While it may not be profoundly dramatic and it does not include a majority of our small businesses in Des Moines, a very small contingent of main street businesses are growing into what may become a Des Moines Business Association.

At the nucleus of this minute eruption, is our own favorite sandwich shop, The Reuben New York Eatery and Espresso.

A community "hustler" and entrepreneur, Mike Rovech, has begun recruiting his neighboring business associates for this purpose for self-paid and self-generating advertising and handing of numerous discount coupons.

One step beyond word-of-mouth they are inviting you as a potential loyal customer, to sample their wares, food and other offerings at an attractive discount.

In the absence of and in the void created by the demise of The Des Moines Chamber of Commerce, this appears to be catching on and promises to bring more of our Des Moines dollars back into Des Moines where it rightfully belongs.

Now it is true that not every commodity that we feel necessary can be found and at a reasonable price in Des Moines. But these little shops and eateries are working at becoming more competitive.

Other organizations have formed and initially showed promise of enhancing our business community but did fall short when it came to any form of universal aid to the ones who really needed some form of exposure.

For example, Des Moines Business Boosters, and more recently, Destination Des Moines are most notable. Of these two organizations, the Boosters appear to have disappeared and Destination Des Moines remains but could be strengthened by merging into this newly forming organization.

Together they could begin actions toward business improvement and less expensive advertising, for example.

What is really needed in Des Moines is a business group that actually produces a field of reasonable profit margins by banding together and offering consumers a new choice in shopping values. So far we have a limited number of leaflets that invite you to sample the wares of some eight local businesses and a prediction of more to be added.

There will be some resistance to this new approach and some will look upon this as a dubious business enterprise.

We have the option of doing absolutely nothing and continue to hope for the best. This latter is not an attractive alternative to trying something new and working diligently to make it the success that can be achieved through optimism.

Recently, some friends from an adjacent community visited Des Moines and were presented the hand-outs offering bargains on Marine View Drive.

This form of advertising was greeted with glee and an immediate desire to purchase at our Page Turner Books, All Points Yarn, and The Reuben New York Eatery and Espresso (wouldn't you hate to write a check to this one?) and as one of them remarked on leaving, "Gee, it is fun to shop in Des Moines!"

Now, isn't this what a small business association is all about?

Think business! Think Des Moines and when you have a choice, spend in Des Moines.

Pat Nardo
Des Moines