The Observation Deck

To shift the conversation slightly from another thread, I'd like to talk about what kind of retail works in Lakewood. It certainly is not big chains, which only thrive in the food and drug categories. But there are many community-based business that, in my observations, are very successful. Note I have no knowledge of their balance sheets and have no in-depth conversations with their owners, just a consumers-eye view of the apparent success of the stores. Also I'm not talking restaurants, which are different, but others should feel free to comment on them.

I'd like to look at what defines a succssful store in Lakewood. Also what the city could be doing to better support retail in Lakewood - or perhaps their landlords. The one common element I think is finding an open niche and filling it with savvy merchandising and one-on-one advice.
This is a starter list. I look forward to other's additions. In some cases I may not have the name precisely correct:

Lakewood Hardware - filling a niche that Bobsons left open. Basically, you can find what you need there.
The Bookshop in Lakewood - they keep moving to better quarters, so they must be doing something right.
Lakewood Garden Center - good stuff and good local advice. The place to go for Christmas trees.
Lion and Blue - not for my demographic except when I need to buy something for someone in that demographic.
Pets General - good, complete pet merchandise selection and lots of helpful advice.
Geigers - longstanding business filling a niche with knowledge and flair.

There are many, many more I'll leave to others to fill in.

I suspect we will reach a conclusion that we don't need brand new retail structures, just better use of existing buildings.
I also suspect this is not a new conversation for Lakewood but one that is more appropriate now than ever.

The sales from the various retail storefronts spread through out Lakewood would not make a pimple on an elephants arse compared to a shopping center/mall. I'm willing to bet that the food and bar industry in Lakewood sales is twice what the retail market does. I would hope more viable retailers would move into the vacant storefronts but only those that have a niche market would survive. Even the restaurant and bar business is feeling the heat from over saturation and if the economy turns, many will fail when people start eating at home.

There's not really enough foot traffic around town to support a lot of retail. I think the downtown thing will make it worse. I'm on the east end and the only things i go "downtown" for are Marcs, First Fed, the Library, and Aladdin's takeout. A bunch of national chains, and even more traffic, won't bring me in. Besides, Madison east of Bunts is the real place to be these days.

Walking 5 to 7 miles a day with the dogs, I go past a lot of store fronts. Those with good window displays, and relevant products or services, will get my attention. Last week, with the dogs, I went past Milo and Me, a woman's wear and dog accessory store, up by West Clifton and Detroit. There was a nice vest/shirt/dress in the window that I thought would look great on my wife Rhonda. Came back, got it, and my wife loved it. The woman who assisted me was very knowledgeable, and a nice person. I'de recommend them. And they really know how to do a window display, which I can't
overstate the importance of.