There's a new business in West Orange that hopes to be the talk of the town — literally.
WOPAS Networking opened its doors Wednesday nestled on 271 Main Street in the Tory Corner section.
WOPAS (West Orange Product and Services) serves as a referral business to connect local businesses to the community.
Co-founded by West Orange resident Maritza Brown and Pablo Jose Mir, WOPAS will be two-pronged. The store will provide a physical space for businesses to display their products or services and couple with an online site that refers residents to pre-screened service providers.
"With losing my job, I started thinking, what are people doing? Networking. I know that is where the future is going," Brown told Patch.
Brown said she's noticed the increased of off-shore manufacturing and the decline of local businesses. "We need to get smart," she said, adding that many residents are turning to home-based businesses to turn a profit.
And with WOPAS, those businesses have a space to call their own.
As you walk into the store, a massage parlor greets you on your left, a beauty salon on your right and a jewelry booth at the far end.
Brown said the entire space can be procured by any WOPAS member and used for their products.
To become a member, a business must come well-referred and prove to be reliable, responsible and reasonably-priced.
"I want to put a stake in the ground … I'd like to contribute to West Orange coming back," Brown said.
At the ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday, historian Joseph Fagan, Mayor Robert Parisi and Councilman Sal Anderton tipped their hats off to Brown for her dedication to revitalize downtown and the small business community.
"It's inspiring to see people commit to our downtown," Parisi said to the crowd that gathered outside the store.
Fagan acknowledge Tory Corner has a history of networking dating back to the revolution. He said WOPAS brings history full circle.
What was once a place for "Tories" or those loyal to the British crown to meet is now a place for small businesses to network.
For more information visit www.wopasnetworking.com or call (862) 766-5154
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