Another hard-hitting article by Mahmood.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Clamato,

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:
Another hard-hitting by Mahmood.

A regular Bob Woodward

"It's not the first time it has happened," he said, "and I'm sure it won't be the last time."

Why is this acceptable? Downtown still thinks it is 1980. We need to wake up and make multiple changes. Look at all of the towns on train lines that have improved over the years - Elmhurst, Arlington Heights, even Wheaton. If we accept that this has happened in the past and it will happen again, nothing will change.

I say bulldoze the whole downtown, including Geische (spelling?) and start from scratch to get it right.

Yeah.....uh.....I'm not certain that you can actually say that, lefslfjef.

**whisper**...but I agree with you.

And don't talk about removing everyone from the village president on down...because it won't happen and it just gets people mad. But now that I think of it, wouldn't it be cool to impeach the village president and start over with somebody that has a little vision? Not just somebody who will bide their time and bury her head in the sand until the next election?

I saw the article. But I'm tired of people just saying we need more parking and different businesses. The truth is, we've been down those avenues and can't seem to get anyone to agree on where the parking will be and without it, we won't attract those chains everyone seems to think we need. (I do, too.) So - great. Another article about the turnover downtown. But still without anyone willing to talk, on the record, about sitting down and proposing real changes to stem the tide.

I spent over $350 in downtown Glen Ellyn yesterday. Between Katy's and Environments, it did not take long. However, there is no place to spend money on the rest of my family unless I am buying a gift. Bottle of wine? No problem. Ornament? Great. Antique? OK.

What about simple day to day consumerism? Where do I buy men's clothes, or teenage boy clothes which are cool enough for him to wear?

Not in downtown Glen Ellyn...What can open that will keep us shopping in town? While we wait for yet another restaurant to open, what about merchants?

Parking garage needed. Check.

Chain stores needed. Check.

I shop as much as possible in downtown but when I think about why I leave downtown for shopping, this is it:

1. pre-teen, teen clothing at decent prices (doesn't have to be cut-rate) such as Old Navy, American Eagle, GAP.

2. Costco (I thought they'd put one where Menard's ended up on North Avenue but nope - then they built the one up by Stratford Square).

3. Target or Kohl's - because I can get things for the house, everyone in the family, and groceries in one stop...don't think we can change that. But I really won't spend as much as I need to in order to buy clothes at most of the shops downtown. Once in a while, sure - but not my regular purchases.

4. Gifts for birthday parties. We used to rely on Little Hands but now there really isn't anything. Just some cool, unusual games or outdoor activities would be nice.

5. CD's. Why don't we have a store downtown that sells these????

6. Sporting Goods. Mitts, bats, footballs, tennis rackets, tennis balls, etc....I think a reasonably priced one would do well.

That's my input on the matter. I miss the Firkin and would welcome another smoke-free family place like it.

A bet a Justice for Girls clothing store would do well in town. My kids are almost out of the size range for this store, but I still think that it would be a good one to have in town. The store I have been to in Woodridge is small and likely would be able to be in one of the in town spaces. A clothing store that teens could actually afford to shop in with items they wanted to wear would get quite a bit of traffic from our youth and their parents- perhaps something like forever 21. To be honest my teen doesn't have the money to buy an outfit at AE or the Gap on a regular basis.

That's why we shop the "clearance" rack for most things!