Council approves DDA funds for Town Square’s furniture
Sometimes it pays to have friends in high places.
And due to Empire Deli owner John Colombani’s connections, the city of Northville is getting quite a deal on furniture for the Town Square.
City council approved funding for the DDA’s initial purchases of the furniture at Monday night’s meeting.
Because Colombani can obtain a restaurant owner’s discount for the table and chairs for Town Square, he was able to assist the DDA in purchasing the furniture at a huge discount. The vendor, EMU, an Italian company with a U.S. distributor, seemed to have the largest selection of affordable and high-quality furnishings. Residents can see what the new furniture will look like by viewing Empire Deli’s outdoor furniture on Wing Street just south of Main Street. The deli’s furniture features a silver finish, but the design is the same as what will be placed in Town Square.
Colombani said the tables are the same at the deli as the ones that will be at the Town Square, but the chairs are a slightly different. He used to be a vice president for Planet Hollywood, so EMU still grants him national pricing on furniture purchases.
“I was thrilled that I could give something back to this town that has embraced our new business,†Colombani said.
DDA staff requested the purchase of six 24-inch square tables, 14 36-inch square tables and 68 stackable arm chairs. The square design is more suitable for those who want to use a laptop computer or move tables together. Cost of the tables and chairs will be $14,729.89, a savings of 40 percent over what the DDA staff could have obtained from the vendor or from the DDA’s design firm, Grissim Metz Andriese Associates of Northville.
The furniture ordered will feature an antique iron finish, which is a charcoal-colored finish.
Councilmember Nancy Darga questioned whether the furniture should be ordered in a black finish, which is more attune to Victorian decor. But, Lori Ward, DDA executive director, said at Monday’s council meeting that the vendor said it has had more complaints from customers that ordered the black finish.
Darga also questioned whether it was appropriate to waive the city’s competitive bid requirement on the furniture purchase.
“Council can waive the requirement,†said Pat Sullivan, city manager. Mayor Chris Johnson approved the waiver of the ordinance since so much research had been done before a decision was made.
Because Ward did obtain three bids on the umbrellas, and Colombani was able to obtain such a substantial discount on the metal furniture, council decided to go ahead and waive the competitive bid requirement. Ward said Colombani hopes he can obtain even more of a discount on the tables and chairs.
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