...every bit helps
Boycotts haven't been effective with these big chains. They have the capital to float stores that are losing money for years, while they build enough stores to squeeze out the competition. At first, it's a bargain for shoppers - rock bottom prices. But, in the long run, we all lose, because they can survive longer than your local retailers and then they jack up the prices. We have seen this all over Austin and the results are ugly and bad economics.
These big chain stores know how to salt the local politicians with a little good will and money for the most desperate charities - it's good PR. Meanwhile, they think nothing of walking away from a 10 year old building, leaving a ghost town look behind. Sunset Valley has a lot to be worried about - they have gotten used to big tax revenues that can dry up overnight.
This is classic Monopoly behavior.
It takes a lot more time and it's much harder to start-up a local business - one that caters to the local community. And, they don't have look like North Lamar or South Congress.
We got a nice sized Brick Oven and it's already too small. We need restraunts that have meeting rooms for clubs, business meetings, Sunday church breakfasts, birthday parties, etc. A Subway or a Wal-Mart can't provide that kind of service.
Remember how even the smallest Texas towns always had a dinner or a barbershop? A place town people gathered ? Somehow, I don't think Starbucks will fill that need.
There is a concept called ''Mixed-Use'', which is how neighborhoods used to be desiged. That means, mixing retail and residential in the same area. Often, with apartments or townhouses over the stores. In fact, that's what Endeavor is proposing near IBM - it's a difficult thing to make work - the housing has to be affordable and the retail store rents have to be reasonable, too! But, if it works, there is a real committment in the community and it has long term implications.
My old neighborhood, Crestview, was designed that way in the 1950's. They have a gas station, market, drug store, and they even planned the site for their firestation. They have sidewalks and almost no dead-end streets.
Boycotts haven't been effective with these big chains. They have the capital to float stores that are losing money for years, while they build enough stores to squeeze out the competition. At first, it's a bargain for shoppers - rock bottom prices. But, in the long run, we all lose, because they can survive longer than your local retailers and then they jack up the prices. We have seen this all over Austin and the results are ugly and bad economics.
These big chain stores know how to salt the local politicians with a little good will and money for the most desperate charities - it's good PR. Meanwhile, they think nothing of walking away from a 10 year old building, leaving a ghost town look behind. Sunset Valley has a lot to be worried about - they have gotten used to big tax revenues that can dry up overnight.
This is classic Monopoly behavior.
It takes a lot more time and it's much harder to start-up a local business - one that caters to the local community. And, they don't have look like North Lamar or South Congress.
We got a nice sized Brick Oven and it's already too small. We need restraunts that have meeting rooms for clubs, business meetings, Sunday church breakfasts, birthday parties, etc. A Subway or a Wal-Mart can't provide that kind of service.
Remember how even the smallest Texas towns always had a dinner or a barbershop? A place town people gathered ? Somehow, I don't think Starbucks will fill that need.
There is a concept called ''Mixed-Use'', which is how neighborhoods used to be desiged. That means, mixing retail and residential in the same area. Often, with apartments or townhouses over the stores. In fact, that's what Endeavor is proposing near IBM - it's a difficult thing to make work - the housing has to be affordable and the retail store rents have to be reasonable, too! But, if it works, there is a real committment in the community and it has long term implications.
My old neighborhood, Crestview, was designed that way in the 1950's. They have a gas station, market, drug store, and they even planned the site for their firestation. They have sidewalks and almost no dead-end streets.
