Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Minding their businesses
Advocates take action in Downingtown, Kennett Square to save enterprises impacted by virus
A new initiative in the borough is working to support small businesses.
Married couple Nick Winkler and Melinda Winkler, owners of Work2gether, a coworking space with two locations in Downingtown and Kennett Square, launched a special website under the umbrella of Downtown Dtown on Monday to benefit small enterprises impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
“Downtown Dtown is a grassroots group of brick-and-mortar business owners, in the Borough of Downingtown, with a mission to drive awareness, foot traffic, and commerce to downtown Downingtown through community events and small business mutual promotion and collaboration,” Nick Winkler said.
Downtown Dtown, an informal group, launched in 2018.
Two years ago, people came together as like-minded business owners looking for a way to give back to the community, Winkler said. “We started with some awesome events that were really well received: Night Under the Stars, Trick or Treat on Main Street, and Christmas Cookie Crawl.”
Today, the Winkler couple is working alongside other business owners to run Downtown Dtown’s strategic impact initiative. Others include Megan Bruton and C.W. Bruton, who are the owners of Estrella, and Sean McGettiga, who is the owner of Station
Taproom and Bottle Room.
Winkler was born and raised in Downingtown. He served on the Downingtown Borough Council from 2011 to 2015. He began his family business, Work2gether, in 2017.
Downtown Dtown’s website is an online platform in which folks can support small businesses in Downingtown during these troubling times.
“We are not asking for donations, because we believe in providing the Downingtown community the awesome services and products you’ve come to love and expect. What we are offering is another way for you to get what you love and show your support at the same time. Even if our doors cannot open, we can still serve you, and you can still support us,” Winkler said.
For every $100 a person spends on the Downtown Dtown, he or she receives four gift cards from the businesses taking part in the initiative. Each gift card has a value of $30 per business.
Folks can choose up four businesses to support for $100.
There were 18 brands to select from on the website, as of press time. Downtown Dtown may add more businesses to the mix in the future.
“With every Downtown Dtown Bundle you will automatically receive a free $30 voucher to Work2gether coworking space. That is $150 worth of products and services for only $100,” Winkler said. “Use it today or hold on to it for a special occasion.”
Downtown Dtown is sending the purchased gift cards directly to supporters via mail.
For Winkler, a sense of inspiration is behind this new initiative.
“We already know how incredible the Downingtown community is,” he said. “How this community pulls together in difficult times. Our customers and supporters have always been there for us, and we knew they were looking for a way to make sure we all pull through this.”
As for the hit small businesses have taken since the coronavirus pandemic hit home last week, Winkler sees a clear picture on the horizon.
“The impact on small business has been swift and immediate. With having to close our doors, we’ve all had to make decisions we never thought we would have to make or ever wanted to make,” Winkler said. “Seeing the panic of desperation on many of our friends’ faces as we all entered into the unknown, made us realize there had to be something we could do, no matter how small. In times of crisis we need each other more than ever. None of us are alone in what is going on right now and we just realized that no matter how difficult things become we are always stronger together.”
People can help the small businesses of Downingtown survive the days, weeks and months ahead despite the nationwide economic shutdown.
“Continue to support your small businesses,” Winkler recommended. “Whether it is your favorite restaurant and hang out spot, or that boutique you’ve never had the chance to visit, now has never been a better time to show that you appreciate these dreamers.”
He said there are many ways people can show support in addition to purchasing gift card bundles online via Downtown Dtown.
He encouraged people to follow the social media channels of their favorite small businesses and give them encouragement.
“Share their posts, continue to buy products and services that are being offered,” Winkler said. “And when this all passes, come and see us face-to-face, we all want to say thank you in person for what you have done and continue to do for us.”
As for the future, he said, “The only hope we have is that the doors that were forced close will reopen when this all passes.”
Downingtown Mayor
Phil Dague held an impromptu meeting with a group of borough business owners on Sunday morning.
“Let me tell you, they are scared,” Dague said. “I don’t blame them. Operating a small business is difficult enough even in the best of times, let alone during what we are going through now.”
The mayor said, “While the health and safety of our citizens will always be our number-one concern, the vitality of our business community is of major importance to Downingtown.”
The mayor said, “The term ‘shop local, buy local’ has never had more significance than it does now. Our community must support them in every way that we can.”
Work2gether, besides supporting the entrepreneurs of Downingtown, is helping other towns in Chester County with similar initiatives to support their small business communities.
Historic Kennett Square
South of Downingtown, Historic Kennett Square is also taking action.
“In this uncertain and difficult time, one of the most hopeful things we can do is to make conscious consumer choices that invest in preserving our community,” said Bo Wright, executive director of Historic Kennett Square. “Small businesses and merchants are much more economically vulnerable than big box stores and mega online retailers, but the good news is that together we can make a difference.”
In fact, during the last few days, the nonprofit has kept busy trying to make a difference for local businesses in wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Tara Smith, communications coordinator for Historic Kennett Square, said the nonprofit has coordinated with the borough government to bag parking meters in front of restaurants so that customers can safely and conveniently pick-up and take-out meals.
“We’re encouraging everyone who can do so to support restaurants that are offering take-out right now,” Smith said, describing it as a simple, helpful measure.
And soon people can purchase T-shirts to support the businesses of Kennett Square.
Historic Kennett Square is coordinating with Andres Avalos Scharon and Esther Votta, owners of Blue 52 Barbershop, to create and sell ‘Kennett Strong’ T-shirts as a fundraiser to help support small businesses through this time, Smith said.
“We’ll have more information soon to share with businesses that are interested in participating as well as with the public about how and where to purchase the shirts,” she said.
The nonprofit runs the Kennett Square Farmers Market.
Smith said its market manager, Ros Fenton, is working with local authorities along with farmers to follow all guidelines and operate with the well-being of the community as the top priority for the next scheduled Market on Friday, March 27.
Smith cited Gov. Tom Wolf’s office and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, which issued guidance for the agricultural industry, naming farmers markets an “essential” service. As Sec. Russell Redding stated, “Agriculture’s role is unquestionable: access to food is a right; we need local agriculture now more than ever.”
Historic Kennett Square also oversees the Economic Development office for the borough and Kennett Township.
“Our economic development director, Nate Echeverria, along with Bo Wright, our executive director, are reaching out to offer businesses the support they need. Part of that is listening to concerns and being proactive and creative with solutions as well as connecting business owners with resources they need that can be difficult to navigate.”
The nonprofit is also communicating and advocating for the local business community on social media, with fresh posts and shares made frequently. The goal is “to help get the word out about the creative ways our amazing local business owners are finding to reach out to customers and continue to offer products and services during this challenging time for everyone,” Smith said.
She added, “It’s important to remember that every small business in Kennett Square is owned by a creative and passionate person who has invested him or herself in making this dream, their business, come true.”
Additionally, Historic Kennett Square is connecting with the Winkler family to create an initiative similar to Downtown Dtown for the benefit of Kennett Square businesses.
The Winklers’ business, Work2gether, is the name of coworking space with two Chester County locations. The first location opened in Downingtown at 107 E. Lancaster Ave. The second space is a new location at 120 E. State St. in Kennett Square.
“It’s especially important to remember the power of ‘local’ right now. Most local businesses depend on tourism and the many people who come to Kennett Square because they’ve read or heard about our awardwinning restaurants and shops and historic small town charm,” Wright said on behalf of Historic Kennett Square. “But our current circumstances present a unique opportunity to come together and show the strength of our unity as a community.”
For information on Historic Kennett Square, visit www.historickennettsquare.com.
To order local food in the greater Kennett region, visit www.canterhillfarm. org.
To take part in supporting Downingtown businesses in the borough, visit www.downtowndtown.com.