BAY RIDGE — For the most part, the focal point of the evening was gaiety, along with good conversation, and networking, at the Merchants of Third Avenue’s (MOTA) annual holiday bash Dec. 9.

Taking place at Laila, which offers a “taste of Syria,” more than 60 attended the gathering, the majority of which were merchants from the Third Avenue strip. Attendees feasted on Mediterranean cuisine and showed off their dancing moves later in the night. 

Both MOTA President Daniel Texeira and Chrisie Canny, MOTA’s event coordinator, noted that of the 400-plus businesses on Third Avenue, fewer than 100 — or less than 25% — are MOTA members, according to Texeira, who added that the goal in 2025 is to get membership numbers up. 

“We currently only have six merchants from 68th Street to Bay Ridge Parkway,” Texeira said. 

Canny added, “By July 2025, I would like to get that 25% up to 50%.”