Hardware store owner honored as West Hollywood business leader.

When he was notified by the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and the West Hollywood Small Business Council that he was chosen Businessperson of the Year for 1993, Koontz Hardware owner Russ Wilson was puzzled. "I would understand if they honored Koontz Hardware, but I don't know why they have chosen me," said Wilson.

Not that Koontz Hardware doesn't deserve its fair share of attention. The West Hollywood landmark located on Santa Monica Boulevard near Robertson Boulevard was built in 1938 by Art Koontz. When Wilson bought it in 1977, he kept the name because of the store's fame. "I would never have changed the name," he said. "Koontz was a very popular place before I ever bought it. On the old Jack Parr show, he and Zsa Zsa Gabor once talked about Koontz for 20 minutes. A columnist for the Herald Examiner once wrote three columns in a row on Koontz."

Nevertheless, it is the current owner who will be honored on May 13 at the Annual Small Businessperson Awards Reception, for his contributions to the community.

Presently, he is involved with three of West Hollywood's most important business development programs -- the Business Retention and Extension Program, the Leadership Council and the Santa Monica Boulevard Association.

"Around the time of cityhood in 1984, a number of business leaders felt that there was an anti-business attitude developing in the community, so we got together and started the Business Retention and Extension Program," explained Wilson. BREP has been working with the city council and city manager to promote business in West Hollywood.

Wilson has also been working for a year and a half with the West Hollywood Marketing Corp. It was developed by BREP to promote West Hollywood as a good place to do business and to market the city's image. Currently, it is working on attracting more conventions and tourism.

Wilson is also a member of the Leadership Council, a group that brings together the city government, residents and business leaders to discuss ideas to keep business alive and well while not sacrificing the interest of the residents of the community.

Wilson also serves on the steering committee of the Santa Monica Boulevard Association, which promotes business along West Hollywood's section of Santa Monica Boulevard as a "linear mall." Recent accomplishments include lobbying the state government to allow restaurants on the boulevard to have outdoor seating and arranging for the beautification of the street.