'Next Great Downtown Business' Sought for Madison

Elected officials and business leaders in Madison want residents to "help find the next great downtown business."

Councilman Bob Landrigan said a grassroots initiative asking borough residents to do just that is being started by the Madison Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Development Commission and borough officials.

He announced the plan during the governing body's meeting last Monday and said the idea came out of a meeting with Mayor Bob Conley, Chamber President Ken Toumey and Downtown Development Commission Chair Eric Range.

Having a strong downtown "drives the rest of the town" and "helps all of us," said Landrigan, the Council's community affairs liaison.

So, instead of waiting for landlords to attract good tenants, or waiting for good businesses to discover Madison, residents ought to reach out to excellent businesses in their travels and suggest they check out Madison's downtown, he said.

Interested business owners can be directed to ILoveMadisonNJ.org. That takes visitors to the Shop Madison Committee's website on RoseNet.org, which has a page for businesses interested in opening in Madison.

It also has a list of spaces available for rent.

(See YouTube video of Councilman Landrigran discussing the idea at the Feb. 11 Borough Council meeting.)