St. Mark's-area business breakfast offers ideas on making it in Dorchester

“It’s been challenging, but I’m determined to survive,” said Letrice Sealey, owner of Beauty Line a fashion boutique on Dorchester Avenue. “It’s a busy street and neighborhood, but the flow of customers can be inconsistent so I have to go out and bring people in.”

Sealey, who has owned Beauty Line since 2006, said that the down economy has been a challenge but has said the area’s Main Street and its networking events have been helpful.

“[These events] have been very informative about letting me know what is available to me from the city. It’s also great that everybody is coming together. I’m meeting people from Dorchester I would have never met before and we are talking about how we can help one another,” Sealey said.

To further help businesses reach their full potential and to help reduce the stress of opening a new business, the city recently launched its business website Boston Business Hub.

The site, launched in December by the city’s Office of Business Development, connects business owners to the resources they need. From information about licensing, to answering questions, the new site works to be a one stop shop for new, current and past business owners.

“This is our effort to respond to a series of needs we found in the community,” said Brian Goodman, innovation and systems manager for the office of business development, during his presentation to merchants Thursday. “It [the site] has only been up for two months, but it has a lot of potential to grow.”

Many listening to the presentation agreed that the new website could definitely be a very useful tool, although there were a lot of suggestions too.

“I used the site last week and it worked well,” said David House, owner of Flat Black Coffee on Dorchester Avenue. “Maybe more information might help. When it says you have to go through the appeals process, what does that mean?”

Others such as Vicki Rugo, president of the Ashmont Hill Neighborhood Association, thought the site was a good idea but also could be used better if it connected more with the residents.

“The more you keep sending the word out the more people and neighbors will get involved,” Rugo said.

Craig Galvin, owner of Galvin Group Real Estate, said the permitting process is really one of the challenges new businesses face and believed the new site would help the process.

“The biggest hurdle small business have is moving through this permitting process,” said Galvin. “It’s a cumbersome process and it doesn’t have to be that way. Most business are willing to meet these requirements but they often don’t know what they are.”

Although both businesses and the city have a lot of work ahead of them to continue creating vibrant business districts throughout Dorchester, Dan Larner, executive director of the St. Mark’s Area Main Street, said the foundation is laid and his group will continue to work with business to create a community in his district.

“The challenge they are all facing is the economy, but we know you can open a quality business here and be successful,” Larner said. "Dorchester Avenue has always been a real main street. The neighbors are all very involved. People are interested in what’s going on in the business district and actively participating in it.”

For more information about the St. Mark’s Area Main Street and to find out about the businesses it supports, visit its website.

For more information about the city's Boston Business Hub, visit its website.

Email Patrick D. Rosso, patrick.d.rosso@gmail.com. Follow him @PDRosso, or friend him on Facebook.