Chamber of Commerce Responds To Olivette's Move To Break Away

The Creve Coeur-Olivette Chamber of Commerce will continue to go by the same name, despite the fact that Olivette has decided not to continue as a chamber member, the organization's Executive Vice President Nancy Gray confirmed Thursday.

, citing a dissatisfaction with the organization's leadership and general questions about what the city has gotten out of the arrangement.

Gray forwarded the following statement Thursday issued on behalf of the chamber's Board of Directors:

The board of directors of the Creve Coeur-Olivette Chamber of Commerce is disappointed in the City of Olivette's decision to not renew its membership.  We have 36 member businesses in Olivette and we look forward to continuing to work with them, while also recruiting other businesses in Olivette, to serve their business needs.  We value our relationship with the City and we would welcome the opportunity to meet with City leaders to better understand their decision, with the hope of having them remain a valued member of the Chamber.  

 Creve Coeur Mayor Barry Glantz said Thursday he had been in contact with his counterpart in Olivette, Arthur Merdinian. Merdinian said earlier this week he "didn't have a lot of confidence in the leadership of the chamber," and that he wasn't "content" with the relationship. "I guess they didn't perceive there was value there," Glantz said.

He also pointed out that a different city council could feel differently in the future.