The Observation Deck

Anne Steiner wrote:I guess its really something when Ritchie RR can't support store like Chicos and WHBM

Anne

This is something we all should look at right now very closely.

Lakewood Grow thought it was best to forget retail and think office space. At the time I thought this was a good idea, but I can see that falling by the wayside.

There is a Lakewood software company that specializes in allowing companies to function without walls, clocks, punching in, etc.

With the price of gas climbing, and the internet sales still climbing, retail, and offices are dinosaurs.

The good news, Lakewood is perfect for that.

HOWEVER





12 months never leased.




closing.



three more now empty.



moving, maybe to Lakewood.

And there are two other spots next to Max's.

No sense in looking back.


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Jim O'Bryan wrote:

Anne Steiner wrote:I guess its really something when Ritchie RR can't support store like Chicos and WHBM

Anne

This is something we all should look at right now very closely.

Lakewood Grow thought it was best to forget retail and think office space. At the time I thought this was a good idea, but I can see that falling by the wayside.

There is a Lakewood software company that specializes in allowing companies to function without walls, clocks, punching in, etc.

With the price of gas climbing, and the internet sales still climbing, retail, and offices are dinosaurs.

The good news, Lakewood is perfect for that.


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good point Jim!

I never went to Liberty, but knew people that liked it.

I remember thinking how odd it was that Chico's and WHBM were putting stores at Beachcliff when they both had recently opened stores at Crocker. That never seemed to make sense.

I saw the new bookstore on Madison a couple days ago, and figured I had just never noticed it before. I'll have to check it out!

Jim,

Maybe it's the way you shot them, or maybe you did some cropping of the originals, but those photos are kind of depressing.

Reminds me a bit of when Westgate became a ghost town right before it was decided to redevelop it as an open-air complex.

in somewhat related news to this thread, the PD had a blurb today that there are dwindling number of indie bookstores nationwide - and only 100 in Ohio (the author notes a new one in Trement, but not the new Lakewood one.)

A lot of Lakewood people liked those stores, especially Liberty. None of them is likely to locate on this side of the bridge, nor will their closings boost any Lakewood businesses. Their closing is a net loss for our city.

Dee Martinez wrote:A lot of Lakewood people liked those stores, especially Liberty. None of them is likely to locate on this side of the bridge, nor will their closings boost any Lakewood businesses. Their closing is a net loss for our city.

Dee

Their closing will be a net loss to Lakewood, Rocky River and the region. After all we do have a regional sales tax. I think many of us forget this. While it is a loss to Lakewood, at least we will not be burdened with the ghost town.

John

We have an opportunity right now here in Lakewood with our Indie bookstore. They love Lakewood and are willing to try anything with this store.

You know first hand how many serious talks people have had on this. I know of one group that was loooking to underwrite a bookstore, and turn it over to residents to run. One of those silly VAL thingies.

We have a chance to grow one, in a good location for this.

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Please dont misconstrue but "regional taxes" and "ghost towns" mean very little to me. My comment was strictly quality-of-life. I liked having Chicos and especially Liberty Books so close. Whether they ever put a nickle into Lakewoods coffers is immaterial in my book.
I will certainly visit the Madison store. I am not a used book fan (thats why I keep a library card) so if thats the fare, I will probably be an infrequent visitor. But I apprecaite there are many who are, so I wish these new businesspeople the best of success.

Has everyone forgotten about Half Priced books?

that's the only place I go for any books..