Help promote small business in Lakewood

[Donald Farris]

Hi,
There are many organizations in Lakewood that promote different aspects of development in NE Ohio. I would credit MAMA and DADA to be the most focused on Lakewood small businesses to date.

Someone mentioned a 24 hour diner and the fact a new "just starting" business in Lakewood needs a advocacy group to help get Lakewood City to be flexible with their laws to help new businesses take root. Would it really hurt to have a 24 hour diner on Detroit? Don't we have 24 hour drug stores?

I know many feel the best a City can do to get business is to employ eminent domain and to give them money. But these things are very rarely done to help a small business. They are forms of big corporation welfare that filters out most if not all of the benefits the business ends up bringing to a City. Small businesses are the true key to what Lakewood needs and would benefit from the most.

The best steps a City can take to help promote small businesses is to make small adjustments in the local laws that have been placed in the books over the years, to serve as barriers to business.

I know the former Mayor told me the City didn't want businesses, like mine, only to then push hard for the City to give $100,00 to one of my competitors. I need to do $850,000 in business to earn $100,000. I think the City government should be wanting to help all legitimate ventures start and stay in the City, especially along our Detroit and Madison commercial corridors. Now is the time for the City to change their attitude to small businesses for the most benefit. The City can alter barriers to business (existing laws) to level the playing field without artificially favoring specific businesses.

To help with this, an advocacy group is needed. How about it? Anyone out there willing to help Lakewood small businesses?

[sharon kinsella]

Isn't that what the Chamber is supposed to do?

[Jim O'Bryan]

Isn't that what the Chamber is supposed to do?

I would say maybe.

I want to make it clear that the Chamber of Commerce under the direction of
longtime Lakewoodite deserves support and a chance.

The Chamber can help some, the city can help many. Nate Kelly is very proactive
and is always willing to talk when asked to any business looking to Lakewood.

Certainly Paula Reed, and the Downtown Group should be helpful.

The Lakewood Observer can certainly help. We have some pretty amazing programs
for small businesses, from getting them here, to helping them promote.

Then MAMA for Madison,and new mate DADA,which is there to fill the cracks and
help geographically.

Of course the difference between LO/MAMA/DADA and the rest. No cost to join, and
can deliver the most bang for the buck.

But the savvy business person would use all of them.

To get them here, we all need to do our part. Yesterday with the "known names" he
was talking about being interested in Lakewood. Thought of one spot Mel Page and I
thought of 5 more. India Garden came about because our designer was eating at their
place at Crocker Park speaking with the owner,who said it was too expensive. He suggested
Lakewood, and starting taking them Lakewood Observers.

We need to talk about what is right with Lakewood, when out of the Wood, not what
is wrong.

It is amazing the number of calls and emails the paper gets for help from residents
and businesses looking to move here! I always help.

Should I be billing for this?


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FWIW

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[Donald Farris]

Hi,
You ask if this group or that group does help small businesses get Lakewood laws changed. This is easy to answer. Look at history. I can not name 1 barrier to business (law) that any group has successfully gotten Lakewood City Council to address. Can you?

Yes, Mr. OB the best hope (I believe) is you or the organizations you have helped get started. But would/could someone wanting to start a business and facing a barrier be able (or even know about) to ask LO/MAMA/DADA for help? You have done a World of good, but so much more can be done. Agreed, at no compensation.

My experience with other organizations one typically thinks of as supporting business are actually groups more concerned with winning the City government's good will than that of someone dreaming to create a small business.

I don't share a high opinion of the Planning Dept. They are focused on hitting the Home Run with the big boys and don't have time for 4 singles with the little guy. Did Nate Kelly help resolve the sprinkler issue with a low interest loan or some other idea?

[dl meckes]

Mr. Farris, why do you want to force people to live next to 24 hour businesses?

[Jim O'Bryan]

Don

A couple things.

Nate is pretty good,and pretty open. I will ask.

MAMA was the brain child of Justine Cooper, I just had the pleasure of helping her
launch it. It show you what can be done with people working together. Today Mel
Page who showed the same love for Madison that Justine had, made the a perfect
choice for her and everyone involved.

DADA stumbles, but is making great inroads outside of the DowntowN area.

I am lucky, I have a great hobby,and some spectacular support.

A smart business person would stop at each place and let them buy lunch and listen
very closely to all. Got to be something worth hearing and many good lunches.

.

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[Donald Farris]

Hi,

Okay, DL you got me, we have always wanted a 24 hour diner as we have always had to travel outside the city to visit one. But I don't want to force people to live next to 24 hour businesses. But we already have 24 hour drug stores. don't we? How do we differentiate between one business and another? It shouldn't be because of the size of their legal staff.

I am well aware personally of the difficulties people have with bars open until the wee hours. I know that many of these people do go to diners after drinking and that can be a problem. But maybe those individuals eating instead of driving saves lives and protects property. I also know there is a market for diners open late at night in Lakewood. Not all of these people are drunks.

However, can we do something to accommodate the businesses and fill this market niche? Can the businesses be required to have a sound barrier between the business and the residential area? Fire-stations, Police Stations and Hospitals are also 24 hour services, how do we protect the citizens that live next to these facilities from the noise? Could we employ the same techniques?

The diner location mentioned faces Detroit with no path to the properties behind it. This is a much preferred to a site like the newest 24 hour drug store on Madison which sits sideways in the corridor and spills much more sound into the adjacent neighborhood. Has there been any research comparing the sound levels of a 24 hour drug store vs a 24 hour diner? Has there been any good research on how to accommodate the 2 needs?

Have you gone to a 24 hour diner that sits just outside Lakewood, in the middle of the night? I have, and it has always been a subdued experience.

[dl meckes]

I'm actually unaware of a 24 hour drugstore on Madison. If you're talking about the Walgreen's at Revely, it is not open 24 hours.

The businesses open 24 hours on Highland Avenue are not directly adjacent to housing.

You experiences as visitors might differ somewhat from actual residents.

The Planning Commission makes sure neighbors know what's happening and have a voice.

We also live between Fire Station One and the hospital and I can testify that they don't have constant traffic, nor do they run their sirens all the time. The only time a siren is worrisome is when it stops near your house.

Noise is only one reason why people are not eager to have a 24 hr business as neighbors. Most of the drugstore and eateries have panhandlers in the parking lots, too. Everybody tries to convince them to leave, but they are a fairly constant presence.

[dl meckes]

By the way, I am not adverse to a 24 hour diner, I just don't want it close to neighbors. Not having access isn't enough if it is close to housing and there are a number of places in Lakewood that would work.

[Donald Farris]

Hi,
So, your not adverse to a 24 hour diner? And you agree there are a number of places in Lakewood where it would work? Then, you are just busting my chops. Fair enough.

Lakewood can continue as it has in the past, it's very difficult to change. And the commerical corridors can remain empty. I was just offering my opinion on what Lakewood needs to do to improve its occupancy. But, I hear you.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Hi,
Then, you are just busting my chops. Fair enough.

Now that is funny, chops! I get it. Like pork chops.

Seriously I would hope any place large enough to take on 24 hours would have
a really good architect, and staff that would already be working with the Planning
Department.

I thought we were talking about stopping the entire nightmare of Cerealisious,where
he built out without asking, which caused him to open months late on a shoestring budget
which cause groups to boycott and eventually gleefully run him out of business.

One would wonder how that could even happen directly across from the Chamber and
Mainstreet Headquarters? Certainly they helped?

No, a smart business person would get all sides.


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[Donald Farris]

Hi,
To give you some idea of how out of date the Chamber as a national organization is, please read: Apple Quits Chamber Of Commerce Over Climate Change.