After an 11-year hiatus, the Charleston Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its second consecutive Business Showcase at 4 p.m. Thursday at the Unique Suites Hotel.

Cindy White, the president of the Charleston Chamber of Commerce, said the renovations at the hotel gave them a better location for the showcase.

Before the showcase took an 11-year break, the chamber of commerce held the event for years, White said.

White said 20 exhibitors have registered to be part of the showcase.

The businesses will have their own booths set up with pipes and drapes to give a more professional look.

“A lot of time I know people drive by a place or business and see it from the outside,” White said. “They don’t really know maybe everything that goes on the inside or what they have to offer.”

White said the showcase in an opportunity for businesses to show the public what they have to offer.

The showcase is open to members of the public as well as other members of the chamber for no cost.

Exhibitors will all be set up by 4 p.m. Thursday afternoon at the U-Hotel, White said.

White said the banquet hall could easily be partitioned off into four smaller rooms.

White also said last year about 120 people walked through the banquet hall during the showcase.

“Our goal is to help people think about shopping locally first,” White said. “We have a nice mix of service businesses and businesses that actually sell stuff.”

White said they did not see many chamber members and business people at last years showcase.

White also said they moved the hours to later in the day so more business people and chamber members will be able to attend the showcase.

“You don’t have to stay the whole time, its just open during that time,” White said.

White said she hopes people will be able to come out and get to know some of the businesses that are in the area.

“We encourage people to come out, take some business cards, and chat with the business owners,” White said. “Just spend a little bit of time with us and see what Charleston and Coles County have to offer.”

Mackenzie Freund can be reached at 581-2812 or at mgfreund@eiu.edu