Brentwood, CA – Congressman Mark DeSaulnier visited Downtown Brentwood on October 16th as part of his ongoing Downtown Listening Tour, aimed at connecting with local small business owners to discuss their challenges and opportunities.
The Congressman stopped at four prominent small businesses and engaged directly with owners about the state of small businesses and economic development in the area.
Downtown Brentwood Coalition Executive Director, Amy Tilley shares, “We were very excited that the Congressman visited us in Historic Downtown Brentwood. We have seen tremendous growth and revitalization over the past few years, and we enjoyed showing the Congressman around and talking about all of the progress, the opportunities, and the challenges of our local small businesses and Downtown districts.”
The first stop was Sip and Scoop California, where Congressman DeSaulnier met with owner Vicky Little to learn more about the day-to-day experiences of running a local business. From there, he headed to Salt & Fig Marketplace for an insightful conversation with owner Lenna Billeci about the impact of local growth on small enterprises.
The Congressman also visited Boondoggies, where owners Steve and Amy Noack shared their perspectives on Brentwood’s evolving downtown landscape and the importance of supporting small businesses. The final business stop was at Zephyr Grill and Bar, where he sat down with owners Lynn and Randy Tei to discuss the local business climate and future opportunities.
To end the tour, the Congressman and his team also visited The Delta Theater, a historic downtown landmark recently reopened after a full renovation. Congressman DeSaulnier expressed his excitement about the revitalization of the theater, which is a key cultural and economic driver for the downtown area.
The visit, led by Downtown Brentwood Coalition Executive Director Amy Tilley and joined by Abraham Salinas, Senior Analyst for the City of Brentwood Economic Development team, focused on gaining a deeper understanding of how the local, state, and federal governments can better support small businesses. Discussions covered the tremendous growth Downtown Brentwood has experienced over the last three years and explored avenues for continued economic development.
The Congressman shares, “Small businesses are the backbone of our communities. As a former East Bay restaurant owner, it was a pleasure to sit down with business owners in downtown Brentwood to discuss the important role their businesses play in supporting our local economy and how I can best assist them through my work in Congress.”
The businesses expressed enthusiasm about the Congressman’s visit, appreciating the opportunity to share their stories and engage in meaningful dialogue about their future.
When asked about their visit with the Congressman, a few of the business owners shared the significance of the visit for their small businesses:
Lenna Billeci, Owner of Salt & Fig Marketplace: “The visit first and foremost is an affirmation of how much the downtown has grown as a whole. To be chosen as a small business owner in my day-to-day groove (element) and the enthusiasm and support from the Congressman and his team in regard to many of my endeavors As a merchant and entrepreneur was great. His enthusiasm and willingness to support what my goals are was very exciting and motivating! Being that he had a small business background made the conversation flow effortlessly on every level! Thank you DBC for the opportunity to represent our community on this level.”
Vicky Little, Owner of Sip and Scoop California: “We were honored to have the congressman visit our shop. His presence highlighted the importance of small businesses like ours and showed that our efforts are recognized beyond our local community. Small businesses are vital to local economies, and federal advocacy ensures we have the support to thrive. It was exciting to share our story and serve him our ice cream, which he truly enjoyed. We felt valued and connected, knowing our business was being heard at a higher level.”
Amy & Steve Noack, Owners of Boondoggies: “We enjoyed Congressman Marc Desaulnier taking the time to visit local businesses to discuss economic challenges and hear directly from owners about their needs and concerns. To us, his visit to downtown Brentwood highlighted his interest in supporting small businesses and his intent to help strengthen the local economy.”
Lynn & Randy Tei, Owners of Zephyr Grill & Bar: “We thank Congressman Saulnier for visiting with us on Wednesday. We appreciate his reaching out to learn more about our business and some of the struggles we are facing in this current economy. His visit helps to underscore the significance of advocacy and partnership between small businesses and our government.”
For more information on the Downtown Brentwood Coalition, visit them at www.brentwooddowntown.com
For upcoming events in Contra Costa County, visit our events calendar
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