This is potentially exciting news.
Starbucks has been pretty successful downtown, maybe Subway will be as well.

The teens I know cannot wait!!!!
I think it will be very successful.

Perfect location and atmosphere for the PADS folk to hang out. Right across from the train tracks, but further down from Main and Crescent...

Grrrrrrrrrreat, another business to funnel money out of Glen Ellyn.

quote:

One dollar spent locally can create four dollars of local profit. (Multiplier Effect)

Don't quite understand that! That appears to be a pyramid scheme!
Could you explain how that works?

Money will be spent locally!! For every one dollar spent locally we can create four dollars of local profit. (Multiplier Effect)! Wait . . . if we don't spend money, how will we survive? Assuming we are not all raptured in the next few minutes.

quote:

Originally posted by andrewVG:
Grrrrrrrrrreat, another business to funnel money out of Glen Ellyn.

Unfortch...when a local sandwich shop was there, the town ignored it and didn't go. People complained it was a couple bucks more than subway and quiznos, knowing local shops can't and never will be able to compete with their supply chain.

Ironically, I stopped by that guys new location two weeks ago at lunch and every table was filled and there was a line for to go orders.

If Subway is a franchise operation, isn't it likely that the owner is a local?

Guy has a different product that may have actually sold in downtown GE. His original place sucked, didn't change when it was evident it sucked, and he went out of business. Happens all the time.

First impression I got was when he would store his pricey olive oils on a shelf . . . in the window with the hot sun pouring through. Not the best way to bring in clients.

Don't get me wrong, really nice guy. But a really nice guy whose original attempt was flawed.

@graham- en.wikipedia.org...

When money is spent on a chain, part of that money goes back to the community through wages of workers- however a large chunk of it leaves to the headquarters of that company. Where the CEO's profit at the expense of American Mom and Pop stores. I agree- mom and pop shops can not keep up unless the local community chooses to support the local entrepreneurs over convenient low-quality invaders. It would help if we actually had some amazing entrepreneurs as well!


If the link was posted incorrectly, then I'm at a loss. I pushed the url button and copied the link into there. It hasn't worked in the past- so I'm just sayin'. Haha.

Haha indeed. andrewVG, there are two obvious steps to complete after you click the URL button. First, enter the link address (which you did). THEN... enter a descriptive and meaningful word or phrase in the “Title” text box directly underneath (before you close the URL pop-up window by clicking “OK.”) In this case, a title word such as “Definition” would have done the trick.

Every time you fail to complete this step, the system shows the full URL itself as the clickable title... and full (meaning long) URLs do not word wrap. Long URLS force visitors with smaller screens to scroll left-and-right in order to read the page, which is really annoying and pretty much cancels whatever street cred you may be trying to develop in order to promote your cause. Pissing off readers ain't the way to win friends and influence people. Haha. . - —Ted E.

(Edited to correct improperly formatted link. Posters — please use the “URL" tab above the text entry box. Do not post long URLs directly. Thanks! —Ted E.)

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Ted E.,

But pretty much every Subway is a mom and pop store, isn't it? I always think that if you buy into one of those, you're doing nothing more than buying yourself a job. But if you own 10-20, now you're talking.

Here's my view on franchises....

The owners are required to invest a certain amount of their own funds into the business. Yes, some of this goes back to the corporation. Most of it, however, is actually invested into the location itself (which is local). Corporate does also get a small percentage of sales via monthly payments (depending on the franchise agreement).

That being said, the majority of the money is invested directly into the business to help it surpass the breakeven point. After all, if the corporation doesn't support this occurrence, it loses a steady income stream. So, as the income is directed at the local business, it stays local....some goes into the owners pockets (helps bring the owners' original investment out of the red), which also helps the local economy.

So....while it's not the ideal situation for "local" economy, it's still something and something is better than nothing.

Huh?

Nevermind, kids....that was really directed at Andrew, anyway.

Agh! Sorry to all the people that had to scroll to read my link! I'm ashamed of myself as a gen. Y-er to not be able to even insert a link properly! Thank you for your patience with me Mr. Ted, it means a lot to have the support of my community as I pursue my passions!

@GESingleMom2- I guess what I was talking about financially wasn't really as important as the fabric of the community. If we really want to be serious about the preservation of our small town feel- then we can't be inviting gaudy, sterile, and unimaginative signs into the mix. Don't get me wrong- I love eating at subway- but it's not really somewhere I can go and feel proud of the uniqueness of Glen Ellyn, you know? Hahaha- have a great weekend everyone!

Here's a silly video that makes me excited about this kind of thing! Tedisamazing

So I understand what you are suggesting, but where do you draw the line on what is too big? For example many of the restaurants in downtown GE have multiple locations. The whole premise that we are just supporting CEO's is too easy of an argument. When you step back and look at the total supply chain, a local franchise can support a lot of people.

I think its extremely difficult in this area to support a whole downtown area on small independents. Look at the success of Lagrange or Naperville from a retail perspective, compared to Wheaton or Glen Ellyn. Naperville has an healthy mix of both. I think Wheaton lost an opportunity when they created Town Square. I shop there a lot, rarely shop in downtown Wheaton. I try to support small shops, but I dont want to spend that much money.

I believe a strong economy needs both.

quote:

Originally posted by andrewVG:
If we really want to be serious about the preservation of our small town feel- then we can't be inviting gaudy, sterile, and unimaginative signs into the mix.

I agree with your statement....BUT.

For one, with the rents and taxes, etc. being so high in our downtown area....and with it being virtually entirely boutique-style shops....it will NOT survive in this economy. Which is more important at this stage in the game, preservation or survival?

Also, the village can have facade requirements that are negotiable with places such as this. I've seen it done in other towns, it can be done here.

South is right on point here. I don't necessarily agree with your assessment on Naperville, though. Having lived right near the downtown area for a while, I do believe it's a bit too commercial. I mean seriously....what suburban downtown area needs 2 Starbucks stores a few blocks away from each other??

That being said, a healthy mix of both is what will keep a safety net under a downtown area and help it thrive in a bad economy.

Naperville population is more than 140,000. The 2 Sbux you are talking about might as well be in different zip codes.