hardly anyone seems to be interested in opening a m/p establishment for the things I'm interested in -at least in UC. If the UCD can make this happen, I'm all for it.
The problem with Mom and Pop type establishments is called the "Walmart Syndrome."
The simple fact of economic life is that the vast majority, maybe as high as 99% of the population has almost no interest in shopping at the corner store, except maybe at 2am. But even then, unless they have no transportation available to them, they will head to "the big box" or "the Mall," to do their shopping (or maybe to AM/PM, Wawa or 7/11). The two big reasons are actually very simple -- cost and selection. Convenience is a very distant third consideration... witness all of the folks who have no qualms about driving down to State Line or over to Jersey for their Liquor because they save a few bucks.
In today's economy, the only thing which survives as a small proprietorship is a niche product which has no competition at "The Mall," or in the "Big Box" ... or something which was inherited from their parents. Consequently, one gets lots of "ethnic" markets and similar venues which cater to small clienteles. A good example of the problem is the Neighborhood Hardware Store -- in the past 10 years we used to to have three in University City, now we have one - Monarch.
The only area where "the Mall" or "the Big Box" doesn't completely dominate the market is dining establishments. Consequently, we find lots of them.
Sadly, even the UCD can not make Mom and Pop establishments happen. ... short of maybe something like a Section 8 program for businesses. The reality of retailing today simply makes the startup costs too big a nut to crack without the backing of some major entity... (AKA Franchising, which, as far as I'm concerned, doesn't qualify as a Mom and Pop operation.)
A comment was made about South Street. South Street happened, where it happened, in the mid 60s for the simple reason that the neighborhood was virtually abandoned, and rents were dirt cheap. It didn't happen on the West end of South Street because it wasn't abandoned and the rents were significantly higher. (If anybody else remembers the Distant Drummer, we can talk about that later.) At that time, Baltimore Avenue was in much better shape than it is today. "The Crowd" moved from South Street to Mannyunk for the same reason. Could they move again? Certainly, rents on Main Street have gotten ridiculous, but unless it's Baltimore Avenue west of probably 52nd Street, the rents are just as bad east of there. A much more likely venue would be someplace like Ogontz avenue in West Oak Lane, but even that has been re-habed to the point where it isn't too likely.
T.T.F.N. William H. Magill [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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