For the first time in its four and a half year history, Shop St. Michael is welcoming membership from Albertville businesses, spawning a new merchants’ association in the community, Shop STMA.
Spun from the original idea hatched by then-Verizon Wireless owner Wayne Berthiaume, as well as founding members such as First American (then Great Northern) Bank, Dehmer’s Meats, Zachman Insurance and Edina Realty, Shop Saint Michael aimed to fill a need. The group hoped to, collectively, market small businesses throughout the St. Michael community that offered shoppers “everything you need right in our community.”
Since its inception, the group has hosted about 50 to 55 businesses, and has sponsored holiday events – including the annual tree lighting ceremony – as well as the Halloween Passport and Turkey Tracks.
“It’s really to get the awareness out that St. Michael has a lot to offer, and to expose businesses that maybe don’t have the time or means to market themselves without an organization like Shop STMA,” said Nick Shultz, president of the organization.
Shop Saint Michael leaders began discussing expansion of the group last fall, and approved the acceptance of Albertville businesses in February 2015. The move was needed, Shultz said, to continue healthy growth of the organization and to promote the growth of both communities.
“I think we’re at an important time right now were people want to see both St. Michael and Albertville continue to grow on the business side, offering more and more options to the people who live here,” said Mike Schoemer, board member and Editor/Founder of North Wright County Today. “The economy is obviously improving, and STMA wants to continue to promote all of the awesome things we have here.”
The kick-off for the new Shop STMA is set for tomorrow, May 21 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Cedar Creek Golf Course in Albertville. Two new members from Albertville – Coborn’s and Precision Auto – will be on hand for their first-ever meeting.
Local shoppers and patrons can follow Shop STMA on Facebook, or find the group online at ShopSTMA.com.