Is Springfield a viable retail market?

[strider]

Stephen and Gonzo, thanks for the support.  Now, both of you need to come in and buy something!  OK, just stop by sometime and say hi.

While we have really only been on Main for a short time, we have made a few discoveries.

We have discovered than the vast majority of our clients have come to us via bus or walking from their home in the neighborhood.   Many come into the store either when they are waiting for that next bus or when they are on their way home. 

Few of our customers actually come for the pawn shops.  Most who visit the pawn shops want to sell these days.  Some do indeed go to buy, but from what we have heard, it is tough out there for the pawn shops too.  This is a little different than what Bud (Springfield Emporium) used to say as he believe he got customers from the pawn shops and it hurt his business when he moved down a few blocks away from the pawn shops.

We have a few clients who drive to us.  We also have realized that parking will most likely be an issue on Main Street.  In our block, it already is sometimes.  Off-street parking will become a valuable asset in the future.  Remember that the parking available has to handle the renters on Main Street, the employees of the businesses and the customers we want to come in from other areas of Jacksonville.

There are more apartment rentals on Main than most would realize.  Many of theses residents are also our customers.

The economic and social groups coming into our store are about on par with the economic and social percentages of the community as represented in the Metro Edge study.  In other words, while we do service the lower income brackets that are the majority in Springfield, we also cross all economic and social lines.  We think this is very important as this is the type of business needed to help drive a revitalization effort on Main Street.

[Ethylene]

"The times have changed of course and there is about to be another one of those massive changes in the neighborhood as a major player leaves the scene.   Depending on how that plays out I am waiting to make a decision."

Major player? Care to elaborate...

[samiam]

Yes Springfield is a viable retail market
With all the new people buying houses to restore and a new developer coming in ( Planning commission blue sign posted on market between 4Th and 5Th. This is the apparent sight of his first Springfield house) This will bring more people into Springfield which in turn will strengthen the retail market. IMO the neighborhood is close to reaching critical mass for retail to take a second look at Springfield

[thelakelander]

I still think many suffer from the thought that Main Street belongs to a particular community and that all of our urban communities are isolated from each other.  Main Street is viable for businesses that look at the entire urban core and demographics as their target market.  Its not for those that believe a small, yet demographically diverse, population (under 5k) can support their business alone.

The same goes for downtown and how we view it.  We need to stop isolating our urban neighborhoods and act like a real city.  So, is Springfield alone a viable retail market for a street like Main?  No.  Is the Central City a viable retail market for a street like Main.  Yes, it is.

[thelakelander]

I'm just tired of hearing about it and the neighborhood.  We need to focus on better integration of the urban core's districts and promoting them as a whole instead of isolating them.

[fsu813]

I'd love to have an urban core neighborhoods newspaper...even just monthly.

The Resident has 2 versions, 1 for San marco, San Jose and that area and 1 for Riverside, Avondale, Murray Hill & Ortega.

It would be great to have something like that just for the core neighborhoods......

[Springfielder]

For the most part, most people don't read the newspapers anymore...they get their news online or tv...so having a neighborhood paper, to me, would be a waste of time. Besides, we have the Orange Blossom and of course, SPAR's weekly updates....

[CS Foltz]

Ahhhhhhh yes............the SPAR updates!

[fsu813]

The Resident is quite popular.

[CS Foltz]

Paper or blog should not matter if it is done in a professional manner..........good writing stands out on its own merits! Keep SPAR out of the commercial side of things and they will come!

[sheclown]

Yesterday someone came into the thrift store on her way to SHANDS and wanted to bring a patient some books and PJs.  We get quite a bit of traffic from SHANDS, nurses looking for scrubs, interns looking for lab coats.  Bottom line is that this is the sort of thing that keeps our doors open.  People who regularly shop with us and people who drop in from other parts of town (and other towns in the case of SHANDS). 

Lake is totally correct.  No neighborhood is an island. 

[sheclown]

Right now, the much maligned tax places have increased the foot traffic on Main Street a 1000%.  And these people are buying vintage table cloths at the thrift store, checking out the DVDs at the pawn shops, and buying lunch at Carls. 

And, seriously, making me feel safer and less isolated on that stretch of Main.

[Dan B]

I thought personal attacks were against site policies?

[Dan B]

Oh, were you boycotting? I wasnt aware.

[sheclown]

We're alive and well, albeit a bit lonely in our little section of Main.  Although sometimes not as lonely as you'd think.

A nicely dressed man came into the thrift store today and while looking at a pair of dress pants, asked me "are you a mother?"  "well, yes" I replied.

He very abruptly grabbed me and hugged me and then kissed me.  And then said "Happy Mother's Day!" and left the store.

It felt.... opportunistic.  I had the feeling that he's been using this all over town.  No worse for the experience, although no better for it either, I feel compelled to warn the women of Springfield ...

beware of the Mother's Day kisser.