The group spent most of the hour polishing its vision statement. Their final product read, "A strong, vibrant, and culturally diverse business community, second to none in the Pacific Northwest."
The idea of working together as a business community came up last fall during a conversation among Quan Tran, Linh Thai and other business neighbors in King Plaza, the commercial development at the corner of Martin Luther King Way and Myrtle Streets. Before light rail construction, Vietnamese and African immigrants had created a successful automobile oriented business district that drew patrons from remote suburbs like Issaquah, Woodinville and points beyond.
During the light rail construction, people had found other arenas, perhaps closer to home, in which to meet their commercial needs. Gasoline prices had risen and the economy was on the verge of recession. Everyone was alarmed at city statistics indicating that over 70 businesses along the MLK corridor had left during the throes of light rail construction. What was worse, even now with a beautiful new landscaped street and sidewalks, customers were not returning.
Not all of the 70 businesses failed. Many had simply relocated. However, the trend was unacceptable to Tran, Thai, and the others. To them it meant that Martin Luther King Way's ethnic flavor and diversity was at risk of vanishing. They acknowledged that businesses might open up after the advent of light rail, but this may result in a homogenization effect, destroying the unique character of the business district, created from nothing by an immigrant population.
Betty, owner of the Rose Petal Restaurant, complained that she did not want to leave Martin Luther King Jr. Way South, but she was now experiencing only 10 percent of her previous business flow. Betty and others felt as though, after starting over in a new place, they were being run out as they had been in their countries of origin.
Tran, Thai, and their friends were unwilling to let this trend prevail, as Thai put it, "Without a fight." Thai said that even if they did not win, it would be worth the effort to try.
"It's not about winning," he said. "It's about fighting together in a shared experience."
Revitalizing the area
The group of business neighbors began thinking about how to attract more customers to the MLK corridor. Clearly Sound Transit's efforts had not worked. The transit authority had placed a billboard advertisement on the freeway. No one saw it. They had prepared business directories and distributed them in all the stores. No one used them.
Uniting in a joint creative effort, they realized they would have to find more effective ways to attract the public's attention. Tran insisted that it would have to be something flashy and noticeable like Christmas lights all along the street, but people were discouraged and funds were scarce.
Tran, who had a lot of prior experience as an event planner, had come up with the idea of an international festival. Businesses could have booths and display their wares. There would be multi-cultural crafts, music, art and dance. Everyone liked the idea, and the group was able to obtain some grant funding from the city, which shared their concern about business flight from the future light rail corridor.
Mike Hlastala of Othello Partners donated the use of the firm's large empty building known as "The Citadel" near the corner of Martin Luther King Way and Othello Streets. The festival, held on Dec. 9, drew fairly large attendance.
For Linh Thai and the others, the festival was only a start. The group would have to formalize and develop a structure so they could obtain more funding to continue attracting attention and recruiting customers.
Thai said he worked tirelessly over the Christmas holidays, and, by January, they were ready to start the new organization. At their first meeting on Jan. 24, 20 people agreed to serve on the interim board. By the February meeting they had written bylaws, obtained a business license and nonprofit status from the state.
Once the bylaws are ratified, the association plans to conduct an assessment involving all businesses along Martin Luther King Way. The board has prepared a list of nine questions they will deliver and ask in person to each business owner.
Thai insists that the survey must be conducted by means of direct, face-to-face contacts. The questionnaire is designed to find out what the business owners themselves feel they need.
The board believes that solutions must come from the people themselves, not from the city, Sound Transit or other outside sources.
The next meeting of the Martin Luther King Business Association will be held on Thursday, March 20, at 2:30 p.m. in the Community Development Fund conference room, 6950 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S. For further information, contact Quan Tran 206-760-8989.
Othello-based writer Mona Lee may be via editor@sdistrictjournal.com.[[In-content Ad]]