That one got a laugh. My advice is, stick to things that mothers will buy for their kids. She aims to turn Main Street into a North Pole, with a large gingerbread house and two child-size cutouts, where children can have their photo taken as gingerbread boys or girls. And that s the other job of the Chatham Area Chamber of Commerce, established in 1926 as the Businessmen s Association of Chatham. Get Togethers and business card exchanges, to create just that kind of camaraderie between the owners.
Members are a diverse lot.
They range from dentists, doctors and investment counselors to merchants, restaurant owners, a dance studio owner, clock maker, three art gallery owners, an auto repairer, a karate school owner and a dressmaker. A handful for 40 years. And several even grew up in Chatham, like caf owner Copp. He recalls the block parties of his youth with children being a vibrant part of the downtown scene. Now you see a lot of families with young children coming back.