The WeCo River District Merchants Association held its monthly meeting, Thursday at Chayze Lounge on Meeting Street in West Columbia.

Chaye Alexander, a WeCo River District Board member, said she moved Chayze Lounge from Columbia to the River District because the area is rising and she saw promise. She has been pleased with the move and Chayze Lounge has started serving a Sunday Jazz Brunch.

Akera Sellers of Brickhouse Coffee talked about the opening of his coffee shop in the Primal location at 725 Meeting St. That move should occur in March.

The WeCo River District, along with the Greater Cayce-West Columbia Chamber held a ribbon-cutting at Always Original Baker at 501 Meeting Street on Jan. 27.

Owner George Grogan reported that the ribbon-cutting was a success and drew a large amount of business for AOB that day. He said sales were triple that of an average day.

Steve Cohen, president of the WeCo River District, encouraged support of West Columbia’s Kinetic Derby Day scheduled for April 23.

He said River District businesses should open their doors and set up outside and cater to the thousands of visitors who will be in town and lining the streets for Kinetic Derby Day. Lainie Lewis, owner of State Street Trading Co. on State Street, said the last Kinetic Derby Day was one her best retail days ever.

Cohen also said businesses can donate items for prize packages that will be given to soap box race winners of Kinetic Derby Day.