About Us
Be Loyal. Shop, Dine & Stroll Local. Think Third!
The MOTA is more than just a merchant group, we are also a civic organization focused on stabilizing our community and donating to and supporting other local community groups. We proudly host parades such as the Norwegian Day Parade, the Bay Ridge St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the Memorial Day Parade, and the Bay Ridge Ragamuffin Parade. The Association is a proud partner of the annual Halloween Art Window Painting Contest, Embrace Winter, and the Senior Sidewalk Social. Many Merchants live, shop, educate their children, worship, volunteer and relax in Bay Ridge!
A little bit about what the Merchants of Third Avenue Civic Improvement Association, Inc. (“MTA”) has done for the last 50 years and continues to do through our involvement with local businesses, fellow community organizations, civic, community and religious leaders all within our culturally diverse and historic Bay Ridge community:
55 years of partnering with the annual Bay Ridge Ragamuffin Parade
48 years of running a safe, festive and successful annual Third Avenue Festival
44 years of lighting the entire avenue during each holiday season as part of the annual Holiday
Lighting Program on Third
29 years of honoring local merchants and community leaders for their achievements, service and spirit to the community at the Association’s annual awards gala
9 years of safe and successful operation as the home of the annual Summer Stroll on Third and the annual Summer Lighting Program on Third
Annual Holiday Toy Drive for the needy families of our community
Keeping Third Avenue in the forefront of New York City commercial strips
Promoting our brand as Restaurant Row, Spa Row, Boutique Row and Retail Row
Networking and instructional events for our merchants to help grow and advance their businesses
Citywide acclaim and recognition of our Association’s successes and initiatives
Partnering with local businesses, organizations and community leaders to serve the civic needs of our great community of Bay Ridge and beyond