Merchant Associations are common in retail and shopping districts across the country. These member-based organizations bring together local merchants to organize retail events, join forces to split advertising costs, share the cost of holiday decorations and lobby the municipal government for street scape improvements and incentives. In Oak Park, there are twelve merchant associations are known as "business districts." River Forest has not yet officially organized its retail areas, but refers to the three areas a "corridors." Most of the focus in Forest Park is on Madison Street, but there is a vibrant business district on Roosevelt as well.
For more in depth information, read the 6-part series on how our local business districts function in the "The Business of Business Districts Series" on the Chamber's blog.
Part 1: First in a Series
Part 2: Downtown Oak Park
Part 3: Let's Form a Committee
Part 4: Staying Informed
Part 5: State of the Districts
Part 6: River Forest
