hey Mayor! How does this process work?

[Bret Callentine]

Since I see that the mayor and several Mayoral hopefulls are reading these posts, I thought I would drop this in here.

There's been lots of discussion as to what everyone feels needs go into the empty store fronts along Detroit and Madison. My question is, who is working on the bigger retailers and how?

My personal interest would be for some main-line clothiers and a big name book store. So on a whim, I e-mailed Gap Inc. to see if they had any interest in opening an Old Navy in Lakewood (I think the old Giant Eagle site would be perfect).

They e-mailed back the standard coverall response about investigating several sites in the area and thanking me for my personal input.

Do we have anyone from the city out beating the bushes for these companies, or are we just sitting back and hoping that they accidently drive through town?

could someone fill me in on the process involved?

thanks

Bret

[Shawn Juris]

Great question. Can't wait to hear this one.

[ryan costa]

In the early 20th century thousands of mid-box retailers sprang up across the country. These were generally started by people without very specialized degrees. The more successful of them built up small chains through expansion, buying out competitors, or franchising. Their initial advantage was in bulk purchasing and distribution.

It is possible information technology has or can eliminate the economies of scale in inventory management and administration previously most enjoyed by large chain stores. It has certainly made finding designers, products, manufacturers, or suppliers easier.

An independent store doesn't have to kick revenue back up to the corporate headquarters hundreds or thousands of miles away. This leaves a cushion for the now minor extra cost of merchandise.

[Bret Callentine]

Wow, how incredibly insightful, yet completely off topic and less than helpful.

Ryan, what color is the sky in the world you live in?

Are you volunteering to open up a store yourself? No? Do you know of some independent business people who are looking to do so? No?

If you're more than done tilting at the Wal-Mart windmill, maybe you wouldn't mind staying out of the way while the rest of us try to do a little shopping.

The question remains, is there a process in hand to introduce some stable retail into this market?

Bret

[ryan costa]

You need to hire Michael Keaton(from the movie Gung Ho) to journey to Arkansas or the East Coast and persuade a Gap or Old Navy to open up in an old Giant Eagle.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Bret

Maybe you and Shawn could car pool to the pants store.

Bret, seriously do me a favor at least think in terms of development not "A" pant store, or "A" bookstore.

Old Navy would have to be doing the same stuff Ryan does to justify moving in Rego's Store. Most retail, especially now with a pitiful retail market need many stores to make any one location work.

Also before you call please look into the business practices of Home Depot, Builders Square etc. Many of these businesses are more interested growth than sales. Business that are growing quickly sell better on Wall Street. Hence many businesses that are about as solid as a Russian stock deal.

Geiger's, slacks tailored, and real Bermuda Shorts. Now that is a pants store.

Still I await the answer much like Shawn on how this works.


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[ryan costa]

The trend is called "Retail Cannibalization" whereby stores saturate a market to crowd out others competing in the niche or from entering the market. These branches eat into each others' own business. Subway Sandwiches are known to experience this, studies have shown the Gap to experience this. The hotel industry experienced this massively a few years ago.

The paradigm by which stores such as "GAP" and "old navy" operate is to operate in a mall or large shopping center. They would have to step outside their comfort zone to open a store in the old Giant Eagle building. Convincing them to do this would require an intermediary, probably a consulting firm of some kind. This way if it fails people at corporate can blame the consulting firm. If it succeeds people at corporate can take accolades for hiring or heeding the consulting firm.

If you want a clothing store in Giant Eagle, it obviously won't be an independent retailer. At best it would be a Super Goodwill, Unique Boutique, or Salvation Army type store. They have been known to thrive in other inner ring suburbs and in sections of Cleveland, and Lakewood has way more hippies.

[dl meckes]

Many of these businesses are more interested growth than sales. Business that are growing quickly sell better on Wall Street. Hence many businesses that are about as solid as a Russian stock deal.

A perfect example of this was Office Depot. They built at 117th and then near Westgate. Their overall numbers dipped and even though the 117th store was making money, both stores were vacated.

It didn't take too long for Staples to come to the space that Office Depot left, but the Fairview (or Rocky River?) location was vacant for a long time.

It didn't make a lot of sense, but at least it didn't happen in the middle of Lakewood.

[Shawn Juris]

Looks like School House Rock better get back to work again. If they can explain how a bill becomes a law and the function of a conjunction, they can certainly explain this one.
And Jim, if your going to keep bringing up my name in regards to wanting retail maybe you would like to list those 6 other clothing stores you claimed are in Lakewood. The other day I noticed you claimed you buy your pants from the mission (?!?), a resale shop and a hemp store... I hope you can come up with something other than garage sales. Otherwise it really is starting to sound like someone who lost the argument and won't just give it up.
But back to the issue at hand. While we wait for the real answer to the Sphinx, what makes sense regarding attracting a business to our quaint little city of homes? First stop would seem to be the owner. I would have to think if you own a building like the old Giant Eagle you would have the most to lose by not finding a tenant. Logic would suggest that it's the owner's ultimate responsibility to fill their space and that these owners of vacant buildings are committed to finding someone. Then again, how many places have sat empty for years?
Next would be the Planning and Development department who would have a long range vision of what Lakewood is in the market for and say, I don't know Planning and Developing to make it happen. Also seems logical to me that if an employee needs a resume and an entrepreneur needs a business plan then a city would need a document to promote themselves. Something that could be presented at a moment's notice to a number of businesses (commercial not just retail) to encourage their relocation and tailored to fit a variety of interests that compliment our city's goals.
Then you have coordination of the various business leaders to act as feelers around their circles to put possible candidates into contact with those property owners or decision makers at City Hall that can make things happen.
Beyond that you would have an architecture committee to ensure that the new business doesn't make the city an eye sore and various regulatory bodies that see to it that they aren't dumping chlorine in our water supply, running sweat shops, or in the future, heaven forbid allowing smoking.

[Bill Call]

Next would be the Planning and Development department who would have a long range vision of what Lakewood is in the market for and say, I don't know Planning and Developing to make it happen. Also seems logical to me that if an employee needs a resume and an entrepreneur needs a business plan then a city would need a document to promote themselves.

What you are describing is the actions of a pro-active administration with a vision for the future, a plan of action and a sense of urgency. This administration lacks all three.

The development department spends a lot of money on salaries and benefits but very little on development. Picture people sitting in the office staring at the phone hopping against hope that someone will call...

[Shawn Juris]

Then the elections should be very interesting...

[Jim O'Bryan]

And Jim, if your going to keep bringing up my name in regards to wanting retail maybe you would like to list those 6 other clothing stores you claimed are in Lakewood. The other day I noticed you claimed you buy your pants from the mission (?!?), a resale shop and a hemp store... I hope you can come up with something other than garage sales. Otherwise it really is starting to sound like someone who lost the argument and won't just give it up.

Well let's not forget Geiger's where most proper Lakewoodites would buy their slacks. Or how about the New York Designers collection at Turnstyle, or great jeans at Chain Link Addiction, then there is always Bobby Lynn, if you have the money, which I do not. I think that brings me to 7.

But go ahead and make fun of hemp fiber that will not only outlive jeans of any make, but cost more and are more comfortable.

So I get it. It can't just be a pants store. It has to be a Shawn Juris approved pants store.

Shawn I am still trying to figure out what another pants store even adds to Lakewood. I see where it might save you 2 gallons of gas and ten minutes twice a year maybe. But what does it do for the rest of us?

I would love a go-kart track, but I respect the city and residents enough to understand, it only sastify my urge to shop RIGHT NOW, and in the long run might not add to the city.

But alas I have given up on the material need to shop, shop, shop just to buy, buy, buy and feel better about myself. I tend to think of what makes the city better, what would attract more good neighbors.

Bill

I have a couple question about this whole discussion.

Some, Shawn too I believe feel that is it nuts to try to build a brand for the city. So how do we attract anyone without the ability to desribe the city in bullet points? Do we not need to develop a brand or define the brand so that we can explain the city?

Do we really want the planning department to set up this city as much as you say? I mean let's be honest, they brought us "Mainstreet" neither the head nor his assistant even live in or near the wood. One chosing to move after taking the job. I really enjoy talking with Tom Jordan, but I get the feeling we shop in completely different places.

Would it not be better to define the city, advertise the city, then get the planning department ready for any work needed? Shouldn't the Planning Department be the group that coordinates plans that come to the city. Like the West End that would have been a traffic nightmare or an empty mall? To be honest I had thought it should be the Chamber that is paid in part for their work.


.

[Bret Callentine]

Jim,

as to your earlier reply, I am constantly considering overall development. Although I didn't major in city planning, and I don't have a degree in economics, however, my personal theory is that to gain the consumer footprint we're looking for, we would need a hand full of "destination" stores, places that people from the surrounding cities would drive in for (Giant Eagle, Marcs, etc.), and if those were strategically placed, then it would bring in more traffic for the boutique shops. The additional draw should more than counteract the dip in individual market share.

Right now, if you're in need of just about any specific personal item (except prescription drugs), your first instinct will probably be to hop in the car and drive in any direction away from Lakewood.

Like it or not, a strong percentage of the populations prefers the known quantity and quality (even lack thereof) of a chair store. I'm not suggesting we totally let them take over, but a few major retailers should be welcomed.

I don't think you can successfully build a retail base entirely on boutique stores. And Geigers is fine, for many, but one size doesn't fit all.

I most definitely don't have the answers, but my question remains: IS THERE ANYONE AT CITY HALL WHO IS AT LEAST LOOKING FOR THE ANSWERS? WHO ARE THEY? AND HOW ARE THEY GOING ABOUT IT?

Actually, I now have another question... Can you wear hemp clothes through the drug/explosive sniffing scanner at the airport? Or is that just an open invitation to the latex glove wearing inspector?

[Kenneth Warren]

The fundamental fly in the ointment of attracting any retail to Lakewood’s built environment is the owner of each property.

It may take decades to amass a suitable footprint that creates the proper conditions for banks and corporate retail to underwrite a development.

The willing buyers and sellers need to agree on prices.

How much public cash needs to go into the infrastructure to make the development platform happen?

Is the deal as sweet as it looks with the first set of numbers? Who is holding the bag of risk?

Increasingly the public, anxious to see economic development and to realize their dreams and desires.

We saw the difficulties with 47.

Built out Lakewood hangs tough with small time property owners unfit for the larger corporate retail occupation.

If you speak to small business operators, you will hear about the difficulties posed by neglectful and/or greedy landlords. The landlords often live out of town, depend on a particular cash-flow model for income extraction, hold with little interest or inclination to adjust to the market or risk greater investment in the property. Such landlords would rather have an empty store than lower rents.

We know the Planning Department attempts from time to time to engage property owners in economic development and or property improvement discussions. However, some owners are not interested in such discussions; they are satisfied with their current cash-flow/risk position with the property. Such landlords are not exactly the types fit to do business with the corporate model.

No matter our ideal retail dreams, we must appreciate the real level of the property game. That is to say, we must acknowledge, as I would imagine the Planning and Development Department does, the structures and situations that limit action, decision-making and investment in any properties at any given time.

It’s all about the ownership of the property, and the cash flow, risk models attached.

Bottom line of the retail discontent: The cause for many empty storefronts the issue is the property owner whose motivations and wherewithal diverge from the ideal retail dreams often expressed on the LO Deck.

City government, Chamber of Commerce, Main Street – you name it – are up against these walls.

Let’s be fair and realistic in acknowledging the situation. At the same time I must admit that it is rather discouraging to observe that City government, Chamber of Commerce, Main Street are not stepping up to disclose their answers to this sincere inquiry.

Kenneth Warren

[Jim O'Bryan]

Let?s be fair and realistic in acknowledging the situation. At the same time I must admit that it is rather discouraging to observe that City government, Chamber of Commerce, Main Street are not stepping up to disclose their answers to this sincere inquiry.

Kenneth Warren

Ken

Could the fact that the planning department, mainstreet, and the Chamber do not live in the Wood be a factor?

Could another factor be that Mainstreet housed in the Chamber offices and paid in part by the city Planning Department, and the Chamber that relies on the City Planning Department and the City Planning Department are all redundant?

Just passing thoughts.

.