Community Board 9 plans breakfast events and a spring scavenger hunt to boost local businesses

Committee chair Vanessa Roptopoulos recapped last year’s outreach work: a mixer at Trove and a spring scavenger hunt that used a passbook to guide residents through Flatbush, Utica, Rogers and other commercial strips. "It was like a little passport... and there were different avenues," she said while describing how the activity got new customers into local businesses.

Members discussed formats — breakfast events to draw business owners during slow hours, evening mixers, family-friendly scavenger hunts and restaurant‑specific promotions — and identified possible venues including Bob Bandit, Rizzo’s backyard, Trove and Major Owens. The committee noted a small discretionary budget (about $300) that has covered snacks, drink tickets or light catering at prior events and agreed to reach out to prospective venues before the next meeting.