EXCELSIOR

Business group, chamber to mergeThe Excelsior Downtown Business Group and South Lake-Excelsior Chamber of Commerce are finalizing a merger between the two organizations.

"We realized that it strengthens an already vibrant community by bringing the two groups together," said Laura Hotvet, executive director of the chamber.

Hotvet is tentatively slated to keep that title when the two organizations are merged, when they would become the Excelsior-Lake Minnetonka Chamber of Commerce. Hotvet said merger details are being worked out.

We're always on the lookout for store openings and west metro business-related events that readers would find interesting. To submit information for Business briefs, e-mail westnews@startribune.com at least 10 days before the anticipated publication date.