News and Updates

May 15, 2012

On Sunday, the New York Times had an interesting piece on how the various dollar store chains have threatened Vermont's way of life and tourism industry. Vermont is known for its bucolic lifestyle and small town charm. Many of these small towns are centered around a General Store and other eclectic shops run by small business owners. The state has been largely successful at keeping out the big names such as Walmart and Target. Only a handful exist in the state right now.

However a new threat has appeared in the form of dollar store chains. Being much smaller than Walmart and Target, they can more easily follow local zoning rules to get their stores built. A new Dollar General is opening up in Chester, Vermont and it's able to abide to the arduous restrictions the town has in place. For example, the store will be built with wood clapboard siding in keeping with local architecture.

Although only a few of the big box stores have been built in the state, many more of the dollar stores have been creeping in. The dollar stores can offer items at lower costs than the Mom and Pop stores folks most often equate with towns in Vermont.

So, the question is how does the small guy compete against the much larger chains? Vermont depends on tourism and folks are worried that the influx of dollar store chains may hurt the industry. I would hope though that the tourists coming to Vermont would want to visit the unique one-of-a-kind stores over the dollar store chains they can find back home.

Just before writing this article, I noticed a Target commercial mentioning that it now sells many unique products, just like the ones you can find in Mom and Pop Stores. The experiment is called The Shops at Target, and they will carry merchandise inspired by five indie boutiques located in San Francisco, California; Miami, Florida; Boston, Massachusetts; Warren, Connecticut; and Aspen, Colorado.

Is this a good way for the independent seller to survive or is this selling out? Would you rather shop at the independent small town store or at a big box store like Walmart or Target? Or do you prefer the dollar store chains?

Drop us a line and let us know what you think.

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March 31, 2012

By now everyone is familiar with the tragic events involving Travon Martin and George Zimmerman in Sanford, Florida. Unfortunately, the spotlight cast on Sanford has not been a positive one and the downtown is hurting. Three factors have kept some patrons away: fears of civil disobedience and other disturbances; fears of getting stuck in crowds and traffic caused by protests; and calls for economic boycotts on the town.

It's important to note that Sanford has an excellent downtown full of shops, restaurants, and other services. Most business owners are just as shocked by the events that occurred and how those events have played out so far. If you are a fan of Sanford, Florida's downtown please make a point of visiting again soon and shop and eat at some of your favorite businesses.

You can read more about how business owners and visitors are dealing with the events in the Orlando Sentinel.

If you are a business owner, drop us a line and let us know how you are handling the situation. If you are a visitor, let us know how your experience in Sanford has been lately.

Thanks!

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December 2, 2011

In the news this week comes two different stories about new lifestyle centers being built not too far from existing Destination Main Streets. It's interesting to note that the articles themselves make no mention of the nearby Main Streets.

The first article comes from the South Florida Sun Sentinel and is about a development in Delray Beach, Florida. The project is called Delray Marketplace and is being billed as a shopping and entertainment complex. Delray Marketplace will be on the far western edge of the city on Atlantic Avenue. Delray Beach's own Main Street is mostly centered around Atlantic Avenue on the far eastern side of town close to the beach.

The second article comes from the Orange County Register and is about a development in San Clemente, California. This project is called Plaza San Clemente and is described as an outlet mall. However, a wide variety of uses will be located there, including restaurants and a movie theater so it almost sounds more like a lifestyle center that just happens to feature outlet stores.

It's good to see developers explore a variety of retail styles and no longer focus on the traditional mall. However, it's also important not to forget the Destination Main Streets located just a short distance away that are also filled with shops and restaurants, many of which are more unique than those found in the new developments nearby.

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November 29, 2011

There was an article in this weekend's Orlando Sentinel about SunRail, Central Florida's new commuter railroad that will one day run north and south through the Orlando metro area. The focus of the article was how cities along the route could benefit from construction around the SunRail stops. Since SunRail will run on existing tracks, there won't be much say in where the line itself will go. Therefore, some cities will be better positioned than others to take advantage of SunRail's proximity.

For example, the suburban cities of Maitland, Altamonte Springs, and Sanford all have large business centers, made up of corporate parks and malls, several miles east of the SunRail stops. But these cities, including Longwood, Lake Mary, DeBary, and parts of Orlando are planning transit-oriented development, walkable communities around the stops that will feature offices, and residences, along with ground floor shops, restaurants, and other services. It's a telling sign that more people are beginning to appreciate the benefit that Main Street style developments can bring to an area.

But what about the existing Destination Main Streets in the area? Sanford's SunRail stop will be about a mile to the east of its historic downtown. A shuttle will be set up on a trial program to run between the historic downtown, the SunRail stop, and Seminole Towne Center, a large mall further to the east. Despite this, businesses in downtown Sanford may not see much benefit from having SunRail nearby.

On the other hand, Winter Park's Main Street is perhaps the best equipped to take advantage of SunRail. Winter Park's SunRail stop is in the heart of its historic downtown, not far from the shops and restaurants on Park Avenue and Hannibal Square. Maps, signs, and even volunteers will help direct SunRail passengers from the train to Winter Park's businesses, all a short stroll away.

It will be interesting to see how each city in Central Florida handles the coming of SunRail. No matter what though, mass transit is an excellent ingredient to any Destination Main Street.

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October 17, 2011

This weekend's Orlando Sentinel carried an article about the struggles and successes of downtown Sanford. The city invested heavily in its downtown along First Street several years ago. Streets were repaved in brick, sidewalks were widened, and decorative lighting fixtures were installed. All helped contribute to the boost in Sanford's traffic.

But soon after the recession hit and people stopped spending money. Shops closed. Although the economy has not fully recovered yet, downtown Sanford's recovery has begun. New stores, restaurants, and coffee shops are opening or are about to.

City leaders attribute some of the success to the many events held in downtown. Alive After 5 and Sanford Art Walk are two monthly events that have brought foot traffic back to Sanford. But part of the challenge now will be to get these visitors to spend money again. One goal is to make Sanford a more hip, eclectic version of Winter Park.

Something that Sanford has over Winter Park is it's close proximity to the huge Lake Monroe. The waterfront is within a short walking distance from First Street. One idea would be to continue the streetscape improvements down the side streets to help connect First Street to the waterfront, fully tapping into Sanford's natural advantage.

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