Ridgewood guild formed to help revitalize business district
Ridgewood, New Jersey — Business owners and residents eager to lure merchants and shoppers back to the once-thriving downtown are hoping the recent formation of a guild will be the catalyst that will jump-start Ridgewood’s renewal.
“For the past six or seven months, so many of my customers would come in saying ‘Oh my, what’s happening to the town. It’s falling apart,’ ” said Tony Damiano, founder and president of the 95-member, non-profit Ridgewood Guild.
Guild members hope to revitalize the central business district to the glory of a dozen years ago.
“Our intention is to draw people into the town and make it a more pleasing environment to shop, dine and use our professional services,” said Damiano, who opened his Mango Jam gift shop on North Broad Street a decade ago.
A two-term president of the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce, Damiano now devotes his time to the mission of the Ridgewood Guild – modeled after a similar group in Clinton, Hunterdon County.
