The Glen Cove Downtown Business Improvement District highlighted a year of events, marketing initiatives and beautification efforts during its annual meeting on March 5 at Tocolo Cantina, while also acknowledging the challenges facing local businesses.
The evening included a presentation summarizing the BID’s work in 2025 and celebrating the organization’s continued efforts to bring visitors and residents into the downtown district. Executive Director Jill Nossa opened the meeting by welcoming attendees and thanking Tocolo Cantina owner Lloyd Rosenman for hosting the gathering.
Nossa, who has served as executive director since the spring of 2023, said the BID’s day-to-day operations are handled by a small staff, including Assistant Director Leah Dwyer, and guided by a 15-member board of directors that meets monthly to discuss issues affecting the district.
“The BID is made up of property owners and commercial tenants within the downtown geographic district,” she said. “Every business within this area is automatically a part of the BID, and therefore entitled to its benefits.”
The organization provides supplemental services to the city, including public events, marketing initiatives, capital improvements and beautification efforts. These efforts are funded primarily through a special assessment paid by property owners within the district.
According to Nossa, the BID receives about $200,000 annually through that assessment and supplements those funds through grants and sponsorships.
“Last year, nearly $68,000 was raised above the assessment,” Nossa said, explaining that the additional funds are largely directed toward special events such as Downtown Sounds and other programming intended to attract visitors to the area.
Maintaining and improving the appearance of downtown remains another important part of the BID’s work. Nossa said the organization oversees several small green spaces and seasonal beautification efforts throughout the district, including planting flowers, maintaining landscaping and installing decorations during the fall and winter months.
Among the improvements last year were additional plants installed in the courtyard between 1–3 School St., expanded holiday decorations along upper School Street and Brewster Street and new photo boards featuring a family of reindeer placed at two locations for visitors to use during the holiday season.
The BID also partnered with the city’s Department of Public Works and the Glen Cove Public Library to place a bench that had been in storage for several years onto the library lawn, creating a small seating area for visitors.
In addition to physical improvements, the BID continues to focus heavily on marketing and promotion. Nossa said the organization expanded its online presence throughout the year, promoting downtown businesses and events through social media and digital campaigns.
The BID also updated its restaurant guide and created additional guides for retail and beauty businesses, which are available online and distributed during events such as Downtown Sounds.
Events remain the organization’s most visible effort to bring people downtown. The BID produces several major events each year, including the Downtown Sounds summer concert series, the Halloween Parade and Festival and the annual Holiday Festival held in conjunction with the city’s tree lighting.
“Thousands of people came downtown in July and August to hear the outstanding bands perform,” Nossa said of Downtown Sounds, which featured eight concerts last summer.
The event, which has been running for nearly three decades, continues to draw large crowds and relies on partnerships with the city, Nassau County and numerous sponsors, as well as volunteers who assist with everything from setup to distributing promotional materials.
The BID also hosted its second Downtown Sounds New Year’s Eve Music Crawl, bringing live music to nine different downtown establishments.
While highlighting the successes of the past year, Nossa also acknowledged the challenges currently facing some downtown businesses.
“So far this year, a handful of downtown businesses have closed, two of them just in the past week,” she said. “This is disappointing, particularly because it felt like things were on the upswing just last year.”
Despite those setbacks, Nossa said the organization remains optimistic that new businesses and upcoming projects will help strengthen the district, including the planned North Shore Village Theatre at 19 Glen St., which is expected to bring additional visitors downtown.
“We are optimistic that The North Shore Village Theater will stimulate business,” Nossa said.
The evening also included recognition of London Jewelers, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Founded in Glen Cove in 1926 by Charles London, the family-owned business has grown into a regional jewelry company while maintaining its roots in the city.
Mayor Pamela Panzenbeck praised the company’s longstanding connection to the community.
“So many of our families have walked through their doors to mark an engagement, an anniversary, a milestone,” Panzenbeck said. “Longtime residents still remember the warmth of Fran Udell, who greeted every customer like they were coming home. That spirit lives on.”
