Celebrating 2024, Mourning a Loss, but Looking Ahead to 2025 and Beyond.

This December, we lost a giant. Edward Decker, our Chairman, passed away, leaving behind a legacy that will forever be etched into the heart of Hackensack. Edward was more than a leader—he was a visionary, a tireless advocate for Main Street, and a steadfast believer in the potential of our city. His contributions will continue to inspire us as we continue his mission to make Hackensack thrive. I will miss my friend for sure.

Amid this somber moment, I celebrated my second anniversary as the Executive Director of the Main Street Business Alliance (MSBA) on December 1. Looking back on this year, I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together. I mean, 2024 has undoubtedly been a year of growth, recognition, and community building for Downtown Hackensack. One thing you should know about me is that I’m not in the “attaboy” business; that is, I’m not looking for congratulations or other praise. Instead, the purpose of this post is to share our journey, express gratitude, and look forward to the future.

First off, I’m incredibly thankful for the opportunity given to me to lead the MSBA. Truly. When I first joined, I knew I had to treat the MSBA like one of my startups. This would take strategic thinking, relationship building, and a daily dose of rolling up my sleeves and jumping into the weeds. Salt in adaptability and partnership creation, and we could achieve great things. And we have, thanks to an incredible board, City Hall, and a dynamic business community. We continue to build a Main Street everyone can enjoy. 2024 has been nothing short of transformational.

2024: A Banner Year for our Award-winning Downtown Hackensack

This year, Downtown Hackensack earned the prestigious honor of being named a “Great Downtown” by the American Planners Association (APA), New Jersey chapter. This recognition celebrates the remarkable revitalization of our downtown and the collective efforts that have made Main Street a thriving destination. This award is not just a reflection of our accomplishments at the MSBA, but also a testament to the dedication of the Mayor, City Council, local businesses, and Hackensack’s residents.

The award, enjoyed by only two NJ downtowns annually, is all about how we transformed Downtown Hackensack and did it together with the many people and organizations that have put their fingerprints on the success of Main Street.

Let me recap just some of our other highlights in 2024:

• Hackensacktoberfest 2024 broke records with 4,500 attendees, becoming a signature event in Bergen County and showcasing the vibrant energy of our community.
• Our Art on Main program brought new cultural vibrancy with the stunning “Hackensack Old and New” mural by Lynn Ochiogrosso (see video) and the installation of two new Seward Johnson sculptures. As part of this initiative, Banta Place and the 210/214 Main Alley were designated “Art Alley” by the Mayor and City Council. There’s more art coming, too.
• The Hackensack Success Hub, launched in partnership with NJSBDC and Fairleigh Dickinson University, provides invaluable support to small businesses through FREE consulting to small businesses in the area and participation in events like the Hispanic Small Business Expo.
• Community-centered programs like Games on Main and Small Business Meetups fostered connections among hundreds of residents, visitors, and small business owners, reinforcing the unique charm of Hackensack and small businesses located here.
• Our Clean & Green #dogsofhackensack program brought new dog waste stations to Main Street to give dog owners waste bags if they forgot one on their walk. Plus, new flowers and plants were installed all along Main Street for pedestrians and passersby to enjoy.
• Our business recruitment initiatives helped us welcome many new businesses to Main Street!
• We generated over 250,000 video views for our participating member businesses across our social media channels as part of our overall marketing and business retention program.
• We held the first FDU Scavenger Hunt – where FDU students took over Main Street! This was all to introduce Main Street to the FDU students of all grade levels. It was a resounding success and everyone had a great time, especially with the ending comedy performance at HACPAC.
• We launched The Main Thing Show podcast for small businesses, which can be found at www.youtube.com/@themainthingshow
• We created a closer working relationship with the Hackensack Performing Arts Center (HACPAC), so you’ll often see HACPAC news about upcoming performances in MSBA promotions.

Each of these milestones reflects the vision we share for Downtown Hackensack as a vibrant hub of culture, commerce, and connection.

Lessons Learned in 2024

Throughout all these accomplishments, I’ve again confirmed a few truths about leadership and community development in Hackensack:

1. It Takes a Village: No, really. The transformation of Main Street in Hackensack is a collective effort. Every mural painted, event planned, program launched, and small business supported represents the power of partnerships.
2. Listen Intently and Act as Quickly as possible: Engaging with our stakeholders—residents, business owners, and City leaders—has been instrumental in shaping our strategy and delivering meaningful results. Like I say to our interns, listen to what others have to say, then do good things for them, and more good things will happen for everyone.
3. Forward Momentum Matters: Even baby steps forward lead to significant change. Not slow baby steps, by the way, but shuffling baby steps that get you across the street quickly.  Do I wish that things would move more quickly sometimes? Sure. Moving forward is better than standing still and much better than moving backward.
4. Empathy Is Key: You just never know what someone is going through. You don’t. So, as we navigate the challenges of a typical workday, we must recognize the unseen struggles of those around us. Empathy builds trust and strengthens relationships.
5. Life is short: Do great things. Take care of yourself. Kiss your loved ones. Get out of your comfort zone. Be nice to everyone and call people just to say hello, not just when you need something.

Looking Ahead to 2025 on Main Street in Hackensack

As I reflect on 2024, I am deeply grateful to the MSBA board, City Hall, our business community, and the residents of Hackensack for their support and collaboration. Together, we’ve achieved so much, but the work is far from done. The true magic lies in what we will accomplish next.

With exciting initiatives already in the works, 2025 promises another year of growth and transformation for Main Street. I look forward to continuing this journey with all of you, building on our successes, and creating new opportunities for Downtown Hackensack to shine.

Here’s to a bright future together! And here’s to you, Edward! I promise we’ll continue to do great things on Main Street in Hackensack.

From everyone at the MSBA, we wish you all the happiest of holidays and all the best for a happy and healthy new year!

With heartfelt thanks,

John

P.S. If you’re not following the new Downtown Hackensack LinkedIn page, let’s fix that right now.