Neil Jaye
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I did not read every post so I am sorry if this has been mentioned…but I think it would be great to have a NY Style Pizza shop and/or bagel place open late (after 2:30a). It would be cool to be able to grab a slice or a bagel on the go.
Also a record store would be great. Not a chain but something cool and eclectic (think Lincoln Village, Chicago)
albug_cbus
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Neil Jaye wrote >>
I did not read every post so I am sorry if this has been mentioned…but I think it would be great to have a NY Style Pizza shop and/or bagel place open late (after 2:30a). It would be cool to be able to grab a slice or a bagel on the go.
Also a record store would be great. Not a chain but something cool and eclectic (think Lincoln Village, Chicago)
If there was a Bagel and Deli (http://www.bagelanddeli.com/), I might cry tears of joy....and gain about 20 pounds!
Charlie
Victorian Village
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Tigertree wrote >>
I think that Trader Joes would suffer the same fate as Sunflower because adults don't want to deal with campus.
I think Sunflower Market was too niche. The one time I shopped there, I felt like it was geared strictly to a vegan/tofu/organic market. Trader Joes appeals to a much wider audience. With the addition of the parking garages, I think that location would work (as long as OSU didnt have a home game)
berdawn
near that stretch of N. High Street in the Short North
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Lyburnum
Victorian Village
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Yes to Indian, yes to a local/green grocer.
The barcade is a great idea. Maybe even something like King's in Seattle with skee ball: http://www.kingsballard.com/photos.html
*A tamale guy that goes from bar to bar late at night dishing out cheap eats. This is one of the things from Chicago that I sorely miss.
*A decent bookstore would be great.
*How about a dry cleaner that doesn't take half the damn week to get your clothes back to you?
*A cocktail bar seems overdue. The Whistler in Chicago does a great job of mixing imaginative cocktail delights, chill atmosphere, and good ol' community involvement with art groups, writing communities, and music. http://whistlerchicago.com/cocktail-blog/
*Mexican food that doesn't taste like the garbage they dish out at La Fogata. I love Junior's Taco Truck, but a contemporary Mexican joint would command my dollars on a weekly basis.
Central City Recording
Clintonville
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" I think it would be great to have a NY Style Pizza shop and/or bagel place open late (after 2:30a). It would be cool to be able to grab a slice or a bagel on the go.
Also a record store would be great. Not a chain but something cool and eclectic (think Lincoln Village, Chicago)"
There's Z pizza and the late night pizza hole in the wall by Bodega. For records, Magnolia Thunderpussy's a landmark. Definitely not saying there couldn't/shouldn't be more though!
Walker
The KLD / Downtown / Gay Street
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Tigertree wrote >>
I think that Trader Joes would suffer the same fate as Sunflower because adults don't want to deal with campus.
The Gateway location of Sunflower Market didn't close because of poor individual location sales... the entire brand went out of business. The parent company closed all of their stores simultaneously, which included the OSU campus location, the Bethel Road location, the Dublin location, as well as locations in Indianapolis and Chicago.
http://www.columbusunderground.com/sunflower-market-stores-going-out-of-business
Whether or not a Trader Joe's would work in that spot is debatable, but claiming Sunflower's demise as the reason it couldn't work doesn't really make a whole lot of sense.
But again... if I had my druthers, I'd rather see Trader Joe's Downtown instead:
http://www.columbusunderground.com/top-10-chains-we-wouldnt-mind-seeing-downtown
takeasiesta
Harrison West
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The problem that I had with Sunflower was the price. It was more expensive than Whole Foods which says a lot and it was mediocre stuff. TJ's has their own store brand which is quality and costs less so they would make a killing. TJ's will also try to carry something of name brand if you ask them to since they want to be the only place that you shop.
A green dry cleaner would be a fantastic idea. I have yet to find one in Columbus.
osulew
My house...in the middle of my street
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rory
Weinland Park
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osulew wrote >>
tippers wrote >>
What about BBQ. Good ribs, chicken, and burgers? Where can you get that down here?There's a tiny shack on the corner of 5th ave and 4th st that makes amazing ribs. I don't even know if it has a name.
That's Woody and Jo's. They had lemon cake last week that was amazing.
myliftkk
Columbus, OH
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JonMyers wrote >>
I think the Short North needs entrepreneurial elves who we command into risky business endeavors that we're personally too fearful to take on ourselves. :) All love I swear.
Would those be "Armchair Entreprenuers"? ;) Btw, is there any local way for people who don't have deep pockets to get involved in an entrepreneurial aspect in Columbus? I wondered recently if micro-finance would work here (since it's typcially pimped as a solution to Africa's development issues). I've personally laid out modest offers of potential financing to a entrepreneur or two around town if they were interested in growing, but am unaware if any kind of organized group existed for less modest and more focused efforts.
There are some of us in the SNBA currently meeting with the Columbus Chamber on developing a entrepreneur-focused face of the SN to use to entice local and or non-local entrepreneurs to bring or expand their strong concepts to the SN. More informational than assistance-oriented, hopefully it will get people who have ideas some more solid footing for their business plans (if they have one). I will say I've watched/read some hilarious business district presentations from cities around the country as of late.
If people are really interested in a theatre space, I'm not sure why they don't get in touch with the developer who owns the Garden theatre. The condo project went off the rails a while ago and currently he's trying to rent the lower level, plus I've heard the rumor it might be back on the market.
Perhaps Walker could setup a CU award/grant for the most promising entrepreneurial idea starting up in the central Columbus area. He could take donations for the award from CU posters to the "what do you want to see in SN/WP/GV/VV/IV?" thread. We could call it the CU Armchair Entrepreneur award (maybe even include a bronze statuette). :)
michaelcoyote
!seabus
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takeasiesta wrote >>
The problem that I had with Sunflower was the price. It was more expensive than Whole Foods which says a lot and it was mediocre stuff. TJ's has their own store brand which is quality and costs less so they would make a killing. TJ's will also try to carry something of name brand if you ask them to since they want to be the only place that you shop.
One thing I loved about Sunflower was their support for local goods and produce. Their cold produce room (I've not seen one before or since) had lots of good looking local produce with mileage marked out on the cards. They also carried Hartzler Dairy milk (which was the only game in town before Snowville) and 2 Silos Eggs in a carton. It was better than WF which used to (and may still) be mostly truck produce.
As for TJ's I'm ambivalent. I'm not sure how TJs can ever be one stop shopping, as they've always had a very limited selection of produce. Back when I worked an office job 7-8 years ago I would head to the one up at 161 & Sawmill regularly since it was by my workplace.. I'd buy cheap wine, bread, frozen dinners, frozen fish, cheese, dried nuts, PB, snacks, cereal and soymilk. I'd almost always buy my produce at Rife's or Wild Goatz for produce.
A few things happened to loosen the hold TJs had on me.
1) I started reading the package of some of those frozen meals.. I'm not a calorie counter, but I don't need 200% of my daily allotted salt in a single serving :-p
2) I cut way back on prepackaged foods. I started cooking in bulk and freezing my food in ziplock bags. I rarely if ever eat anything from a box or plastic container anymore. I've been doing this less now that I don't travel as much, but If I start up again, I'm sure I'll start cooking in bulk.
2a) I cut back on snacks.
Do I miss TJs? Not really. Sometimes I'll go and get some things there. I like the cheese selection although I don't by tons there, and they make an Irish Breakfast tea that's pretty good. On the whole, I think that they sell lots of snack items and frozen food, and not much in the way of produce, which is a way of eating that I've found not to work for me.
Do I think the Short North *needs* a TJ? Not really.
Now I do most of my produce/milk/eggs shopping at the Greener Grocer and farmers markets. The meat I buy tends to come from Bluescreek or NM Poultry and Game. Anything else like flour or other infrequently needed stuff gets bought at WF, GE or Kroger. I've since changed the way I eat and don't really eat the stuff I used to get at TJ anymore.
That said, if a TJ's went in say at 5th and High (or thereabouts), it would probably be packed all opening hours. I'd probably go myself for cheese, chocolate, that one tea I can't get elsewhere, party wine and whatever deals I could score. Like before, it won't be my one stop shop.
JonMyers
HCMC, Vietnam ✈
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@myliftkk - There are some micro-financing options. They typically don't work well. I rode down Main street today and that street is littered with ailing business, some of whom have received micro-financing.
I think people grossly under-estimate the challenges of running a business. Especially retail, bar and restaurants. Those fortunate enough in those businesses to be successful net 5% - 8% returns. There's not a lot of room for error.
myliftkk
Columbus, OH
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JonMyers wrote >>
@myliftkk - There are some micro-financing options. They typically don't work well. I rode down Main street today and that street is littered with ailing business, some of whom have received micro-financing.
I think people grossly under-estimate the challenges of running a business. Especially retail, bar and restaurants. Those fortunate enough in those businesses to be successful net 5% - 8% returns. There's not a lot of room for error.
To me, that would indicate the problem's not necessarily micro-financing per se, but a flawed selection or filtering process. I've heard the same complaint about micro in the developing world.
My opinion on micro is that it's just a way of connecting entrepreneurs with capital on a smaller scale. The people who act as the loaners ought to not expect a serious return on their money. If they need a guaranteed return, they should put it in the bank at 2%. Given the recent results after the banks were throwing around money in a non-micro fashion over the years, I'd propose that micro loan failures aren't necessarily indicative of whether the concept holds water.
I will second that most under-estimate what starting and running a business takes.
Bear
The woods
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myliftkk wrote >>
JonMyers wrote >>
I think people grossly under-estimate the challenges of running a business. Especially retail, bar and restaurants. Those fortunate enough in those businesses to be successful net 5% - 8% returns.I will second that most under-estimate what starting and running a business takes.
I'm curious... do you think this is a problem in Columbus, or a problem more generally? If it's a problem particularly in Columbus, why?
e-roc wrote >>
Also, a nice bodega with fresh produce, a deli, food staples, wine, etc. UDF isn't cuttin' it.
You know, that might not be outside the realm of possibility. I'm not sure where things stand though....
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