Chamber Chat with Terry Chapman

Columns

As a part of a new monthly column, Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce President Terry Chapman told us about what’s new with local businesses and more. Chapman is the president of Business Electronics.

Tell us about the newest members of the Chamber

The newest Chamber member is Urban Cookhouse. We are very excited as they have a huge following and will bring a new dimension to dining in Crestline with their fresh, local food. Owners Andrea and David Snyder were recently interviewed on MBTV. They are also bringing a Farmers Market to Crestline in the spring on Tuesday afternoons.

What Chamber events are coming up?

Last month, Otey’s Tavern held a Shamrocks and Shenanigans St. Patrick’s Party, and Crestline merchants held an Easter Egg Hunt the Saturday before Easter.

We are gearing up for Relay for Life on April 19 and the Mountain Brook Art Association Show on April 20. The second annual Food Truck Round Up is coming up on May 4 at Colonial Brookwood Village.

What is one of your favorite local businesses and why?

Western Supermarket has been around a long time but has kept up with the times so well. You can still get all the old familiar brands and staples like the Corn Flakes you remember from when you were a kid, but you can also find distinctive items like imported cheese and artisan breads. With every convenience of a fully stocked grocery store, Western also boasts a professional floral market and Birmingham’s most successful wine shop. Whatever you’re looking for in a supermarket, you can’t beat Western!

Why do you buy local?

I buy local because I can count on local stores and merchants to make better recommendations with superior customer service, and they have higher quality products to choose from. It is great to know that you are helping with our own local city tax base and making our own community a more interesting place when supporting locally owned shops, but I think the main reason is the quality of the experience you get when you walk in the door.