Landing Starbucks to Close

[jcjohnpaint]

OK so our conservative government takes there typical hands off approach....so why are businesses leaving?  They said once government steps out of the picture (which is all it does around here) then business will come back.  Maybe the (being found nowhere) approach of Mike Hogan will work better......I bet his 'where the hell is our mayor' approach will make everything better! 

[jcjohnpaint]

sorry their

[fsujax]

I must say the place was jam packed last Friday night. People were everywhere. Maybe Starbucks couldnt come to an agreement with the owner on their lease? just a possibility, other than business being so abysmal.

[jcjohnpaint]

I wonder if the parking disagreement had anything to do with this?

[copperfiend]

Several Landing restaurants do quite well.  Check out the Landing tonight, it will be packed.  It is still by far the center of activity in our downtown core.  Starbucks is not closing due to a lack of sales, just consolidating and tightening belts in areas where they do not forecast growth.

Other than Hooters, what restaurants do quite well? I am just curious. I don't usually go to the restaurants there unless I am attending something at the T-U Center.

[cline]

I must say the place was jam packed last Friday night. People were everywhere. Maybe Starbucks couldnt come to an agreement with the owner on their lease? just a possibility, other than business being so abysmal.

Or maybe they are leaving because Sleiman needs to make room for new and exciting major restaurants to move into the Landing.

[thelakelander]

I agree with you.  I said that tongue in cheek.  But I feel the problem is:  1.  Many citizens of Jax probably have no idea what a real downtown looks like.  Most probably haven't even been to our downtown in years and 2. these same people don't realize the importance of having a vibrant and successful downtown.  This line of thinking transfers into our politicians (i.e. city council and mayor).  Hopefully that will change with the upcoming election.  

True.  However, things are so severe that we don't have time to convince these types of downtown's importance before doing anything.  My advice would be to let them be and move on without them.  Keep in mind, when I say this, I'm speaking from the belief that we've over complicated downtown's issues and that the solutions are simple and affordable.  Thus, if I'm not asking Mandarin or Argyle guy for money out of his pocket to do something, I probably won't spend much time trying to get him to buy in either.

[fieldafm]

OK so our conservative government takes there typical hands off approach....so why are businesses leaving?  They said once government steps out of the picture (which is all it does around here) then business will come back.

Government is still very much getting in the way of small business growth in downtown.  Government sponsors unfriendly signage policies, promotes traffic patterns that make downtown auto-centric instead of pedestrian centric, makes permitting very hard for such things as outdoor seating for restaurants, promotes highly unfriendly parking policies, does not address the homeless issue(perception of safety) and refuses to create a compact pedestrian friendly environment.  When the playing field is not level, businesses will go to places where they can compete without an unfair disadvantage... such as downtown.  

The merchant association and sheriff's department teamed up to recreate the Park/King area focusing on these exact things.. and the area is much more vibrant than downtown in a VERY short period.

What does that tell you?

[copperfiend]

I must say the place was jam packed last Friday night. People were everywhere. Maybe Starbucks couldnt come to an agreement with the owner on their lease? just a possibility, other than business being so abysmal.

Or maybe they are leaving because Sleiman needs to make room for new and exciting major restaurants to move into the Landing.

Maybe he is making room for an IKEA or Bass Pro Shop.

[fieldafm]

Several Landing restaurants do quite well.  Check out the Landing tonight, it will be packed.  It is still by far the center of activity in our downtown core.  Starbucks is not closing due to a lack of sales, just consolidating and tightening belts in areas where they do not forecast growth.

Other than Hooters, what restaurants do quite well? I am just curious. I don't usually go to the restaurants there unless I am attending something at the T-U Center.

Go to the Landing during the week at lunchtime or go to the Landing on the weekend.  It was very hard getting a seat outside this past weekend.  The courtyard was FULL Saturday for the gumbo fest and there was a nice crowd all day Sunday as well.

Tonight will be packed, check it out for yourself.

[tufsu1]

and to add to what fieldafm said....I went down there Tuesday night around 9pm...Hooters had a line out the door!

[wsansewjs]

Build IKEA in the Jacksonville's Shipyard Area and the piers.

Good example is the IKEA in South Philadelphia where the SS United States and other ships are in docks next to it. It is a good visual cue to envision what Jacksonville's River Scene might look like.

[finehoe]

Maybe he is making room for an IKEA or Bass Pro Shop.

I thought they were holding out for Walgreens and Office Depot.

[wsansewjs]

Honestly. We need an unique store in Jacksonville like IKEA to actually DRAW people to Downtown. There are too many damn Office Deport, Walgreen, etc etc. Those business can build AROUND IKEA. I am desperate for IKEA to be in Jacksonville. It is a huge untouched market for IKEA to tap into it.

-Josh

[Shwaz]

Maybe he is making room for an IKEA or Bass Pro Shop.

I thought they were holding out for Walgreens and Office Depot.

Don't forget the Cheesecake Factory.