SugarDaddy's Opening at Gay and High on May 1st « Columbus Underground Messageboard

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SugarDaddy's Opening at Gay and High on May 1st

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Started 2 years ago by Walker
Latest reply from mark@sugardaddys.com

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Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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As originally announced back in October, SugarDaddy's is coming to Gay Street!

The following is a message I received today from owner Mark Ballard about their opening promotions [Edited to change opening date]:

Our official Grand Opening will be May 1 and last the entire month. Hours of operation will be M-F 11am to 6 pm. Events/evenings by appointment.

Our month-long promotions will include:

- FREE samples of Sugardaddy's fresh-baked Brownies, Blondies, and Brownie products--i.e., Brownie Cheesecakes, Brownie Biscotti, Brownie Truffles, Brownie Bark, and Brownie Ice Creams.

- Buy 2 Sugardaddy's Brownies or Blondies, Get a 3rd one FREE.

- Buy a Dozen Sugardaddy's Brownies or Blondies for the price of 10 Brownies or Blondies.

- Get a FREE 1lb bag of Sugardaddy's Pocket Change (brownie bites) when you Purchase a Sugardaddy's Brownie Cheesecake.

- Take 10% off any custom or online order.

- Sign up to win a variety of prizes: 4 chances to win a Sugardaddy's

- Brownie Trifle Gift Set and 4 chances to win a platter of Sugardaddy's Brownies/Blondies.

Posted 2 years ago #
mark@sugardaddys.com
Columbus, Ohio
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By the by, out of the bakery case (no packaging), Sugardaddy's Brownies and Blondies are $3 each for our signature 3" round (3.5 oz.)
http://www.sugardaddys.com

Posted 2 years ago #
mark@sugardaddys.com
Columbus, Ohio
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http://www.sugardaddys.com/09SD_TRIFOLD_vF.pdf

Posted 2 years ago #
mark@sugardaddys.com
Columbus, Ohio
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Dear Downtown Friends,

We just learned yesterday that there is a construction/permit issue with our build out at 11 E. Gay Street. The entire building must be fully alarmed with 2010 fire safety standards--not just our suite as previously understood by the landlord's architect and contractor. This means Sugardaddy's Grand Opening will be delayed by one month by time the building's fire plan gets approved by the City; the work gets done and inspected by the City and State; and fire security permits get granted. We are, of course, disappointed; but these things happen (and take lots of time).

Sugardaddy's will now open March 1, 2010. We will offer all of the month-long promotions noted above during the entire month of March. Thank you for your support and well wishes. We look forward to serving downtown. (We love living downtown.)

In the meantime, if you need your sweet-tooth satisfied, come see us at 1329 Cameron Avenue @ Polaris Parkway; or shop Sugardaddy's online (to send out gifts) @ http://www.sugardaddys.com.

Mark and Tom
http://www.sugardaddys.com

Posted 2 years ago #
Columbusite
Minneapolis
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What can you do? The storefront and signage is looking nice though, so lots of people will know it's there well before it's open.

Posted 2 years ago #
mark@sugardaddys.com
Columbus, Ohio
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As the axiom says, Three times is a charm. May it apply to Sugardaddy's. We are moving our grand opening to May due to further (and hopefully final) construction delays. We anticipate, albeit with the construction delays, that we will be in our space at 11 E. Gay Street and open to the public in April. We think May is a sure bet for the Grand Opening. Just wanted to keep you apprised.

Posted 2 years ago #
Anne
King Lincoln
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Thanks!
I updated the thread title.

Posted 2 years ago #
Columbusite
Minneapolis
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Aww. I hate to be the one to point this out, but I bet this wouldn't have happened in the burbs. Why are these delays and oversights allowed to occur here, but not there? Maybe there are, but it seems much more visible here. Whether it's a building owner on Gay St dragging out a simple "No." for months in response to a new downtown Zen Cha Tea Salon (isn't what's there now so much better?) or the retail spots on The Cap being delayed for months due to not taking into consideration a rear hallway since they can't just dump trash onto 670, there are examples of Downtown presenting unique obstacles for entrepreneurs. This is just another example of the uncoordinated, haphazard hassles one might encounter here which they wouldn't in the burbs. Gotta give credit where credit is due; they got their stuff together there when it comes to getting a retail spot filled seamlessly.

I can't imagine that Sugardaddy's is thrilled about losing months of money they should be making, some of that off of me. This doesn't help make Downtown more attractive to entrepreneurs when it really needs to be and until May my only options are to take a bus up there or try to make a trip way up there with my parents (they have a car) even though I'm sitting right across from it, so it's much less likely I'll be stopping by with any frequency. I'm miffed about not having a blondie for quite some time, is what I'm saying.

Posted 2 years ago #
lizless
Columbus/Hocking Hills
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Oh Sugardaddy's, I feel your pain! Building Services Department held up our opening over four months at one point and several times following...we have beers with your name on it waiting for you in the meantime. Bring us some Blondies and please take care! ; )

Posted 2 years ago #
Core_Models
Columbus
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"Aww. I hate to be the one to point this out, but I bet this wouldn't have happened in the burbs. Why are these delays and oversights allowed to occur here, but not there? Maybe there are, but it seems much more visible here."

Maybe you missed this:

"the work gets done and inspected by the City and State"

That or you're considering Indiana a suburb.

ETA: That said, I wish SD's the best of luck getting up and running and really like the ad here on C/U!

Posted 2 years ago #
lizless
Columbus/Hocking Hills
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In my experience, it has always been the Building Services Department of the City of Columbus holding up these things. I've seen it in my business and others. It's a really unfortunate reality for those that have invested in downtown.

Posted 2 years ago #
Core_Models
Columbus
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Don't get me wrong LL, I don't want our downtown to be prohibitive in these situations, but fire systems in a 100 year old building that sat empty for ages?

Posted 2 years ago #
lizless
Columbus/Hocking Hills
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I did actually look at the Fortin building about a year ago for a possible carryout space and there was a commercial kitchen in place that had been used by the law office (or was it a bank?) for many years in the recent past. Also, the building did house a cell phone company less than two years ago.

I'm sure the building could use some love but it was only in the past few years it had been abandoned.

I guess my main concern is that BSD seems to slow every process down significantly no matter what the issue is. We waited nearly four months just to get the department to issue us a permit!

Mostly, I just feel for folks like Sugardaddys and those of us that are dying for some delicious Blondies!

Posted 2 years ago #
Andrew Hall
Dennison Place (The Circles)
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@columbusite For once, I agree. The City has and is continuing to show itself to be an obstacle to development and small business. Liz and Sugardaddy's experiences are sadly the norm, from all the accounts I am given. Despite continual complaints about one particular department being a bottleneck (and defiantly obstructionist), nothing is done. A smart city has the attitude of 'what can we do to help you be compliant?' A pro-active and encouraging approach goes so much farther.

The sad thing is that these situations are not lost on future entrepreneurs. When looking to open a new business, it is pretty obvious what choices will be made when comparing the Downtown to the suburban (cheaper, readily available, welcoming).

A.

Posted 2 years ago #
roy
Downtown
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Mike Brown of the mayor's staff reads CU and hopefully has already reached out to Sugardaddy's to learn more, and help expedite their project. The City's operating budget comes from income taxes, and the mayor's office understands the need to get more workers on the job without needless administrative delays.

I look forward to hearing about proposed solutions from Sugardaddy's after they've met with the mayor's folks.

Posted 2 years ago #
mark@sugardaddys.com
Columbus, Ohio
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To clarify and to be fair, in our situation it's been the landlord's contractor who has caused the delays. The fire system could likely have been grandfathered in, but the contractor altered the control panel and now the entire building must be brought up to 2010 City and State codes. The City, particularly Mike Brown, has been helping to expedite our situation. Retrofitting old buildings is always a challenge. New always goes more quickly.

While we are not thrilled with the loss of revenue with the delays, as we have expenses mounting, we will get opened. Moreover, we can't wait to see all of you in May for the Grand Opening with and at our soft opening in April. I hope I have not jinxed it.

If all else fails, we'll sell brownie and blondies on the street (where we may be living if we don't open in May. LOL!).

Posted 2 years ago #
Andrew Hall
Dennison Place (The Circles)
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roy wrote >>
Mike Brown of the mayor's staff reads CU and hopefully has already reached out to Sugardaddy's to learn more, and help expedite their project. The City's operating budget comes from income taxes, and the mayor's office understands the need to get more workers on the job without needless administrative delays.
I look forward to hearing about proposed solutions from Sugardaddy's after they've met with the mayor's folks.

What about the businesses that don't have a voice on CU? What about the businesses that don't even pursue opening up downtown after they hear these stories over and over again from the principals? And sadly I usually hear these stories after the fact so there is no opportunity to point people to Mike or others whose are able and willing to help.

We've been hearing that from the Mayor's office for some time now and yet there has been no action. Has additional staff been allocated in the new budgets, post-tax-hike?

A.

Posted 2 years ago #
Columbus Music Co-op
Columbus
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on a less serious note that ad on the side is making me mega-hungry for sweet things.

Posted 2 years ago #
lizless
Columbus/Hocking Hills
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I'm glad to hear that your issues are being addressed, Sugardaddy's. I did call Mike Brown when we entered the third month of our waiting on BSD and he was able to get the permit issued for us right away.

Bring on the blondies!

Posted 2 years ago #
thecandlelab
Columbus, OH
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As much as I love to see everyone pile on the City of Columbus, I can tell you its not a whole lot better in the suburbs. We moved our store in Worthington a 1/2 block away, and we closed our store on a Saturday expecting to open a week later in our new space. 2 1/2 months later we finally opened after a long battle with the city plans inspector that included multiple appeals to the city officials and chamber of commerce to intervene and fix the situation.

Not all of them are like this (the city of Grandview was great to work with when opening our new store there) but I'm afraid it isn't confined to just Columbus.

With that said, it shouldn't happen anywhere. There is a special ring of hell reserved for city employees who stand in the way of small business owners trying to invest in their community out of either spite or incompetance or both.

Posted 2 years ago #