what to do with Detroit and Bunts

Shawn Juris · Post by **Shawn Juris** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 1:34 pm

While chasing our neighbor's retail is rarely the right solution, the choices offered at the new Sears Grand off of 90 at Crocker seemed to fit a need for Lakewood. Specifically the appliance and electronics departments caught my eye as an underserved market in the area.

Bill Call · Post by **Bill Call** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 3:00 pm

While the owners of the site will be making the final decision it wouldn't hurt for the City to be pushing for a certain tenant or certain type of tenant.

The Sears Store seems like a good fit. (Always remember the first rule of local politics Shawn "Your idea sucks and mine doesn't"

Shawn Juris · Post by **Shawn Juris** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 4:24 pm

In this scenario, who do we rely on to attract a business to a site? I agree that in this situation and in general it's better to market and solicit than to wait for someone to express interest. I've heard both the city and the chamber mentioned as entities that "should" be doing something. By the city, I assume we mean the Planning and Development Dept, and this is a goal written in their mission statement.
I haven't heard an answer yet about if it really is the Chamber's responsibility to attract new businesses. I have seen yet another finger pointed at them because Lakewood didn't get Apple, but I'm still not convinced that the Chamber has this as a goal. Seems that establishing a task as their goal should be a precursor to blaming an entity. Otherwise, I guess it's okay to criticize LCA for not having a waterslide park open yet. I mean they never said that was their goal, but I feel like that should be something that they are responsible for.