New York is the Big Apple. Seattle is the Emerald City. Tacoma? The City of Destiny. A group of ambitious Tacoma residents are taking this epic moniker seriously. Welcome to Camp 6, an organized collaborative movement promoting the merchants, culture and style that make Tacoma what it is.

Fashion designer JD Elquist had a plan. Originally from Gig Harbor, he spent time in San Francisco, headed to New York, then landed in Tacoma with the idea that he would ultimately settle in Los Angeles to open his brand's storefront.

Sitting in the nascent Tacoma coffee shop Anthem one morning, Elquist was struck. In an instant, plans changed.

"I don't know what clicked," says Elquist. "I just thought: I'm captivated. Why leave this?  Suddenly, I saw Tacoma not as a detour, but as an opportunity to make something special happen right here and now."

And just like that, with a spark that is, at the moment, more visionary than logistic, Elquist's dream location for his storefront has moved about 1100 miles north, from LA to downtown Tacoma. But Elquist does have his feet on the ground; he comes armed with an understanding that in order to bring a new business to life that ground has to be fertile. So Elquist and friend and Camp 6 co-founder Stephen Jones are on a mission to sow the soil of Tacoma. If enthusiasm is contagious, these guys are out to spread the bug with a recently launched website for this Tacoma-focused social and business network, found at camp6tacoma.com.

Although Elquist and Jones look more like pages torn from a copy of GQ Magazine than community-minded self-starters, a closer study reveals Jones isn't just a snappy freelance graphic designer. He's also a loadmaster for the Air Force Reserve. Sure, the debonair Elquist meets with rising musicians and hip artists, but he is also has lunch with local business owners and city council members. Despite the slick aesthetic of the Camp 6 website, this movement is for everyone who wants to cultivate the growth of Tacoma.

Elquist affirms the stylish look of the site is intentional.

Explains Jones, "That's how we see Tacoma. Whether we're showcasing a 21-year-old singer/songwriter or a 65-year-old welder, we are going to take the effort to appreciate the beauty of what it is they do, and present it with style."

In addition to Jones, Elquist has called on a team of partners to pave the ground floor of what the group is hoping will be a turning point in the simmering Tacoma-revival that has yet to get real fire under its heels. Joining in the effort are Travis Pranger, Barham Beireis and Taylor Lindberg. 

"I brought all these guys in to see Camp 6 succeed," says Elquist. "Camp 6 might've been my brain child, but it couldn't be done without them."

This concept of teamwork and relationships is really the framework upon which Camp 6 is based. A bit of an architectural buff, Elquist muses on Tacoma's skyline, bridges and what he calls the skeleton of the city.

"There is so much here to work with."

A group of loggers over a century ago felt the same way when they saw the natural beauty of the area. They landed on Point Defiance and set up camp, the seeds of what was to become the city of Tacoma.

The name of this encampment? Take a guess.

"With the name Camp 6, I wanted to recognize the history of Tacoma, and honor those who took the first steps to make this a community. The more you know about something, the more layers you can peel back, the more pride you feel," says Elquist.

Jones agrees, "That heritage informs everything that goes on here. The art, the food, the museums, the music - what's happening here is pretty amazing."

Amazing, but sometimes unsung. And that is the problem Camp 6 is working to solve.

A good start will be the launch of Camp 6 this Friday at the very place where the idea was born, Anthem Coffee & Tea. The event is 21 and over, as Anthem offers a selection of wines and beer. There will be music, a playlist designed by local DJs and an opportunity for Tacoma business owners, artists, musicians, City Council members, Tacoma enthusiasts and curious onlookers to network. The social will take place monthly and will soon be joined by other Camp 6 events: monthly dance parties and, in summer, block parties that will extend to all ages.

Elquist looks forward to Friday's launch party and social.

"We want to seize this opportunity," he says. "It's time to become a destination, a hub. Tacoma deserves to be more than just a stop between Portland and Seattle."

Camp 6 launch party and social, Friday, Jan. 27, 8 p.m., free, 21+, Anthem Coffee & Tea, 1911 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, camp6tacoma.com