Where were the Apex entrepreneurs on Wednesday, May 19? At the 10th annual Apex Chamber of Commerce Business Expo, of course.

If you followed the Canadian geese across Apex Peakway or the red and white signs throughout town, you’ve have found the businesses of Apex congregated within the walls of the WakeMed Healthplex. WakeMed, the premier sponsor of the event, partnered with the Apex Chamber of Commerce to host the 2010 event. As the business expo has grown, so too have the number of interested vendors. Normally housed within the gymnasium of the Apex Community Center, this year’s expo claimed 15,000 square feet on the third floor of WakeMed’s building.

Seventy-five booths sporting signs, balloons and giveaways, transformed the otherwise unfinished space unfinished space into the place to be for businesses in Apex.

Rather than a generic back and forth trudge in the echoey gym, the Expo’s 2010 location gave it a personal, close-knit feel -- like the town of Apex itself.

New to the Expo this year were WakeMed’s health screening area, complete with dedicated staff and loads of antiseptic. A new Food Court boasted Italian cuisine from Carrabba’s and sandwiches from Jersey Mike’s. Much to the kids’ dismay, no hot dog stand or soda cart existed at the exit this year. The tighter aisles left goodies within arm’s reach, and the reusable, black and red bags from WakeMed held them all. The bites of Chick-fil-A’s new sandwich, freshly made popcorn and mixed candies disappeared before most of the nearly 400 attendees left the building.

No matter the goal in visiting this year’s event, the outcome should have been the same: a day full of camaraderie among competitors, potential customers and suppliers and a chance for the general public to find out who is who around town. It might have even inspired a new idea or two. Brenda Steen, President of the Chamber, offered her thanks to the sponsors of the expo, saying “their partnership in this year’s event is what made it so great. The location, the businesses that signed up. All of it shows us why businesses are here in Apex.” No matter where the Expo is held next year, it’ll have some grand expectations to beat as the 2010 event set the bar higher, just like the businesses of Apex strive to do.