quote:

Originally posted by Shore Thing:
Everyone is praising Wheaton. What have I missed? When I think of the CBD of Wheaton my only thoughts are a few restaurants (we do like The Bank) and The Paper House . Help me out so I can enjoy their success.

That's one more establishment you are enjoying than we have in GE...

Let me think...

PS Flowers (moved there from GE)
Emilios Tapas
Beautiful French Market on Saturday mornings
Up Country
Stride Rite
That ADORABLE store with home goods just down from Up Country - long hall that opens to 3 stores - SO CUTE!!!
Clean/homeless free Starbucks
Clean Streets
Carlson
Thia and Company
The Wine shop

I'll stop for a breath...but when I want to find something for my home, I go to Wheaton first. If I want a cookie, I go to Glen Ellyn.

quote:

If I want a cookie, I go to Glen Ellyn.

LOL....

quote:

Originally posted by mom:
Let me think...

PS Flowers (moved there from GE)
Emilios Tapas
Beautiful French Market on Saturday mornings
Up Country
Stride Rite
That ADORABLE store with home goods just down from Up Country - long hall that opens to 3 stores - SO CUTE!!!
Clean/homeless free Starbucks
Clean Streets
Carlson
Thia and Company
The Wine shop

I'll stop for a breath...but when I want to find something for my home, I go to Wheaton first. If I want a cookie, I go to Glen Ellyn.

Don't forget that Wheaton also has Town Square and Danada which are wonderful shopping areas! I certainly can't argue that Glen Ellyn has the best cookies!

Those little butter cookies at the FB really are good.

TIFs/Eminent Domain are effective tools if used properly. What Wheaton, etc. have that we don't is a solid plan so they know when/if it is appropriate to use it.

GE Fan is right, the decaying retail spaces aren't going away soon. But The Bike Shop, Giggles and Gaggles, M&Ms and that shining star FUCHSIA, are examples of unique businesses with successful business models that opened since 1998 and are doing well. (Can anything be worse than the location and the appearance of that Fuchsia space...Ashlee Rooney is a retail genius!)

And what keeps Katies, Environments 2, Geishe and Treasure House in business FOR YEARS?

And, if Good Works and the Water Massage place are truly leaving, doesn't the Banyan Tree Mall (What a cool office supply store it used to be!) have FOOD COURT written all over it? Especially if The Patio is closing as well...

There's a store in Geneva called Cocoon. It operates in an old house. (Haven't been there in a while, I THINK this is still true...) Would they want to open a branch in that red house on Pennsylvania?

We have sort of a destination CBD for home building and remodeling for the western suburbs...Visit Drury or the others for design, Youngs or Soukups for appliances, Maison Suzanne, the new Vintage place or various other interior places for design and accents, etc. What other complimentary businesses to this are out there? Would Frontgate open a storefront? Williams Sonoma HOME? Wow!

None of these ideas are particulary revolutionary, but it does not seem like the village planning department, EDC and COC are working together to make it happen. Maybe they are and we just don't know. Hope so!

Maison Suzanne rocks.

That is all.

quote:

Originally posted by 4MP:
that shining star FUCHSIA, are examples of unique businesses with successful business models that opened since 1998 and are doing well. (Can anything be worse than the location and the appearance of that Fuchsia space...Ashlee Rooney is a retail genius!)

Her husband, for sure, likes me more than any other person who posts on this board. That being said, look at the way she was treated. Bums are allowed to lay all over the CBD, trashcans are permitted to overflow with disgust and Ashlee and Fuschia gets cited by the GEPD for having a tailgating party....twice.

Goes to show the priorities of our Village and it is a tell-tale example as to why our CBD is dead.

Wait till I tell him how much you charge me per hour versus what you are charging him. We will see where his allegiances lie.

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:
Wait till I tell him how much you charge me per hour versus what you are charging him. We will see where his allegiances lie.

I've never billed either of you. Come to think of it...it's billing time.

I've seen people pooping, peeing, littering, drinking fohtees while shirtless in parks, leaning against private property (automobiles), passed out in public and apparently other things go on that I have not witnessed...but this poor girl serves a glass of champagne to a client...and Katy bar the door.

Nice priorities.

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:
and Katy bar the door.

Clam, quite impressed with the original spelling from the UK....Most people use Katie here in the states.....NIU served you well...

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:
I've seen people ... while shirtless in parks...

Didn't you say you don't go shirtless around the neighborhood? No matter, champagne at tailgates sounds sophisticated...and nice!

It's entirely about the money. Why ticket a bum when there is a 0.00001 chance that they will ever pay it? Business owners will/must pay.

That's why we have our diligent meter maid with the nice jeep. Don't bother him to actually live up to the "Community Service Officer" name that is painted on his truck. He's too busy squinting into every car to see if you've got a sticker.

quote:

Originally posted by 4MP:


You and GE Fan are examples of our best and brightest.

We're doomed....

Your kid likes me...

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:
Your kid likes me...

Who cares what he thinks. We certainly don't need political support.

In general...people love us.

JB Winterberry is the great store down from Up Country.
like 3 huge stores, plenty of sales help.

The Wine Tasting place is great for gifts. Great bar ware.
My kids love It's Our Earth

a new stir fry grill has opened, can't remember the name but I popped in one afternoon to check it out and was meet by the most helpful manager.

I could add more, Dupage Art Leauge, oh TATE's my kids absolute fav for ice crean, not some fancy smanchy CSC. BTW I think I read most CSC are having finanical problems.

quote:

Originally posted by Buggy24:
BTW I think I read most CSC are having finanical problems.

See this franchise forum at this link

quote:

Heavy "for sale" postings of Cold Stone Creamery on bizbuysell.com

There is a heavy dose of Cold Stone Creamery stores for sale all around the country, some selling below 170k or even at asset cost. Pretty scary, since it takes heavy investment dollars just to open one of these babies. Also, these stores are "sub-managed" by an area developer who might have three to four states under their belt: meaning they are responsible for finding their own franchisees in their area. I think this structure presents major issues, which may also explain why there are so many stores for sale. Very alarming, but the franchise media doesn't seem to pick up on the disharmony and even mentioned it to the public. The ROI seems to really be crippling these stores, especially since the dessert business is truly a discreationary spending entity and now also competing with gasoline dollars. Probably the worst type of QSR you can be in, in this economy. Any insight from anyone? The list I saw, just on that one website was staggering!