Bryan/College Station Chamber of Commerce hosted annual Chamber Day

BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – Over 200 volunteers visited local businesses in Bryan and College Station to meet with them and learn what role the economy plays in affecting the business’ performance.

“Going out across the community, knocking on the doors of businesses, telling those business owners or the people that are working there today, telling them how much we appreciate them being in business in Brazos County,” said Glen Brewer, the President and CEO, of Bryan/College Station Chamber of Commerce.

During each stop, they listened to the owners’ or managers’ perspectives about the current economy.

One of the teams visited Legacy Tattoo Lounge. They say College Station has been a great community to be a part of. Since opening in 2018, they say their business has grown in the last six years.

Tattoo artist J.P. Maxwell says they appreciate the Chamber of Commerce taking the time to listen to them.

“It was really nice to see the Chamber of Commerce come in and talk to us. I feel like a lot of times tattoo shops get left out like we are not a contributing business to the economy and we are, you know, at least the professional tattoo shops and the professional tattoo artists we take a lot of pride in our craft,” said Maxwell.

The Chamber of Commerce hopes to visit with 1,200 businesses by the end of Thursday. Their goal is to help the community connect with business owners and learn.

“To try to figure out ways to make this good for businesses and try to overcome the obstacles that are in our way. We work for all businesses in Bryan and College Station and we’re very very blessed to be able to do so,” said Brewer.

Brewer says the overall trend is a growing community.

“We are continuing to grow, we are continuing to have more students in town. Blinn is growing, A&M is growing,” said Brewer.

However, some industries are struggling.

“Everyone is noticing a trend with restaurants closing and a lot of that happens all the time with competition. But right now, with the food cost, with the overall inflation type of cost, and new competition, it’s a tough tough time to be in the hospitality industry right now,” said Brewer.

Walk-on’s Sports Bistreaux restaurant owner, Jenny Davis, is hopeful things will turn around.

“In talking with a lot of the businesses that we stopped at today, they rated the economy as doing well and they expect it to get better in the coming year or two,” said Davis.