Muscatine

Uhhh...

Maybe because it is a flood zone? duh

Muscatine can have a place like

that. You just need to find an entrepenuer with capital and a good business plan to do it. However with the slim sucess rates in general of new resturants suceeding and especially here in Muscatine that maybe a negative. DF mentioned the building would also be in a flood plain which is a deterent. I don't think it is politics which is stopping something like this as much as business common sense.

the total package.

I can't speak for all families, but I know when we plan a day out, whether we're shopping, or attending some kind of event, we normally plan where we're going to eat too. Putting a couple restaurants on our riverfront is not enough to keep us in town. Ever tried to take a teenager clothes shopping, or shop for furniture in Muscatine?

Sure, we have a decent furniture store, but to go to the Quad Cities or Iowa City where there are more choices makes sense for us.

There is just not enough variety here to keep my shopping dollars in town. I DO look locally before I leave town to buy stuff, but it's just the ''same old'' here for retail businesses, and eating establishments.

It's not an insult to Muscatine, it's just being realistic. We are a town of under 30,000. We can't be Chicago, ya know?

As far as keeping alcohol away from the riverfront, I am always cautious when I read or hear ''I heard''. Again, they could put a couple bars or restaurants on the riverfront, but it's not going to make a world of difference for those who truly seek to get the best experience and value for their hard-earned money.

Happy Election Day y'all!

Always,
Lil

I remember when, LIL!

Lil's got a point, sad to say. Our downtown merchants are trying to give all of us a unique shopping & cultural experience. Unfortunately, our kids & teens want more. Remember when we grew up, guys?
When I was small, I would visit an aunt that believed that any place that was ''not downtown'', was the country. She grew up in the depression; dishsoap, toilet paper, fancy hats & reading glasses were important to her. She found those things at the Woolworth store located downtown. I FOUND the soda fountain fascinating while she shopped!
As a teen, my friends & I shopped, circled, & flirted our way thru the mall! God, did we have fun! Remember all that? Our kids don't know what they are missing, do they?
My dad used to roll his eyes & grumble @ my request to take me & my friends to the mall. I wish I could do the same! We didn't have much money as we grew up. When snow was threatened, we went to Montgomery Wards to get our winter wear. Local dollars were spent here, by my parent's & by us teens with all our ''disposable income''. The world has changed, hasn't it?