First there was talk of a Starbucks moving into the S&W. Then there was talk of a Dunkin’ Donuts moving there.
Now there’s talk about a new chain coming to downtown in the Windsor Hotel space. And despite any details about what might be coming – and despite the current existence of many chains downtown already – some business owners are apparently worried.
Here’s part of a letter signed by “a group of scared and concerned business owners:”
Our downtown is changing and not for the better. Rents are skyrocketing as out of town buyers with deep pockets lap up all the available real estate. The only business that will be able to afford shops downtown will be chains.
We have all fought so hard to promote the “Buy Local” campaign and that’s what keeps us unique. If we allow chain stores to move in we are going to lose all that we are about.
29 Comments
oh good god!!!everybody screaming about out-of-town money pricing locals out. puh-leeeeze. evrybody showing so much love to lexington avenue brewery, {LAB}. where did that jerk come in to downtown ashe from? try california and daddy’s loot. fact is, you can’t pick and choose. that’s that.
Believe it or not, artists themselves are a part of the inevitable domino chain of gentrification. Back in the early 80s there was little of note downtown except the library, the civic center, and Tops for Shoes. (Of course there was probably more than that, but that and Bele Chere are all I remember ever going downtown for as a kid in the 80s).
Downtown has a long history of chain retail as well. JC Penney’s didn’t move to the mall until 1989 and as I recall Woolworth’s closed shortly thereafter. CVS stuck it out until 2008 (and then got replaced by Urban Outfitters!)
Much ado over nothing.
Good grief, people are up in arms about a Panera, Chipotle or a Salsaritas? I expected to read something much more earth-shattering. There’s a Subway already downtown, too. Where were the mobs with pitchforks and torches when it opened years ago?
The last thing we need is to worry about “allowing” chain stores to open downtown. (I can’t believe that word has even been used.) That’s pure and arbitrary restraint of trade. If you “ban” chains downtown, does that extend to businesses already in place? hotels? Banks? Gas stations? Will Tupelo Honey Cafe be forced to move because they were too successful and are now a “chain” with four stores?
Want local businesses to succeed downtown? Create a product worthy of support.
Exactly.
Agree with ThePhan here.
A smattering of small chains in downtown can peacefully coexist with local businesses. And as long as there are vacancies to fill in Asheville, the city shouldn’t turn away anyone without due consideration.
Retail familiarity has the ability to draw the casual tourist, which in turn can increase exposure to the unique shopping experience our local businesses offer. I would be more concerned if city planners were making sweeping reforms to force out existing Asheville-based retail to make way for national retail, which is typically the modus operandi in economically depressed and failing downtowns (which isn’t the case here anymore)
Well…if it has to be one of them for the love of all that is holy please let it be Chipotle.
[…] Ashvegas commenter: Panera Bread, Salsaritas, Chipotle looking at downtown Jason Sandford | September 5, 2012 | Comments (0) An anonymous Ashvegas commenter says that Panera Bread, Salsarita’s Fresh Cantina and Chipotle Mexican Grill are all looking at downtown space for lease in the old Windsor Hotel. The comment came on a recent Ashvegas post about several downtown business owners expressing concern about a new chain com…. […]
don’t like it, don’t support it
there, their, they’re. ITS NOT THAT HARD!
(for FDR)
Its or It’s (Apparently, it is that hard)
/giggle
Panera bread
Chipotle
Salsaritas
All have seen the property. One is in negotiations…
Seems like a strange location for any of those.
A chain, Trader Joe’s, announces it is coming to town and in doing will displace three locally owned businesses. That news brings cheers for TJ and the sound of crickets for the three locally owned businesses.
Meanwhile mere rumors of a chain moving just a few blocks away results in outrage.
What am I missing here?
Excellent point.
Welcome to Asheville.
One of the reasons why I am closing our downtown store is that personally I think it’s over for small businesses there (full disclosure my partner does not agree). It will take a few years, but I feel big money will take over. This is also one of my opinions that I hope I am completely wrong about.
Look people, change is good for business. All these stores with erratic hours will be forced to stay open later and longer in order to compete. Darn it all, they might actually have to give their employees benefits or risk losing the good ones. Free Enterprise at it’s grandest…
Every business out there started as a mom and pop, so get over yourself and be innovative. You just might be lucky enough for your business to be hated when you move into a small city like Asheville.
And for all those worried about Asheville losing it’s look, San francisco didn’t. If you can’t handle change move to Rosman, NC because it will be another century before they change. LOL
I am not sure of the rent, but there is an entire row of vacant storefronts/retail space on either side of The Hop in West Asheville waiting for businesses. Driving home yesterday from work and seeing a ton of runners, walkers, tailgate market goers, diners etc tells me that West AVL is only getting more and more popular for both residents and other AVL folks alike who want to experience the only true walkable residential/commercial neighborhood in the city.
Not enough in West Asheville to support a lot of businesses, plus zero parking. The local hipsters will only spend a few dollars on something if that. West Asheville is a small land locked community that has isolated itself. The locals their are not very friendly to outsiders. Reminds me a lot of Decatur, Georgia but a heck of a lot smaller. Open up your arms and the money will flow.
FDR – Sorry that you have such a bad taste in your mouth and poor vision of West Asheville’s potential. I have lived in the heart of the area for over 3 years and have experienced or witnessed none of which you describe. And how do you know that folks or “the hipsters” will only spend a few bucks on anything if that? Who has been present as a business and asked premium prices on anything that has had to close because of no sales? The only biz that I am aware of that has high prices is The Admiral and they have a 3 week wait for reservations….hmmm?
I also know Decatur GA very well as I work in Atlanta monthly and they consistently get ranked in city publications as the best and most desireable neighborhood to live, work, and play. Also restaurants there like No. 246 get opened by Ford Fry (one of the top chefs in ATL)? Doesn’t seem like a waste to me.
Let’s grab a beer on the Westside sometime and walk and talk.
Dusty
Don’t talk Decatur with me until you know as many folks that I do that live there. The restaurants thrive because of the drive in traffic from the greater Atlanta burbs. Locals eat at home and take up bar frontage on the weekends. They will give you the same stares as they huddle in there packs as they do in West Asheville. The WA locals don’t want outsiders filling up their town. Just an observation, it doesn’t really bother me.
As for parking? The signs are still up at the banks saying No Parking. Until those signs come down it means no parking to the towing service. Just saying.
West Asheville is a gem and is on the rise. Restaurants for the most part are thriving and this is in large part to local money, not tourism. Take the UJ, Digable, Incredible and a lot of the little head shops that have been in business for 10+ years. No parking in West Asheville??? Where are you comparing this to…NYC. Never, ever had an issue with parking-that is part of the beauty because we do not have buildings over 2 stories and this does not require the need for more parking. Plus, all the banks have opened their lots with no penalty for parking. So that makes about 6 free lots between the Walk and BB&T. You need to live here longer to have some scope on the longevity and movement economically and socially to speak about West Asheville. Plus housing is at a prime.
What about the 10’s of 1000’s of abandoned square feet in downtown? You know, all the stories that sit vacant above the store frotns? When are folks going to start making use of those spaces?
You pay for what you get. $450 got run down junk-tique shops on every corner. $1000 gets Starbucks. Which is going to more appealing? Local is best but sometimes it takes an outsider to create change within.
This is the same thing business owners have been saying for years. Gentrification began 25 years ago when Wall St. was renovated. The artists will always find somewhere cool to go, even if they have to pool their monies like they did on Lexington Ave. 20 years ago, upset by ever-rising rents back then. Always blaming the new guy/gal in town. It’s business. Pure and simple. Like it or not.
There are apartments downtown that used to rent for $450-$550 that are now renting for twice that amount … nothing has changed: same building, same square footage … now retail space is skyrocketing as well.
It’s no surprise. The artists and such who brought downtown back from the dead have moved to the RAD … and guess what … the same thing is starting to happen along the river.
Talk to the half dozen+ artists who have already been forced out of the Wedge due to rent hikes. The RAD has already been gentrified and is only getting worse.
Gentrification is something that Asheville has been dealing with for the past decade, yet hasn’t really dealt with it at all. We got lucky when the economy tanked in ’08 freezing funds enough to slow real estate down but not enough to kill the market. We had the chance to have some talks then about gentrification – but we didn’t. Now as the market starts to roll forward again it’s just going to be worse than before. But that’s what you get when you live in a tiny city whose main form of commerce is selling itself out to part-timers from Florida, NY & everywhere else in between.
Everyone knows you cannot create a “vibrant” and “edgy” downtown space for the “creative class” until you first remove all vestiges of the “weird” and “hip” places that brought people into visit in the first place.
Gentrification is a beautiful thing.