Chamber of Commerce Hosts Shop Local Expo

Bethel's first Shop Local Expo will give residents the opportunity to visit with local businesses and sample some of Bethel's local restaurants, all for free.

 The Bethel Chamber of Commerce announced that the goal of Shop Local Expo is to celebrate local businesses. Bobbi Jo Beers, Director at the Chamber, said the Expo will help people feel good about shopping locally and will reward them for doing it. “We want to spread the word that supporting our business community isn’t just fun and convenient, it’s also responsible,” Beers said. “Every local purchase is an investment in our schools and other public services.”

 Beers said that at least 50 businesses will participate. The event will also include “A Taste of Bethel”, samples of food from several local restaurants that will be served throughout the event. “It will be a family oriented, indoor event,” Cathy Moore, who is helping to organize the event, said. “We will be having activities for kids, and we want it to be as interactive as possible.”

 Moore is an employee of Comcast, but she also has a small side business called Promotion in Motion. “The goal is to drive local business in Bethel and the surrounding areas. People will learn about goods and services that are available locally.”

 Moore said that shopping local cannot be stressed enough and said, “We want to showcase what we have to offer. Newtown has done one for the last five or six years, but in Bethel it has always been business to business. This will be families to business.”

 Sponsors of the event include the Webster Bank, Preferred Insurance, Bethel Visiting Nurses, and Vinyl Room Replacement Windows.

 The event will be held on Sunday April 29th at the Stony Hill Inn, Rt 6 in Bethel, from 12pm to 4pm. Booth space is available for all business types and all businesses are encouraged to take part in this event. Contact the Bethel Chamber of Commerce, 184 Greenwood Ave, (203) 743-6500 for more information or visit the website, http://www.bethelchamber.com