Some Nyack Merchants Seek Better Visibility

According to some local merchants, Nyack has a dead zone.

It's the business district that lies two to three blocks away from the Main Street-Broadway intersection. Shopper often pass over stores here because of its distance, parking difficulty or because they just don't know it's there.

It's a dilemma certain business owners are looking to change. At last week's board of trustees meeting, Maria Luisa Whittingham—owner of Maria Luisa Boutique on South Broadway—and other local merchants proposed setting up signs to draw shoppers toward the district.

"We'd encourage people to go beyond Main Street and Broadway," Luisa said. The signs would highlight eateries, shops, churches and other destinations that are beyond eyesight.

Luisa also noted the signs could be aesthetically in line with the , and could also coupled with footprint graphics fused onto the sidewalk. Local organizations—like ACADA or the Chamber of Commerce—could sponsor the signs.

Similar signs already exists, like those at the Broadway-Burd St. intersection. They direct shoppers to , Squash Blossom and other stores not on the main thoroughfare.

Nyack trustees are also on board, and suggested Whittingham and others create a more in-depth plan of action.

"Flesh it out," encouraged Nyack trustee Jen Laird-White.