WENDELL - A dozen or so Wendell business owners gathered Wednesday night at the town's only downtown restaurant, Teddy's Pizza, to talk about how to breathe life into Main Street.

Bob Wagner, owner of Collector's Corner, one of the newest businesses in downtown organized the meeting and led the conversation.

"We fell in love with Wendell - the look, the atmosphere," Wagner said of locating downtown. "But it is a struggle to bring in customers."

Wagner didn't want to bog down the first meeting rehashing problems that stalled previous attempts to organize the downtown businesses owners. Instead he asked for insight from other merchants.

"As far as (those of us) here, what can we do now?" Wagner asked.

Hedrick Insurance owner Sheree Hedrick described the business health of Wendell with an analogy - of the town as a body where the businesses on the outskirts are suffering from poor circulation because the heart of the town, downtown, is in need of CPR.

The discussion revolved around figuring out which type of stores might fit into Wendell's downtown, then going to the owners of that kind of business and inviting them to come.

George Knuckley, owner of Kannon's Clothing, said Knightdale was going to capture all the chain retail business.

"Who are we? Individually owned specialty shops, niche stores. We have got to attract that type of store," Knuckley said.

"We need to go out and find stores and ask them to open here," Knuckley said.

LaTanya Kearney, who owns a home-based event planning business, said while she was shopping near the Cape Fear River she visited a "unique store" called FiFi's.

"The owner is considering a move to Raleigh. I told her to come look at Wendell," Kearney said.

"Why not ask (businesses) to come?"

"They need information to know they will not have to close in six months," Economic Development Director Maggie O'Neill said.

O'Neill kept track of all the proposals, but also interjected her own comments to remind merchants new businesses will want to see more than just beautiful buildings and a downtown with character. They will want to know their business has the best chance for success in Wendell.

Wagner hopes to bring together the businesses, the property owners, the Chamber of Commerce and the town government and staff to work on building a successful downtown.

He proposed creating an enticement to bring in business, such as getting an agreement from landlords, with town assistance if possible, to offer a few free months rent to help keep overhead low for new business.

Knuckley said there are already incentives in cheap rents and opportunities to buy the downtown buildings for what a business can lease elsewhere.

Mayor Harold Broadwell said enticing business downtown will require support from the property owners.

When he asked how many attending the meeting owned properties in downtown, only a few raised their hands.

Hedrick said the incentive they need for business is customers, which could come with Wendell Falls. It was the only mention during the meeting of the potential resuscitation of the Wendell Falls development and its chances of adding to the town's customer base. But she added they don't have those customers now.

Hedrick said Wendell has to draw customers from further away than just the town limits.

"We need to throw our net out farther," Hendrick said.

O'Neill offered some good news, saying Wendell had about 28,000 people in their "trade area" - potential customers within a 15-minute drive of Wendell, from Middlesex to I-540.

"Places wish they had this (downtown). Holly Springs manufactured this," she said.

Wagner also proposed adding a downtown event each month, recommending a dance contest which could be organized for August.

Hedrick said there has been an event of some kind downtown for at least the past five decades. She said if they organized an event, decided on one location, made sure it was done with quality in mind, it could bring in people to downtown.

The merchants also agreed to consider creating an event to coincide with the 3 p.m. kid's parade down Main Street on July 4.

Broadwell proposed asking a fife and drum group with local ties to march in the parade, then set up downtown for a performance.

Taking a survey of the participants, 60 to 70 percent of the merchants were already members of the Chamber of Commerce. The group left with the idea they could find a business owner already in the Chamber who could act as a liaison for this new group.

"With a town the size of Wendell, whether the businesses are Chamber members or not, we should do everything we can for (our) businesses," Hedrick said.

Hedrick also proposed all the merchants provide items to place in empty shops to emphasize stores that are open.

With those in attendance expressing a feeling the group had made a good start, organizers set a second downtown merchants initiative meeting for Tuesday, June 23 at 6:30 p.m. in Teddy's Pizza.