I applaud the French for trying to keep the big retailers away. The mom and pop
business's that once made our country great are disappearing by the day. Same
goes for
Europe. I've spent quite a bit of time in Europe, and it always seemed to be an
interuption
of culture to see a McDonalds or Disney store in places so filled with little
shops and
restaraunts that had been there for decades.
Tonight on Frontline on PBS there's a great program about Walmart and it's
effect on our
country.
Also, there's a DVD out called "Independent America" that shows 2 people
crossing
America on the backroads and avoiding any kind of mega retailer or chain
restaraunt.
Good stuff. Learn more about it here http://www.independentamerica.net/
Jack
--- In AsburyPark@yahoogroups.com, "oakdorf" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> Maybe their wer in Paris and picked up on this...then again, having
> H&M in downtown might bring people in. Cookman Ave like the Paris's
> Champs Elysees?? I recall about 28 years ago have a burger in a Mcd's
> AND they served wine. Today even have chicago pizza and planet
> hollywood and more.....
>
> See the following article:
>
> Sweden's fashion giant H&M has been barred from setting up shop on
> Paris's Champs Elysees, city hall said, after a report warned of an
> invasion of high-street retailers along the famed avenue.
>
>
> Regional planning officials voted overwhelmingly against H&M's plans
> for a Champs Elysees superstore, designed by the star French
> architect Jean Nouvel and set to open in 2008, after city officials
> came out against it.
>
> The decision follows a recent report carried out for Paris city hall,
> which raised the alarm over the growing number of chain stores and
> fast food outlets that rub shoulders with luxury brands on the avenue.
>
> "Can we risk it turning into another Oxford Street?" the report asks,
> referring to central's London's main shopping avenue.
>
> A deputy to Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe insisted on Monday that the
> city "has nothing against H&M" and that the decision was intended to
> preserve a "mix of culture, restaurants and shopping."
>
> "Clothing stores already account for 39 percent of all traders on the
> Champs Elysees. We want the cinemas and restaurants to stay," said
> Lyne Cohen-Solal.
>
> Paris city hall is working with the Paris Chamber of Commerce and
> Industry and a committee of Champs Elysees traders to draw up a
> commercial development plan for the avenue by mid-2007.
>
> Unless firm action is taken, they argue, global chain stores will
> take over the avenue, since they are the only ones able to afford the
> skyrocketing rents.
>
> But the planning verdict got a lukewarm reception from the Champs
> Elysees traders' group.
>
> "This was more than just another shop," said a spokesman, Dominique
> Rodet. "It was a concept store -- H&M had promised to do something
> really different."
>
> According to Le Parisien newspaper, H&M is likely to appeal the
> decision before France's national business planning office.
>
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