If activity on the group’s Web site is any indication, interest continues to grow in the Greater Bothell Chamber of Commerce.

Making the annual State of the Chamber address Jan. 28, chamber Director of Operations Brittany Beck said hits on the chamber site — www.bothellchamber.com — jumped from 62,000 to over 77,000 each month between June and September 2009 as compared to the same time frame in 2008.

According to Beck, the number of hits increased an average of 15,410 per month. Beck urged chamber members and others to take advantage of offerings on the site, particularly the chamber’s membership directory. Beck added later that even as usage of the chamber’s site increases, there are plans to improve it further.

Besides an apparent growth of interest in the chamber, one highlight of the Jan. 28 presentation was the announcement of a few new businesses coming to downtown Bothell.

Chair of the Downtown Action Committee, Leigh Henderson of Alexa’s Cafe said the downtown is about to become home to a “conveyor belt” sushi restaurant and a billiards room. She didn’t offer any further details on those enterprises, but also noted downtown welcomed several new businesses last year, including Bothell Chiropractic and the Three Cups of Tea restaurant.

In terms of promoting the downtown, Henderson talked a lot about a number of events held last year, including the inaugural Bothell Wine Walk. Henderson described the event as a big success, with sponsors selling out some 300 tickets. She promised an expanded Wine Walk will take place this summer.

Even as Bothell moves forward with plans to realign its two state routes, Henderson noted there also are plans to revamp Main Street. She said the primary road through downtown Bothell will be “torn up and straightened out” and she urged business owners, especially those downtown, to become involved in planning the renovations. Henderson added city officials and business leaders already had met at least once to discuss the project.

Actually, events ranging from after-hour socials to the annual Chilifest were a big topic of discussion during the chamber talk. Beck said there is a full-slate of after-hour events set for the coming year and it was noted that the 2009 Chilifest raised over $1,000 for the Hopelink food bank.

Besides events specifically offered by the chamber such as the after-hours networking opportunities, Beck said the chamber was represented during at least five community events and all of the city’s outdoor summer concerts last year.

For the future, Beck talked about growing the Web site even further, especially expanding the members’ pages. Eventually, she hopes to offer members advertising space on the site. Finally, Beck noted chamber memberships soon will come with money back guarantees. After attending so many meetings and taking advantage of other chamber offerings, if members feel they have not benefitted from membership, their dues can be returned.