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Originally posted by theTroof:

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Originally posted by Clamato:
BTW, can anyone see any of these stores opening in our downtown? Eddie Bauer, The Gap, Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Old Navy, William Sonoma, Crate & Barrel, Bed Bath & Beyond or Barnes and Noble.

Sure -- why not?!? I don't think these retailers will move into the "downtown" as we know it. But I think if the Village and a Retailer(s) work creatively, there are perfect locations for these stores.

The paradigm of "downtown Glen Ellyn" will need to shift, but its doable. First, the existing downtown (Main St. and the east side of Crescent) will not turnover. We all know that. The buildings are ramshackle at best. They haven't been maintained, they are fugly and it's not realistic. UNLESS, a retailer comes in with the weight to get buildings razed and rebuilt. Much like Borders in La Grange (to wit, a "landlocked" town bisected by railroad tracks that had no parking), but for the sake of argument probably not realistic.

But why not the opportunities on Pennsylvania and Crescent west of Main? Raze that dumpy building that the carpet store is in, harvest a retailer (or two) to build a space there (in conjunction with the village). Then raze the red house next to it that no one will ever move into, and put parking in that space. This will lead to further growth along that corridor. The Antique Store (that I assume will not be turned into an organic store/deli due to Honey) is another opportunity. The point being, the concept of "Downtown" will have to move - maybe just a couple of blocks, but it needs to move.

This will allow for the existing downtown to be possibly turned into a restaurant destination, but that's another thread.

Harvesting these types of retailers to keep people downtown (beyond visiting Starbucks, Cold Stone or Eisteins) is the only way downtown GE will have a chance. There seems to be great dichotomy in Glen Ellyn retail behaviors: The schism betweem "The community that the retailers/village WANT to shop downtown" (these being the nouveau riche, the newbies who just moved here from Bucktown and the "Big Houses") versus "The community that actually WANTS to shop downtown" (the Townies and the Oldsters). It's the difference between the folks that might pull over at Starbucks or Einsteins on the way to Oak Brook as opposed to the people that bitch about $8 hamburgers and yearn for the days that GE had a "haberdashery" and non-chain drug stores.

P.S. - How does Geneva do it? They've created a "Downtown Experience" by fostering The Little Traveler, other innovations like the new restaurant/shopping complex, and programs like this:

Building Façade/Site Improvement Matching Grant Program: Past Ten Years: $200,000 Public Grant Funds has served to stimulate $3M in Private Investment in Commercial Properties in Downtown Geneva Maintaining/Enhancing Physical Character of Downtown.

WOW!?!?! What a concept!

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Originally posted by t.a. superette:
Geneva has three, count 'em three highways dissecting the downtown: 31, 25 and 38. it also has the UP and a vacation-like setting w/ the river and the traffic that brings. that sort of environment makes brands drool. GE has a train and a CBD a mile from either highway. it has a 27K fickle populace and a history of governmental dealings w/national brands.

IMO, GE is a brand that has lost its identity (or had its identity mismanaged). until that is rectified, no major brand with hitch its wagon to it.

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Originally posted by Fish:


Win the lottery? Upper case letters thrown around like they are nothing! Also it's "will"

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Originally posted by t.a. superette:

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Originally posted by Fish:


Win the lottery? Upper case letters thrown around like they are nothing! Also it's "will"

[.] you forgot something.

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Originally posted by t.a. superette:
Geneva has three, count 'em three highways dissecting the downtown: 31, 25 and 38. it also has the UP and a vacation-like setting w/ the river and the traffic that brings. that sort of environment makes brands drool. GE has a train and a CBD a mile from either highway. it has a 27K fickle populace and a history of governmental dealings w/national brands.

IMO, GE is a brand that has lost its identity (or had its identity mismanaged). until that is rectified, no major brand will hitch its wagon to it.

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Originally posted by Amy:
I know there are a number of vacant storefronts for rent but how about buildings for sale in downtown GE? Anyone know?

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Originally posted by Fish:
Her? Yes. You? Well, not so "unusually".

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Originally posted by GEmom2:
To my surprise, the usage and style guide I consulted said, "Always keep periods inside quotation marks, whether or not they are part of the quotation." I would likely have put it outside. Also, I appreciate t.a.'s mention of that v. who issues.

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Originally posted by GEmom2:

One more recent change I've seen in written usage is the use of "everyday" whether noun, adverb, or the actual former exclusive application as an adjective.

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Originally posted by t.a. superette:

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Originally posted by GEmom2:
To my surprise, the usage and style guide I consulted said, "Always keep periods inside quotation marks, whether or not they are part of the quotation." I would likely have put it outside. Also, I appreciate t.a.'s mention of that v. who issues.

thx, mom. but for clarity, clam and i have be jousting about our minor grammatical mishaps for almost 10 years. we're just funnin'. it'd be exhausting to continally correct everyone's grammar here. and not a lot of fun.

i sit w/style books next to me all day long. it's liberating to punch out prose in lower case only sometimes. taps into my inner rebel.

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Originally posted by Yossarian:
Perhaps a grammer, spelling and punctuation thread would be appropriate?

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Originally posted by Fish:

No it wouldn't. I rarely tire of it.