A group of merchants in and around Frankford Avenue is making a new year's resolution — the Mayfair Business Association will be a force in 2008.

The business association and an earlier merchants organization have had some success since 1980, but concerns come and go, as do active business leaders.

Right now, the Mayfair Community Development Corporation is serving as a sort of caretaker for the MBA.

The CDC is a relatively small organization that nonetheless has some major initiatives on its agenda.

The group operates the John M. Perzel Community Center and is hoping to reopen the Devon Theater as a live performing arts center. It also owns street-cleaning machines that regularly beautify the neighborhood and offers zoning advice to business people.

Reese Hartey, chairman of the CDC, is glad that Mayfair merchants are ready for the challenge of improving the business climate in the area.

A former president of Mayfair Civic Association, he used to work with banker Rose McMenamin when she headed the business association. He believes merchants know more than anyone else about the problems and issues they face.

The CDC will continue to assist the MBA, with Hartey appointing McMenamin, now the CDC treasurer, and a second person to the business association board. The ultimate power, though, will rest with the merchants.

"They need to be more engaged," Hartey said. "There's strength in numbers."

One of the more engaged business owners is Lois Burak, of Beautyworx Salon & Day Spa, at 7242 Frankford Ave. She's been in business in the neighborhood since 1986.

Burak, who is among the leaders of the reorganized MBA, thinks the business association and CDC can work together to improve the business prospects in Mayfair and contribute to

the betterment of the entire neighborhood.

As the owner of a high-end beauty shop, Burak isn't happy with the influx of so-called "budget" nail salons. She also isn't convinced that discount stores, in general, benefit the commercial district.

"The avenue needs more progressive stores," she said, citing the lack of a bookstore and upscale cigar bar. "People want something of value."

Antoniette Montgomery, who has owned Torresdale Flower Shop for eight years, supports the effort to bring new and improved stores to Frankford Avenue.

"If you don't have variety, shoppers are not going to come," she said.

Burak is enlisting the help of some of the area's long-standing and successful businesses to help her re-invigorate the MBA. She's working with Montgomery and the owners of the Grey Lodge Pub, Infinity Jewelers and Gifts, Tony's Place, Pat's Music Center, Dress-Up Time, Domenico's Formal Wear, Capriotti Brothers Fruit and Produce and others.

The group will meet formally for the first time in January. Burak tried to get a head start by proposing an all-access holiday shopping and dining discount pass, but it was too late to be implemented for the Christmas season. She did work with fellow merchants to erect and decorate a Christmas tree at Mayfair Memorial Park, at 7218 Frankford Ave.

Burak will knock on doors to build membership, try to develop a working relationship with the office of City Councilwoman Joan Krajewski and create a Web site to give businesses a greater identity.

"We really need to market the avenue like malls market themselves," she said.

Joe Mallamaci owns Tony's Place, a staple at 6300 Frankford Ave. for 56 years. He eagerly awaits the opening of the Devon, a move he thinks will re-energize that portion of the business strip.

Mallamaci would like to see all shops keep their outsides clean and thinks free metered parking would boost business on selected nights of the week.

At the same time, he is calling on everyone in Mayfair and surrounding communities to support their local businesses, many of which are second- and third-generation owned. He cites the wide variety of businesses.

"There are plenty of things on the avenue," he said. "Malls have great stores, but so do your neighborhoods."
In Burak's opinion, the area's best businesses are usually the ones that offer the best service and are owner-operated.

Kevin Ferguson, owner of the Infinity jewelry store and gift shop at 3526-28 Cottman Ave., agrees with that assessment. Merchants who own their buildings, he said, seem to have nicer storefronts than buildings owned by absentee landlords.

"They have a vested interest," he said.
Mark Capriotti, whose family has owned a fruit and produce store for 40 years at 7132 Frankford Ave., said his 82-year-old father was out in the rain last week picking up leaves outside the shop. He'd like to see more attention to cleanliness.

Capriotti's business is part of a block where all of the merchants, except a store that sells goods for 99 cents, own their buildings. He believes other portions of the avenue need some "oomph."

"Some blocks look good; some blocks look drab," he said.

Domenico and Angie Maglio have owned a formal wear shop for more than 35 years and opened a dress shop next to Beautyworx 12 years ago. Their customers come in because they have an attractive storefront and a clean sidewalk and pay for quality, service and selection.

"They get the personal service they get from us that they don't get from anybody else," Angie Maglio said.