Westbrook city officials and downtown business owners packed Mister Bagel on Thursday night for the initial “Business in the Brook” event, highlighted by the announcement that Dancing Elephant restaurant had won the downtown window-decorating contest.

The party was hosted by the Downtown Westbrook Coalition and served as a way to unite those invested in the downtown. About a month ago, the coalition announced its first event – a downtown holiday window-decorating contest. With a goal of getting more local businesses involved in a downtown project, as well as bring more eyes to their relatively new social media sites, the contest was seen as a success.

With more than 230 “likes” on the coalition’s Facebook page, the Dancing Elephant barely beat out Weekend Anime, which had 213. The first place prize was a $100 pizza party at Portland Pie, while second place won a $50 gift card.

Abigail Cioffi, the coordinator for the coalition, said Thursday that the contest accomplished what they had hoped – bringing more traffic to the website, provide a nice holiday look to the downtown, and bring people together. According to Cioffi, some 20 businesses participated and roughly 800 people voted in the contest.

Ed Symbol, owner of Full Court Press on Main Street and a member of the coalition’s executive committee, said during the event that he was pleased with the turnout, which was higher than expected. According to Symbol, the next business event will be held at the Frog & Turtle restaurant sometime in March.

The coalition is in the process of forming four separate committees, which will each take on an aspect of the National Main Street program’s approach to downtown revitalization. The coalition, which is a Maine Downtown Network, works under this model.

The committees are design, economic restructuring, organization and promotions. To get involved in the coalition, contact Cioffi at acioffi@westbrook.me.us or call 391-2977.

Westbrook city officials and downtown business owners mingle during Thursday’s Business in the Brook event at Mister Bagel, organized by the Downtown Westbrook Coalition. Also announced at the event was the winner of the coalition’s downtown window-decorating event – The Dancing Elephant. A portion of the Dancing Elephant’s holiday decorated window, designed by henna artist Mary Schmaling. The restaurant’s efforts brought it first prize in the first Downtown Westbrook Coalition window-decorating contest. Abigail Cioffi, the coordinator of the Downtown Westbrook Coalition, addresses the crowd Thursday at the ‘Business in the Brook’ event at Mister Bagel. Cioffi said the next step for the coalition is putting together four committees to work toward specific aspects of downtown revitalization.