If Bill is right?!

[Jim O'Bryan]

Last week a couple of us sat down and try to crunch some numbers on Lakewood and our "business plan."

That night the topic was bars. Good for Lakewood, Bad for Lakewood, No real impact on Lakewood?

Drinking has become big business in Lakewood, or is it big business as seen through beer glasses at closing time?

Does anyone have any figures on what the "bar business" bring into Lakewood? Our numbers were frightening small!


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[Joan Roberts]

What if, instead of "bars", you substituted "dry cleaners"? Ggod for Lakewood? Bad for Lakewood?
It seems to me the majority of bars here aren't much different than dry cleaners, in that they are local businesses providing a service to their general neighborhood.
There are only a handful of "destination" bars, and only a few of those are a real problem.
On one hand, no city ever got or stayed healthy solely because of its bars. Bars to me are a product of economic vitality, not a cause.
On the other hand, think of how many "Space Available" signs there'd be in Lakewood if there weren't any bars.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Joan

As is so often the case you are correct. Though I wonder how many Dry Cleaners would have to have the police out front calling for back-ups at 2:00 am on a Saturday night because 300+ people were fighting in front. The policeman showed up, and immediately needed to call for back-up because the crowd was so large and rowdy.

We need bars, and we need dry cleaners, we need clothing, and yes even Bob Evans or Applebees would be welcomed at this point.

But the one thing, we wondered as we looked at the small but much amount contributed was, how much does it cost us in services to make that money.

But you are spot on, with your assessment.


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[Lynn Farris]

Jim, you hit the nail on the head.

Bars generate revenue from property tax and income tax. Income for the servers is often in the form of tips which is historically underreported.

Sales tax goes to the county. Of course there is income tax for the business.

The additional police force needed really offsets the money earned to a large extent. However, there is entertainment value which is important to many in a community. But is that where we want to invest our development money?

What we need for the city is to encourage professional businesses. Not as flashy, but definately more profitable and less cost to the city. Working with Cox to offer low cost or free high speed internet access is a good first step. Making Lakewood a incubator for new businesses is great too.

[Joan Roberts]

Though I wonder how many Dry Cleaners would have to have the police out front calling for back-ups at 2:00 am on a Saturday night because 300+ people were fighting in front. The policeman showed up, and immediately needed to call for back-up because the crowd was so large and rowdy.



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Of course, the cops aren't often calling for backup at the Rush Inn, Merry Arts, or Lakewood Village (I did hear a report of the police being called for 'highway robbery' at the price of good Scotch at the 'new' Pier W, but that's a different story).
I think we're seeing yet another example of the 80/20 rule. 20% of the joints cause 80% of the trouble. The rest really AREN'T much different from dry cleaners.

[Mark Crnolatas]

Here is just a mind dump: There are bars and there are places with bars, so to speak. You can drink at any one of the corner bars and get loaded, or you can go to Pier W or 3 bird, and have a few drinks. The concept is SORT of the same but with a radically different clientel. I think we could use more places with bars, ala Pier W, 3 Bird's small but nice bar, to balance the types of liquer establishments. There's only so many licenses available, but places like Swingo's, Pier W, 3Bird, would be a nice addition, especially with some decent places to eat, after closing to our city.

The only friction I ever saw at 3Bird was how much should one pay for a frame-off Pebble Beach quality restoration of a 34 Packard.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Here is just a mind dump: There are bars and there are places with bars, so to speak. You can drink at any one of the corner bars and get loaded, or you can go to Pier W or 3 bird, and have a few drinks. The concept is SORT of the same but with a radically different clientel. I think we could use more places with bars, ala Pier W, 3 Bird's small but nice bar, to balance the types of liquer establishments. There's only so many licenses available, but places like Swingo's, Pier W, 3Bird, would be a nice addition, especially with some decent places to eat, after closing to our city.

The only friction I ever saw at 3Bird was how much should one pay for a frame-off Pebble Beach quality restoration of a 34 Packard.

Mark

Very correct with one small exception. I was able to get blottoed at Pier W night after night for almost a decade!

Also wanted to see if I could actually answer one of your posts without over writing it!

Well here goes.


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