Not all that many years ago the most consistent comment about Park Ridge, especially its Uptown business district, was criticism of the lack of commercial and retail tenants to occupy the vacant storefronts.
Not anymore. Today’s laments now run toward the kinds of businessses: too many salons, sushi restaurants and banks. And those laments are not totally unjustified.
According to an article in the Park Ridge Herald-Advocate (“New hair salon proposed for Uptown Park Ridge,” Nov. 25), 16 addresses in the Uptown area are listed as the sites of hair salons or barber shops. We don’t know if that includes the ubiquitous nail salons, but you get the picture.
We also count 4 sushi restaurants in Uptown, not including the grab-and-go sushi available at Whole Foods and Jewel on Uptown’s periphery.
And by our count Park Ridge is home to 13 banks, with the prospect of yet another one going in next to the new Walgreen’s at South Park’s Talcott Terrace shopping center – a prospect that has already met with criticism by residents who have a variety of preferential businesses but no interest in putting their own money where their mouths are.
Then there also are some business owners who don’t like the idea of competition. Or at least not when that competition moves in next door, or even down the block. Those businesses would like our City government to step in and protect them from competition by every way imaginable, including by denying the new competitors business licenses.
But as the interim director of community preservation and development noted: “Competition should not be a consideration” in business licensing decisions.
One of the tenets of capitalism, credited to Austrian economist Joseph Schumpeter, is “creative destruction” – where new ideas, products and services are constantly rising from the ashes of the old. A classic example is the buggy whip, the manufacturers of which went out of business as horse-and-buggy transportation was replaced by automobiles. More recently, we have seen video stores – which employed approximately 175,000 people a decade ago – extinguished by Redbox, Netflix and streaming video.
The folks who don’t want another bank in South Park, or another salon in the 100 block of Vine Avenue, or another sushi restaurant in Uptown, have every right to object. But those objections should not trump the initiative of entrepreneurs willing to risk their time, money and effort in a new business – whether it be a bank, salon or sushi parlor; and whether it be next door or down the street from a competitor.
From the sound of their comments, some Park Ridge residents (and non-resident Park Ridge business owners?) would prefer that the City engage in a little Soviet-style central planning. You know, the kind where the government puts its public thumb on the scale either by refusing to license competitors or by giving economic “incentives” (i.e., bribes) to certain preferred businesses.
A decade or so ago, a clown-car city council with an uber-clown mayor at the wheel did just that: It wasted tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars giving a few preferred Uptown building owners money for “façade improvements” that produced no measurable ROI (Return On Investment) for the City. And then those same alderdopes fattened the wallets of the Uptown redeveloper by irresponsibly borrowing (i.e., issuing non-referendum General Obligation bonds) tens of millions of dollars which they then irresponsibly “invested” in the Uptown project (also without a referendum) that guaranteed them no additional control of the project and no ROI.
The debt from that non-performing “investment” crushed the City’s finances from 2008 through 2014, and remains a multi-million dollar drain on the revenues the City collects from its taxpayers.
Fortunately, the clowns were swept out of office by Mayor Schmidt and his supporters who believed in letting the free market do its thing. So when the developer working with Whole Foods (Lance Chody, also owner of Garrett’s Popcorn) demanded that the City provide almost $3 million of sales tax revenue-sharing as an “incentive” (a/k/a, a bribe) to do the deal, Mayor Dave and that council wisely called his bluff with spot-on reasoning: If WF needs a multi-million dollar bribe to locate in Park Ridge, they should look elsewhere.
Two weeks later the developer and/or WF folded, leaving Park Ridge and its taxpayers $3 million richer. And since then, WF has been joined by Mariano’s, FFC Fitness, Holt’s, Harp & Fiddle, Shakou and other small businesses willing to take the risk of marketplace competition.
It should come as no surprise that the entrepreneur looking to open the hair salon on Vine is Frank Ernesto, who currently has two businesses on Main Street – Gumba Joe’s and F. J. Ernesto’s – and was a long-time fixture in South Park as the proprietor of Sonny’s restaurant. Here’s a guy who, having made a long term commitment to our business community, suddenly is being vilified for taking the risk of starting yet another business…in an area where his competition is already established.
We need more of that spirit, not less.
As for those who still keep drinking that “Why can’t we get national retailers?” Kool-Aid, a little history lesson is in order.
When that clown-car council was in hot pursuit of Uptown Redevelopment we were told that, if we built that new retail space, the likes of upscale Crate & Barrel, Ann Taylor, The Gap and Barnes & Noble would come. But even before that space was finished, all we had were down-sized Chico’s, Joseph A. Banks and Trader Joe’s. And big-time retailer interest was so low that 15,000 square feet of planned retail space was redesigned into more condos.
Four years ago a mayoral candidate talked about attracting the likes of Urban Outfitters, Ann Taylor, Forever 21 and GameStop. None of them came knocking, either.
Now a reported potential mayoral candidate, apparently slugging down the same Kool-Aid, is talking about Pottery Barn.
The bottom line is that these “national retailers” know what markets they want, where they want to be, and why. They decide on Park Ridge, not the other way around. And until they decide they want to be here because here’s where they can make good money, there’s virtually nothing the City can do about it.
Unless you consider offering multi-million dollar bribes a “marketing strategy.”
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13 comments so far
I think if all of a sudden Burger King, McDonalds, Taco Bell, Hardees, Wendy’s, etc., started buying up property or leases in the Uptown Business arena residents would be very unhappy.
Your examples are absolutely valid. I am not against competition. However, as a community, residents want it to be more like Bedford Falls rather than Potterville.
So I do think the city has an interest in what kind of business’s they want in the uptown of Park Ridge.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Bedford Falls is a fictional town, as is Potterville. If you want the Bailey Building and Loan, you’re going to have to start one. And then the beefers will whine about “another bank.”
Park Ridge can’t — or at least shouldn’t — control the types of businesses that set up shop in the uptown. But as someone who grew up in Park Ridge and still comes back often (I have family here), I have to admit I miss the diversity the city once had — a variety of clothing shops, quirky places like Bob Rowe’s Evening Pipe Shop, bookstores, corner drugstores, etc. Yes, I know times change. I know the nature of business changes. I know one has to support local business. But when I come back to Park Ridge I always have the same response: How many restaurants can one small town support?
EDITOR’S NOTE: More than one evening pipe shop or bookstore, obviously.
And if they cannot park directly in front of where they want to go, they’ll head off to the mall, never mind that they’ll walk further there than if they parked in the library lot or around the corner.
EDITOR’S NOTE: You can’t reason with idiots, so just let ’em go.
Will the complainants be the same folks who hit the merchants up for donations for fundraisers and sports teams? Gosh, could we have 3 or 4 teams with bank names? Or Sushi names? Or salon names? Boggles the mind.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Of course! Because getting what they want – or what their kids want – is all that matters.
I’m waiting for somebody to say we should have a Nordstrom, Williams Sonoma and Victoria’s Secret.
You may has missed one pretty important point. The reason (some) business prospects have to go before the Planning and Zoning commission for recommendation is because they are not in keeping with the Zoning ordinance or the comprehensive uptown plan. Both of which say ground floor business is intended for “sales tax generating retail (which does include our Pubs and sushi)” anything other ie service based business is required to go through the “special use” process. This in turn means that the City Council will review and determine if said business is a good fit. As the legislative body the can consider (if) multiple service non sales tax generating business on the ground floor and within close proximity to one another makes financial sense. We have all noticed over the years we have adopted the idea of better to have something than nothing without looking at the long term effects. But some thought should be given to crossing the line between competition and saturation simply to appear as a thriving business friendly town.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Since nobody can predict the future of any business, “look[ing] at the long term effects” is like guessing the weather a year from now. And bureaucrats or even aldermen doing that is like asking an ironworker to make a souffle.
As for drawing the “line between competition and saturation,” the marketplace (i.e., consumers) can do that better than any bureaucrat or elected official.
You are right about businesses and the marked deciding what businesses start or come to Park Ridge.
Several years ago we had a number of car dealerships, until the car manufacturers decided these smaller-sized operations in lower-traffic, less-accessible areas were obsolete and closed them down. Only people who don’t understand business and capitalism, or who think businesses exist for their personal convenience and whims.
For all those on Facebook that want a Starbucks in South Park:
1. If it’s a “gold” idea, then go to a bank (there are plenty in Park Ridge) and get a loan, open a coffee shop, and get rich.
2. Can you be more cliche suburban?
Wow, how dare Park Ridge residents act suburban!!
EDITOR’S NOTE: What are their other choices: Gold Coastian? Bridgeportian? Ghetto?
I agree with the city being pro business and having come a long way, however it seems in some cases it appears PR has been overly business friendly by over looking some building codes. Just a few examples are Holtz and Ernesto’s/Gumba Joe’s. Not sure how they got away with the blatant lack of required Fire Suppression (sprinklers) given the amount of renovation that was done. It also begs asking what other codes were conveniently over looked. Holtz being a men’s clothing store previously and Gumba Joe’s a Beauty Salon. Once again love the fact we’re being pro business but not at the cost of compromising life safety or property preservation. Just interested in how they got away with it when other businesses were forced to follow the codes to the letter at significant additional costs.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Where is your evidence – not speculation but real evidence – that Gumba Joe’s and Holt’s “got away with” anything? Or that somebody else didn’t get the same treatment?
Members of the community will cast their economic votes for stores and restaurants in Park Ridge as they see fit (If we don’t shop in particular stores they will lose money and promptly close). Within the past year we saw this happen with what most thought would be a thriving restaurant. For whatever reasons the store closed, and investors likely lost a great deal of money. It often seems citizens feel that the city is somehow partnering with businesses that want to open in Park Ridge. Statements are made to the council like, “Why not put a park there, or why doesn’t the city push the developer to open a this, or that type of store?” The city does not own an interest in these properties, and has no right to tell an investor what kind of business they should run, etc..(beyond making certain codes have been enforced). These entrepreneurs are risking the own, often personal finances on the chance that our community will enjoy their product or service to the extent that they will see a profit after 3 to 5 years or longer of paying off the expenses necessary to get the business going. I believe this effort to give a calculated risk a try is one of the greatest characteristics of being an American. I admire the risk taker, and I am disappointed in the rhetoric that comes from those who mistakenly believe they have the right to stifle such financial bravery. Some of the same people who take exception to the existence of too many of one type of store or another, also comment that too many store fronts are empty.
Empty store fronts often mean a landlord is unwilling to rent at a rate that another party is interested in paying. And, that’s acceptable. Rates are driven by market realities that face both parties. It is very bold for someone who has money on the table to criticize business entrepreneurs risking their capital and their good names to create a going concern in our town or any other.
The sitting council has discussed the potential for creating a city position for a Business Development Coordinator, or a consulting firm to “encourage” diverse businesses to move into Park Ridge. I’m confident that this will also be an area of focus in the city’s Strategic Plan that is currently being synthesized.
The above is likely to be obvious to many who read it, yet recent news articles have been filled with quotes from would be politicians who have feverishly demonstrated a serious lack of understanding about the role of local government and how it functions (or functions best). But don’t worry, some intend to learn as they go (that was sarcasm).
If time allows, I would encourage community members to attend city council, park district, and/or library board meetings when possible. The minutes if these meetings are also available online. If the only information you are getting about your city is from a newspaper, a neighbor, or someone who
wants your vote you should truly ask yourself if you have the all the facts in hand.
You shouldn’t have to come to all the meetings noted above, as you have elected aldermen to represent your interests. Myself and several other council members will be running for re election in the April 2017 Consolidated Election. I’ve been on this council for almost two years. I can comfortably say that I have found all of my colleagues to be honest, hard working, and productive team members. In my opinion, these men are reponsible for the upcoming reduction in the city portion of your property tax bill, moving forward a revenue mechanism to pay for future Storm Water Projects, developing a Storm Water Master Plan, advancing technology at city hall, so you will soon be able to pay bills online, addressing deficit areas in existing building codes, maintaining high levels of essential services (police and fire), and having a powerful voice at the table when airport noise abatement is discussed. I’d like continue working on this team, so I am hopeful most if not all of those running will be re elected. Regardless, I am hopeful that Park Ridge will continue to be a great city to live in!
Park Ridge small business friendly? Hardly. What happened with the tailor shop trying to open in the old toy store location on Vine. I have never seen so many cease and desist notices placed on one location in all my years in PR. You would think the woman was trying to open a strip joint, instead of a business we could actually use in this town. Yes, I’m sure she may not have been aware of all the rules and regulations, but wouldn’t you think the City could work with an independent trying to start a business instead of a public humiliation and show of force to prove that they can actually enforce their codes for once? Talk about picking low hanging fruit.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The reason a building gets multiple C&D notices is the same reason an ilegally-parked car piles up so many parking tickets: The violation isn’t being corrected. And that’s nobody’s fault but the violator.
If a business person is “not…aware of all the rules and regulations” it’s HER obligation to inform herself or seek help – BEFORE she starts doing the wrong things and becomes the easily-picked “low hanging fruit.”
Well, if putting in a desk and hanging a curtain are major violations worthy of having the wrath of the City thrust upon her, then shame on her and she got what she deserved. The City has again squashed the dreams of an independent trying to start their own business. How? By making it cost prohibitive and throwing their “light” weight around. If she had the means to “lawyer-up”, we’d be having our dresses mended by now. As most of the contractors in this town know, if you want to do something in violation of the codes and ords, do the work first and ask permission later. And if you don’t get what you want, threaten to sue.
As for you relating this situation to an illegally parked car, perhaps in other towns the tickets may pile up, but not in PR. And if they were issued, the City wouldn’t know how to recoup the fines anyway.
EDITOR’S NOTE: There’s nothing “cost prohibitive” about following the City codes.
Your dressmaker apparently is no different from “most of the contractors in this town” except that, unlike them, she doesn’t want to follow the codes OR spend the money to “lawyer-up.”
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