Downtown Clifton home. The Downtown Clifton Economic Development Group (DCEDG) represents the business community and serves as their voice to City Hall, police and fire departments and other agencies responsible for serving the downtown community.

Since July 2006, Angela Montague has served as DCEDG’s Executive Director. Her job is to help downtown Clifton maximize its assets. She solicits new restaurants and retailers and is proud of bringing in Rosa’s Café, Café Latte and Ant Bookstore and Café.

DCEDG Chair, Michael Andalaft reminds us, “Before we had malls and mega-stores, downtown was where people shopped, waved at neighbors, met friends for lunch, went to dinner, enjoyed a movie and found out what was going on in town. Downtown was comfortable and familiar; it was populated with people who knew one another and their presence kept it safe. Retailers knew their “regular shoppers” and referred to them by name.

In the early 1990s, like many other towns and cities around the country, shoppers abandoned downtown retailers. It did not happen over night but soon, shopping downtown fell out of fashion. Instead, shoppers drove to large retail malls, where they could browse through dozens of retailers, all under one roof. Business on Main Avenue declined, several stores closed (including the Clifton movie theater) and when the Municipal building relocated from Main Avenue to Clifton Avenue, foot traffic slowed to a crawl.

Retailers chose to open stores in sparkling new malls where they could configure retail spaces to meet their needs. In a mall setting, retailers had access to a larger customer base; floor-to-ceiling windows enabled them to display their goods and attract those passing by who might impulsively spend money in their stores. Alternatively, retail space in historic downtown came with restrictions imposed by vintage architecture.

By the mid-‘90s, the drop in downtown traffic led merchants and city officials to form a steering committee to explore ways to revitalize businesses, attract shoppers and increase merchant revenues on Main Avenue. A steering committee hired a consulting firm that suggested the creation of a Special Improvement District (SID). That classification would make it possible to raise monies from property owners, which in turn could fund a downtown improvement organization. Proposed projects included improvements such as sidewalk cleaning, holiday decorations, seasonal flower displays, special events and marketing communications.

“DCEDG is authorized by the State of New Jersey to partner with the City of Clifton to enhance the downtown environment and we need input from every business in our area,” says Andalaft. He wants to create a personality for Downtown Clifton that attracts retailers, restaurants and customers.

Early improvements included improved sidewalks, new “vintage-style” lampposts and better marketing for the downtown district. Montague explains, “A large part of the budget is dedicated to beautification and promotion. Every summer we hang colorful flower baskets from our lampposts, we put up holiday lights, host Christmas parties, street fairs and organize special events designed to bring people downtown. We are ready for people to shop Downtown Clifton this holiday season.”

DCEDG has taken special care to ensure that the downtown area stays litter free. Angela explains, “We want to put our best foot forward to encourage commercial development as well as attract shoppers. To that end, we work with building owners to help them improve and maintain their properties and initiate streetscape improvements; we want people to know that our streets are clean and safe.”

In its role as liaison between the business community and City Hall, DCEDG helps property owners with city officials and serves as a valuable resource for information. DCEDG also works with the Board of Education (BOE) to develop excellent relationships between local students and the business community. Andalaft encourages each business to participate in DCEDG, “because the more voices we have, the stronger we become.” He adds, “When business owners actively participate and share their ideas, we can learn from them and they can learn from us. A relationship like that makes us both winners.”

To attract merchants, Montague works with the Economic Development for the City of Clifton and is a member of the Clifton Economic Development Assistance Commission (CEDAC). CEDAC is a NJRCC that focuses on citywide economic development issues; this helps Angela keep Clifton’s “big picture” in mind.

Andalaft emphasizes that Clifton has wonderful resources for both its residents and the business community. He adds that the town is safe, the people are pleasant and with the support of downtown businesses, they encourage people to shop downtown. He smiles, “It’s ‘green’ to shop downtown; many of our residents can walk to town and we want to remind readers that when the residents support our businesses, they help the city’s tax base.

In the last century, several industries called Clifton home. “A town with some industry is beneficial,” says Andalaft “because industry helps reduce taxes and attract homebuyers who need local resources.” Today, the most prominent industrial resident is Roche. Andalaft says, “Roche has been a great neighbor! The recent “Roche Goes To Town’ program was excellent and I would encourage other businesses to develop a similar community event. Once people see what we have to offer, I know they will come back.”

DCEDG supports the community through a food drive for St. Peter’s Haven, a local non-profit resource that helps families in need. Currently, DCEDG is hosting a food drive for the Haven; four drop-off sites in Main Avenue storefronts accept donations and Montague encourages everyone to consider donating food. “In this economy, St. Peter’s Haven serves nearly 900 families – double the typical need.”

Lifetime Clifton resident, Montague is a product of the Clifton school system and for years worked with teachers and staff at the BOE as a paraprofessional for autistic pre-K children. In her role as Executive Director, Montague represents DCEDG to the North Jersey Regional Chamber of Commerce. DCEDG has been a Chamber member since 2001.

Since July 2010, Montague has served as president of the Clifton Rotary. Through her community involvement, she is an excellent resource and to many who know her, she is “Downtown Angie Brown.” She is a lifetime Clifton resident and notes, “I have moved six times but I’ve never left Clifton!”


Naoma Welk
Business Matters
973-762-6243
[email protected]