In Search of a City: And Independent Retailers
Independent’s Day was a thrill to see because of all the young entrepreneurial blood it brought downtown on September 20. One could imagine a downtown vibrant with small retail stores owned and operated by people in their 20’s or 30’s, or any age.
Like the Short North in the early 1980’s, downtown is a blank retail slate that is begging for people to fill the void. If ever there were a place for young entrepreneurs to make their mark and establish their own turf, it is downtown here and now.
Even though downtown has a huge unmet demand for retail services (see retail study completed in June 2008), corporate chain stores are not going to supply the goods. They run in a herd, and Columbus City Center spooked them, causing a stampede out of downtown. That leaves the independents, which makes Independent’s Day such a significant event for downtown.
Does anyone have something they want to sell?
September 23rd, 2008 at 8:02 am
I spoke to a couple independent retailers at Independents’ Day who want a small affordable space to sell their wares, and I sent them your way, Cleve.
Hopefully, those who own the vacant store fronts will spruce them up enough to make them useable for all of the talented retailers that we have in this city!
September 23rd, 2008 at 9:18 am
This is a great post. Events like this open entrepreneurs’ eyes to the vast opportunities downtown. It is up to the city to provide further incentives to indie retailers (and the landlords) to open up downtown, instead of focusing on huge breaks to big boxes. Indies will have a much faster, and much longer lasting impact on downtown development. Such retailers don’t need the huge footprint or new builds that big boxes do, and therefore can open faster. They are more agile and can thrive where big boxes close due to missed same-store sales targets. And, in the unfortunate event that one indie closes, it doesn’t devastate the entire district.
September 25th, 2008 at 11:11 am
I love the downtown area and feel it needs a variety of grocery and/or retail stores. Such as: Trader’s Joes, TJ Max, Whole Foods, Home Goods. These stores appeal to everyone, are affordable and offer a great product for the price. Please not another Kroger or Giant Eagle. P.S. make sure there’s parking.