Madison Avenue Business Owners Form ‘Uptown Lakewood’

Hoping to get some attention to a cluster of businesses on Madison Avenue, a few business owners got together to form Uptown Lakewood.

The organization — consisting of several businesses between Elmwood and Arthur avenues — looks to make the neighborhood a destination for shoppers. 

“Our primary goal is to unify this neighborhood,” said Rachel Anzalone, who owns Holistic Lakewood. “Our long-term vision is to grow more than just a couple of blocks.

Robby Zettler, of Metro on Madison, said the up-start organization will host events and promote the neighborhood through clearly defined marketing efforts — modeled after LakewoodAlive’s Downtown Lakewood Business Alliance.

Although it’s just a couple of blocks, the organization includes businesses such as Metro, Holistic Lakewood, Dirty Town Guitars and Amps and Buckeye Beer Engine. 

“We feel we are in a very good area, and we have a lot of great businesses,” said Zettler. “The idea is to really bring attention up here. There are enough unique businesses up here, but there are also enough empty spaces so I think forget about the area.” 

Zettler said that the organization could grow to include more businesses outside of the Arthur-to-Elmwood boundary. 

“We’re hoping to see the whole landscape change,” she said. “And we think it starts right here.”

A holiday event — as well as an open house — is currently in the works. 

“This is really going to help this whole area,” said Dennis Bielinski, who co-owns Dirty Town. “This is how you build up an area.”