The doors are closing on 2 more Downtown businesses: Ken's Flowers and Diva's Restaurant. Blaming the economy and the lack of patronage, these two businesses are shutting down and turning off the lights. Diva's has been in business for 6 years and Ken's has been there for years. Ken's has already closed and Diva's is closing March 1st. In like a lion I guess. Oh that's right, Lion is gone too.
More on this at: http://wannabemayor.blogspot.com/2008/02/bad-developments-in-economic.ht...
For the money I'll make the drive to Findlay and dine at Revolver. Nothing against Erika, but Michael and Debi are really onto something down there. Erika was skilled in the kitchen, but didn't have the latitude that an owner/operator might have had. They needed to make a go of it with lunch -- it was a marketing failure, don't blame the kitchen.
I liked Diva's but for the most part it was a bit pricey to be any more then a rare treat for us.
Did anyone notify Der Fuhrer Finkbeiner ??? He must be informed !!!!
These two businesses are right in the heart of his "Central Business District".
What a HOOT !!!!!
Central Business District my ass.
Some Economic Development he has done in the past 2 years.
"Some Economic Development he has done in the past 2 years."
Care to elaborate what "economic development" he should have done to "prop up" Ken's Flower's and Diva's? Diva's struggled from a perception of being pricy. Ken's Flower's lost foot traffic when 5/3rd moved. What's wrong with coming to terms with the idea that maybe these two companies didn't do enough on their own as a private company to bring in business???
From 13 ABC: "In the meantime there are downtown success stories. Ed Beczynski has 3 thriving restaurants: Foccacia's, Mo Joe's and The Blarney. He says he doesn't know why other places are closing and he is doing well."
Nobody cares to highlight the positives and the successes. The only thought process on this blog is that of the The Blade, the doom and gloom without balancing with the new developments that are propping up.
With news like this, it is hard to see the progress or determination for progress,
“It’s deeply unfortunate for the taxpayers and job seekers of Lucas
County that their government is letting them down,” stated Commissioner
Konop, a persistent advocate for a new direction in economic
development. “As people worry about their jobs and their homes, LCIC
continues to underperform, waste taxpayer dollars, and provide weak
economic leadership for a community that needs bold change,” added
Konop."
http://glasscityjungle.com/wordpress/?p=2635
The people elected to serve and promote the city and county and region do not show up for meetings, etc.
ToledoPlusPlus... - Economic development is the creation of a business friendly climate that allows businesses to flourish.
City of Toledo Economic Development Director Finkbeiner has the gall to call this the "most business friendly" city in the world ????? His personality alone CHASES people and business from the area.
Successful ED allows many new businesses to prosper along with the old ones. The three businesses that you cite hardly outweigh the six that have fled the 'Central Bisiness District' recently.
Economic Development can be defined as efforts that seek to improve the economic well-being and quality of life for a community by creating and/or retaining jobs and supporting or growing incomes and the tax base.
Yes, sir, Economic Development IS governmental responsibility. It is much more than planting flowers...
But, when I speak with downtown businessmen, I hear the same couplet of complaints:
1. Carty is crazy and is getting worse.
2. The taxes downtown are heavy.
So, pardon moi if I don't think Beczynski is representative of what's really going on.
They pay more taxes being downtown?
No, in fact, they pay less taxes I believe.
The problem with downtown Toledo isn't the Government, its' property owners. Too many private property owners downtown are selling their builder's at rates that doesn't make sense for any business to buy and redevelop. I know of 3 businesses specifically that was ready to drop some money in the old Bottle Rocket, but the owner wants too much money for a building that needs a lot of work done to it.
Also, why would a business care about crazy Carty. A business is in business to make money, and Carty's big mouth does little to affect that. If your a savvy businessman, you should be able to be successful anywhere.
Job Loss is the key problem in Toledo. When even the lower paying jobs fall off, we're in trouble. Isolating the 2 businesses individually on their failures is not what the thrust of the thread is. Be it 1 job or hundreds of jobs, JOB LOSS is a serious problem.
In Toledo, Diva's may have been pricey, but by comp. to other cities, Diva's was middle of the road in pricing. Ken's would have been viable if there had been other business in the area even with Fifth Third moving a few blocks over.
Yes, there are eateries and other business surviving and growin in Downtown, but not at the speed of the exodos.
I liked candidate Romney's comment that the jobs are gone and not coming back, seemingly in the automotive industry, any way.
In addition to job loss there has to be a reason to go to the city center.
I have walked the streets in search of scenes for photos, that I hope to be able to sell and make some money.
There is a lot of empty store fronts. Across from the hotel at the corner of Monroe and Summit is empty store fronts, visitors leaving the hotel, see empty store fronts.
Venture up Monroe from Summit and the street is lined with empty store fronts and buildings boarded up of just vacant.
The Mud Hens stadium sits empty and unused when baseball season is over.
Walk around other side streets off the main arteries and there are old boarded up buildings with no sign of life.
Yes, there are glimmers of business here and there but there is not enough .
Actually, it was McCain who said in Detroit that jobs are gone and not coming back. Romney lambasted him on that comment, saying that his comment was just typical Washington pessimism....
Ah, thanks, yes it was.
McCain may hit the nail on the head with his comments given this report;
"DETROIT - Vehicle owners are keeping their cars
and trucks longer as quality improves and the uncertain economy makes
new purchases less appealing, according to a study released this week
by automotive consulting firm R.L. Polk & Co.
Polk said the median age of cars on U.S. roads was 9.2 years in 2007,
tying the previous year's record high. The median is the point at which
half the cars were older and half were newer. In 2007, 41.3 percent of
all cars were 11 years or older, compared with 40.9 percent the year
before."
http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080222/BUSINESS02/80...
The last few years I have started to question the over whelming need to consume more and more for the sake of consumption, yet the products are made better, for the most part, and the life span is longer.
It shouldn't be up to government to "make" jobs or "bring" jobs. Toledo needs an entrepreneurial spirit. Small businesses need to be created from within, and that starts with private citizens.
What ideas do you have for uses for the Mud Hens in the winter????
Not to mention, we're talking about a restaurant. Restaurants are in a fickle industry. Restaurants fail all the time across the nations. The arena construction may have contributed a little to their losses as well, in which case, when the arena is complete I imagine that restaurant and more business will move in in its' place.
Also, there needs to be more mid-high scale housing being developed downtown, because those are the people that will spend most their dollars at the restaurants and small shops downtown. Urban dwellers tend to walk more, and are willing to walk two blocks to get to where they need to go. Some businesses suffer because there's no "free" parking or patrons might have to walk blocks to get to their business. People have a walking problem, and that contributes to it.
My beef is what exactly do you want government to do. They can't make jobs with a wand. Its' up to private citizens to change their attitude about downtown, go and support the businesses down there, and maybe start one of your own.
Why do we have an economic development department and staff then?
If the city cannot do this or that, then we should do away with the departments.
"Toledo needs an entrepreneurial spirit. Small businesses need to be
created from within, and that starts with private citizens."
Sure, and the nurturing of the businesses has been and continues to be done through low cost loans, grants and other help from the city, county and state.
"What ideas do you have for uses for the Mud Hens in the winter????"
Not a clue, but maybe there are those that do have ideas. But maybe a temp ice skating rink?
"Also, there needs to be more mid-high scale housing being developed
downtown, because those are the people that will spend most their
dollars at the restaurants and small shops downtown"
Right and the city, county and state are helping to promote the ideas.
"Its' up to private citizens to change their attitude about downtown, go
and support the businesses down there, and maybe start one of your own."
I do when there is a need but frankly, unless I need to visit a law firm, city office or other business located there, there is no reason for me to venture to the city center. There might be in the future if there is an act I would like to see at the new arena and can afford it.
I'd like to start a business, but as my dad use to say, ain't got a pot to piss in.
Cannot get capital, unemployed, wife works but her job is in jeopardy.
If it is not in the city's best interest to help in the job creation and business creation, why then is out Mayor heading out to Kansas to speak with the other owner of the Southwyck Mall. Why then does the Mayor and city spend time trying to revamp and revitalize the Southwyck area, if it is not for them to do.
Withot jobs and employees and people utilizing the jobs, businesses and services, the city will continue to decline as the tax base shrinks. But it is, "It shouldn't be up to government to "make" jobs or "bring" jobs"
We should be more entrepreneurial, well sure, not all of us can. There have to be those that supply the services and goods and there has to be those that consume and the city's mission is to see that the city survives and to do that, they city has to manage its affairs as any business would.
My point wasn't to eliminate the government's role in economic development, but more that it shouldn't be reliant on them. In another post, people are blasting the Mayor for trying to get the ball rolling on Southwyck. What the hell do you want him to do. He shouldn't help get things moving.... he should be getting things moving....make up your damn minds.
All in all, its' up to Toledoans to improve their city. Go downtown and have some lunch or dinner. Go to a few Mud Hens' games this summer and tailgate out front or stop in to Fricker's for a few beers. Go visit a few of the art galleries. Go to Manhattan's for their specials night. Quit complaining about having to walk two blocks, its' the same as walking to the door to a building from your car on a large surface lot. Quit complaining about no free parking, its' a CBD, go park at Franklin Park mall and take TARTA or take a cab.
Encouraging people to spend money is not going to fix the situation. The root problem we're discussing is self-capitalization. That starts with SAVING, not by spending money on swank restaurants. Toledo is becoming poorer, and that poorness has been hidden for some time by the now-crashing Credit Boom. You don't improve on poorness by investing and spending on luxuries.
I never said saving shouldn't be encouraged. If your smart with your money, you should be able to save and spend. If you don't spend, businesses don't make money. Businesses don't make money, jobs disappear. Its' pretty simple actually.
"You don't improve on poorness by investing and spending on luxuries."
You also don't improve on poorness by sitting around on a community blog complaining the community blows and mope you have no job.
I am not sure who this comment is intended for, I am out of work and have never said, "the community blows."
What I have said is that we need a change, if you will, we need jobs so we can go and do the things suggested and we turn to the leadership of the community and city leadership, but to some, the city is not to be turned too for help.
So, we talk amongst ourselves.
I apologize, it wasn't meant toward any one person, but more to the fact that about 99.9% of this blog is everything negative about Toledo, about downtown, etc. .
Yes, two businesses are leaving downtown. I cite three successful ones, yet, those don't count. Good news isn't news. Successful business owner's make money because they know how to run a business. Diva's held a perception of being pricey. How is that the city's fault? If I don't patronize them, they don't make money. If they don't make money, they close up shop. It's business, and the restaurant business is tough to maintain to begin with. I work downtown, and I've never gone to Diva's. Their storefront wasn't welcoming, and nobody in the office wanted to go there because it cost too much money supposedly. So, we patronize Tony Packo's, Frickers, Home Slice, Foccacio's, Blarney's, Michaels, or Bailey's Pizza just about everyday. All of those are for the most part are busy during the lunch hours.
But, those businesses don't count, because those other businesses failed. I don't see the logic in that. Once the arena is finished, those storefronts will be filled again, including hopefully the cleanup of the old BottleRocket into something more useful, fun, and cleaner. It will be a welcome jolt for restaurants, as its' slow right now. They all have April on their calendars, and I know of a few businesses downtown that are getting ready to expand because they anticipate a big summer with the Mud Hens. Businesses can thrive down there, they just need the foot traffic. The Mud Hens and the new arena will help provide for that.
In addition, as much as I know the area doesn't need another movie theatre, I think downtown needs an AMC or better, an IMAX, as well as a bowling alley. It also needs the WaterStreet Station to get moving, which David Ball has said construction would be started in the spring if he received his tax credits in December. The triangle building on the corner of Lafayette and Erie St. has been sold and I've been told that its' in the beginning of being cleared out in the inside and made way for more housing units. I *think* Rumpf Development purchased the lot on the corner of Ontario and Monore, though, I haven't heard much else about that. I believe there is some housing units going in n the corner of St. Clair and Lafayette as well. PizzaPapalis I believe is coinciding its' opening with the arena, and the old Dirty Bird has been sold and is being re-designed as well. That population growth down there from these developments will help allow for more business, because businesses go where they can make money.
Speaking of money, you say your out of a job, right? I was just offered a job with Virtual PC downtown (I never applied either??), but if you say your into computer's you may want to look into that if they are hiring. They may not pay much, but a little money is better than no money.
It is a matter of perception, imo.
I see people who write something and see words on the screen.
Some call for change and more improvement and to do that one needs to point what they feel is wrong. Sure there are success stories but as of right now the amount of vacant store fronts and commercial locations in the city center out number the number of open for business locations, generating income and so on.
This is not negative, this is what is.
I have applied at Virtual PC's before, some time ago, as well as Stone and Computer Discount, turned by every one as no degree and one because I could not name the latest and greatest processor on the market.
Too many techs with degree out there and I am looking at other career choices, but thanks for the tip, it is appreciated.
I don't know why it fourished in the first place. Other than lawyers sending flowers to their favorite judges I don't know who would have been the clientele downtown. I can go to my local Kroger's, and get a bouquet of flowers. I googled them, and found they have two other stores so it seems just the downtown location is going out of business. Free parking might have helped to get clientele. Why spend money to park if I can get flowers for the "significant other" on the way home, and park for free.
I see good things hapening here and there down there and I live just outside it. I'm a water lover so I spend a lot of time walking y the river so I enjoy the city views. I think about what could a bustling and almost glam downtown. There are good starts going on in spite of the decline in some areas. The problem is that it's missing some key features. Zero Department stores, or brand retailers. Large nightclubs of a sizable variety. (The Cosi building would make an excellent locationf or a casino/dance club) . Downtown needs a major face lift. It's grey, bleak and not very intersting visually.
The problem with this administration and the past actions of Council is that the atmosphere isn't very pleasent. Add to that as ToledoPlusPlus said, the Building Owners not facing the reality of the times, charging way too much for those dilapilated/outdated buildings. We need to get those buildings filled up with people that are willing to pitch in and help modernize the City. That's going to require being much for flexible on early profits. If the apartments and offices and shops are filled downtown, the bars, restaurants, sports venues, art venues and services will be booming. The total rehibilitation of a City's downtown will create a lot of good paying jobs in construction. This will require some loans and that's good for the banks..and on and on.....