River Mall?

[Jim O'Bryan]

Puts Crocker Park in a whole new light.

Damn!

How did we let that chunck of economic development slip through our fingers!

We must not allow a "strip mall gap."

I thought there was a book store there?All kinds of clothes, Black and White! and a Barber College just like the strip mall on Pearl Road and Brookpark. Well not just like, the one on Pearl is 4 times as large. Still have to drive nearly 12 minutes for cheesecake!

Come one, tell you do not think it was worth the hype? Wonder what it created in taxes before it was turned into a retail monster?

[Grace O'Malley]

You're just jealous we don't have an Ann Taylor Loft in Lakewood, admit it.

[Bill Call]

We must not allow a "strip mall gap."

You and I are in agreement on this one. The last thing I want is a series of strip malls up and down Detroit.

On the other hand, I don't want a series of vacant store fronts on the first floor of poorly maintained buildings. That's where a real vision for the City can have some impact.

If Drug Mart moves to Detroit and Bunts they can close two stores in Lakewood. The vacant store across from Rockport can be torn down along with the aging apartments that sit behind it.

If the Drug Mart across from the Library closes that opens up an option for:

A new park?

Office condominiums?

Office and retail?

Retail Condominiums?

The City should be proactive in seeking development. Not as a decision maker but as a facilitator. We are in competition with other cities for jobs, residents and tax dollars. It is not jealousy that has people asking: Why not here?, its a concern about the future of the City.

The Mayor shouldn't be a manager of decline but a visionary.

[DougHuntingdon]

What is so wrong with Drug Mart? Not classy enough? Offended by the sign that says free ride in a police car if you shoplift? Too many black people shop there? Too many immigrants? What is wrong with strip malls in a commercial district?

Doug

PS I went to Crocker Park for the first time a few weeks ago. It was much smaller than I anticipated. You can get there via two of RTA's circulators--808 and 822, I believe. Crocker Park is not so horrible as some say on this board, but it's not a good place for adult men to shop (except for Dick's Sporting Goods). It is more for women and the younger teenage/college crowd. I realize all malls tend to lean that way, but this one seems to lean that way more than others. The mall was much smaller than I anticipated, too...mostly tiny stores not many large ones...reminds me of the new Beachcliff Development in Rocky River. One nice thing about Crocker Park is that it is adjacent to the Promenade, and also very close to another plaza that includes Marc's.

[Lynn Farris]

The Mayor shouldn't be a manager of decline but a visionary.

Bill I couldn't have said it better. Other cities may want to manage decline, but I think if we go against the grain, we will be the ones with opportunities.

I'd like to see the Mayor work with Giant Eagle to put in something in that place that the city really wants and needs. Not another drug store or dollar store. This is a good size parcel in the middle of town. I hope it is something special.

[DougHuntingdon]

Maybe they can put in a big Unique Thrift Store.

[Ivor Karabatkovic]

the nice thing about westgate was it suited everyone's needs.... from 1-100 years old. oh why did they get rid of westgate, now us teens have to drive alllllll the way out to north olmsted to throw away our checks

[Anne Steiner]

Jim---its not just a Barber College. Its an Aveda Institue, besides teaching cosmotology they also teach astetitions (people who do skin care and make-up). It'll be really nice because you can get Aveda services for a fraction of the price from the students who are learning.

[Bill Call]

What is so wrong with Drug Mart?

I shop at Drug Mart more than any other store in Lakewood. It is a locally owned and operated which means the value added jobs stay here.

What do we know?

We know that the library Drug Mart is to small for the volume of business it does. Drug Mart would like a larger facility. We know they have two stores in Lakewood that do very well. We know that the Giant Eagle space on Bunts is available.

If Drug Mart moves to the Giant Eagle location would Drug Mart need two stores in Lakewood so close together? If both of their current locations merged into one at the current Giant Eagle site what development opportunities would that bring to the City at Kaufman Park and Rockport?

Shouldn't City leaders be pro-active about development?

[Jim O'Bryan]

You're just jealous we don't have an Ann Taylor Loft in Lakewood, admit it.

Grace

I suppose if I were to ever take up cross dressing I would have to go to Ann Taylor, at least that is my understanding of the clothes line they offer.

However i see most of the "brand name" jealousy being rather shallow. IKEA would have an impact in Lakewood, nearly everything else would be nothing more than one hit wonders.

The one thing I noticed is that two or three Lakewood store fronts could handle almost any of these mall stores. Most are really not anchors, just supporting cast. Most would not draw to Lakewood, but many would take away.

I for one love my drives to Crocker Park for books and giggles.

.

[Jim O'Bryan]

The Mayor shouldn't be a manager of decline but a visionary...

Bill/Lynn

You will have to excuse me, as I have my rose colored glasses on. New Y, New Library, New Schools, 6 new restaurants, a resurgence in Madison Village, Rosewood, The Cliffs, Rockport. Were is the decline?

Do we have some tough choices to make, sure.

Of course we did have a student of the Levin College as saying they taught how to manage decline, and I see they have been chosen by (?) to head up the new study.

Anne Steiner

Thanks for the clarification on Aveida. You have to understand I am a man of simple tastes. Had my hair cut at West Clifton Barber Shop for most of my life. Then when Andy died I went to the Reagel Beagle, and was amazed at what has happened to the "haircut." Hot stone massage, facial, and the stuff they call product!

So what do they teach? Is this a shot by Rocky River to claim their own college? Is it credited like Virgina Marti? Is it a barometer like Dollar stores? I noticed that Rocky River actually had their Dollar Tree before we did. Is this a secret way for Rocky River to downscale? Do they offer monogramming at Jos. A. Bank, like they do at Geigers on my white shirts? Nothing finishes a white shirt like white embroidery of initials on the sleeve.

.

[dl meckes]

I promise I'm not as grumpy as I'm going to sound...

The property at Bunts and Detroit is owned by the Regos, not Giant Eagle. Since they own the property, they, and not the city have control over it.

Perhaps the city should advise them about the "higher, better use" of the site?

I can't imagine why DrugMart would want to consolidate their stores, but it hardly matters to me because I quit looking for bargains there years ago. The stores are a mess. I don't shop in "classy" stores, but I also don't shop in dirty stores. There has to be some happy medium for bargain shopping.

Westgate will be rebuilt and we're looking forward to haveing a Lowe's closer to home than Old Brooklyn.

An Aveda Institute sounds interesting. Both Jim and I could stand a moisture mask, but if he's really nice, he'll pamper his gorgeous wife. Would it be so bad to have more full-service salons and spas?

[Charyn Compeau]

..

[Jim O'Bryan]

I guess I dont get the grand resentment.
CHaryn

Charyn

No grand resentment from me. I was just totally underwhelmed with the Rocky River Mall. I had thought it was a project that went from Lake to Detroit, that it would be a smaller version of Crocker Park. It is more like a small section of the Promenade strip mall. With the small exception being the Promenade is not falling apart.

I had heard finally a bookstore. It is not anything more that Little Professor on steroids. More magazine titles than book titles. Which is OK I like magazines. But they did not carry the magazines I yearn for, where Borders and Bank Street News does. Both only 12 minutes away.

I could not see the "anchor" for the place. But I could be blind, maybe Ann Taylor Loft is an anchor, or Jos. A. Bank they do not pop into my mind as a true anchor.

no resentment, no jealousy, just observations.


.

[Ruth Sholtis-Furyes]

My friend Kirstin is the magazine manager at Liberty. They haven't received all their magazines in yet. She can get ones they they don't carry.

As far as I am concerned I like the new Beachcliff. The book store is awesome. I can't wait to check out Aveda. First Watch is overrated. Borderline or The Place to Be or the Shore are way better. I like that I can stop in Ann Taylor or White House with out going to Crocker Park.