Recent Events with SB3C

Written By Marta Olmos

Community Tailgate Watch Party

In November, we hosted a Tailgate and Watch Party to cheer on the University of Vermont Catamounts! The events brought together residents, students, and local businesses for an outdoor, family-friendly celebration featuring a big screen viewing, local food and beverages, music, and community fun.

On November 12, 30 people attended our watch party at Delta Hotel & Duke’s Public House, and over 120 people attended our tailgate on November 16. Due to inclement weather, we shifted gears and moved the big screen into the Ballroom along with Cornhole and other games. Guests gathered to watch the game on a large screen, enjoyed pizza and chili, joined in giveaways, and spent time with surprise guests, Rally Cat and Miss Teen Vermont.

The event was a great way for people to get to know each other and learn more about SB3C in a fun environment. It also had a big impact on Duke’s Public House, which saw double its typical revenue. Supporting local businesses is a key part of our mission, and we are always excited when our events support the economic vitality of our City Center!

Thank you to Delta Hotel & Duke’s Public House, South Burlington Parks and Rec, Folino’s Pizza, Leonardo’s Pizza, Copper at Dorset, and UVM Athletics for supporting this event.

City Center Social

In December, we hosted our first City Center Social at Copper at Dorset. This inviting after-work happy hour was designed to connect South Burlington residents, businesses, and community partners while introducing the South Burlington City Center Collaborative (SB3C) - its mission, projects, and ways to get involved.

More than 60 community members and business owners attended the event - including Governor Douglas, three City Council Members, and city employees. Participants sampled delicious appetizers and small plate favs from Copper at Dorset, mingled in their beautifully decorated and inviting event space, and entered a raffle to win gift cards to local downtown businesses.

“The City Center Social was my first SB3C event, and it was a great introduction to the organization. I enjoyed speaking with SB3C and city staff to learn more about upcoming projects and ways that I could get involved. 

As an added bonus, the event introduced me to two South Burlington businesses! I had never been to Copper at Dorset, and I was delighted by both the food and the environment. I also won one of the raffle gift cards to EcoBean, which allowed me to try their amazing rice bowls and smoothies. The City Center Social was a great excuse to learn more about the awesome eateries in the city center.” - Marta, SB3C member and volunteer

“Since connecting with SB3C and meeting Sophia, and even after attending just one event, we have already met an incredible number of residents and local business owners we likely would not have crossed paths with otherwise. What this organization provides is truly a gem and an invaluable resource for South Burlington. Sophia’s leadership and the work of SB3C play a critical role in bringing together business owners and residents to strengthen our local economy, especially for small, locally owned businesses that do not have the resources of larger corporations. We are grateful this organization exists and look forward to staying involved and supporting SB3C in any way we can.” - Justin Cruz, Owner/Founder, EcoBean & RegenVT

Thank you to Cooper at Dorset, EcoBean, Chopt Hair Design, Mamadoro Sauce, and RegenVT Spa for supporting this event!

Please note: if you are one of our raffle winners and you haven’t yet picked up your prize, please head over to Copper at Dorset to claim it!

Hello Burlington Workshop for Local Businesses

We were excited to host Hello Burlington on January 29th for a hands-on session focused on one simple goal: helping local businesses get seen. This workshop wasn’t about complicated tech jargon or marketing overwhelm. It was about visibility, traffic, and getting found.

The workshop was led by Hello Burlington’s Strategy & Operations Director, Tom Carton, who walked participants through how to showcase their business by uploading their website to Hello Burlington’s South Burlington page - helping put local businesses in front of more visitors and potential customers.

During the session, participants learned how to easily upload and connect their business information so they show up when it matters most.  This short, practical workshop empowered business owners with tools they could use immediately to strengthen their online presence and reach customers already searching for South Burlington businesses.

SB3C is proud to partner with Hello Burlington and Tom Carton to bring accessible, high-impact resources like this to our local business community.  Stay tuned for more workshops designed to support a vibrant, connected South Burlington City Center. 

Special Thank You to our local Biz Partner @Ecobean for providing vegan, organic, gluten-free sweet treats for our Reception following the event!!

Supporting Business Owners

Strengthening the local South Burlington economy is an important part of SB3C’s mission. We spoke to three participating business owners about their partnerships with us.

What motivated you to participate in this SB3C community event? 

Delta Dukes: We are big supporters of UVM sports and are very excited about the momentum of SB3C, so we were all in when the opportunity presented itself

University of Vermont Athletics: We were motivated to participate in this Rally with SB3C because we value opportunities that bring people together through shared experiences, learning, and collaboration, just like at our games in Catamount Country!  We believe strongly in the power of community engagement to create meaningful connections and positive impact, and this event aligned well with our interest in contributing to a community event and showcasing our brand.

Copper at Dorset: A key goal when opening Copper was to make this private event social space available to our neighboring community, to allow people to enjoy the space and bring the community together.

Did this event help increase visibility or awareness of your business? How? 

Delta Dukes: Absolutely. The event definitely brought some families in to watch the games that might not have realized that Duke's is a great place to grab dinner or catch the game with their family.

University of Vermont Athletics: This event helped broaden our reach to Catamount fans of all ages.

Copper at Dorset: Yes, I have heard from folks who came and enjoyed it and from those who could not make it but wished they could. We have gained some new lunch clients and some who are asking to rent our space for their own event.

A thriving City Center starts with… 

Delta Dukes: collaboration.

University of Vermont Athletics: its engaged, spirited community.

Copper at Dorset: a solid foundation with talented individuals who can participate to create the vibe and interest to be involved.

Upcoming Events

  • Feel the love all February (2/6–3/6) #HeartofOurCity ❤️🔍 PART II: The Heart Hunt - grab your friends, bring the kids, and hunt for hidden hearts in participating businesses, earn stamps, and win a free chocolate-covered Oreo from Snowflake Chocolates. 

  • On Friday, February 13th through Sunday, February 15th, see our City Center Glow with #HeartofOurCity - storefront windows light up with shining hearts - turning your City Center into a magical trail of love, light, and local pride.

  • Designed by youth, built with community support: SB3C and SBPL are launching a new Hangout Launch Event - coming soon!

Marta Olmos
Next

What is South Burlington City Center Collaborative?