The lack of diversity and local retail options in these redevelopments is making our cities less unique. I wish more projects would be incentivized to offer smaller storefronts with lower rents so these opportunities existed. Food Halls get bad reps but i think municipalities should try to build simpler facilities within one near these developments to serve as incubators
Great idea! One of the things I liked about food halls in Brooklyn was this idea that it mixed well with big box and small retailers.
I was able to have lunch and grab groceries from TJ in the same trip. If we truncated our malls and added public atriums with WiFi we could reimagine the mall but for small business and makers. Even better if anchored by a big box to pay the majority of the building.
Thanks for touching on this phenomenon. I remember being in the 'cool' part of chicago and seeing the same stores popping up that are in southend that i thought were unique like jeni's. I feel like they market these stores to seem special and unique when they are not.
It really sucks that mom and pops cant afford to be part of new developments, landlords can only trust big brands, and customers want to feel special, so you start to see these condado taco type places that meet in the middle.
The Commonwealth project in plaza midwood just announced some tenants and surprise, surprise, all food places, all famous from other cities. sad part is the people are ecstatic. will be interesting to see if the space will fill with anything else local or unique
Yes! I saw the list last night actually after checking in on that project. I can only imagine how this is also alienating commercial designers and architects as well since buildouts are pretty much rinse and repeat from previous locations. There can be a mix of both big box and local but local should always be the priority if the elected officials care at all about true economic development and affordable housing.
The lack of diversity and local retail options in these redevelopments is making our cities less unique. I wish more projects would be incentivized to offer smaller storefronts with lower rents so these opportunities existed. Food Halls get bad reps but i think municipalities should try to build simpler facilities within one near these developments to serve as incubators
Great idea! One of the things I liked about food halls in Brooklyn was this idea that it mixed well with big box and small retailers.
I was able to have lunch and grab groceries from TJ in the same trip. If we truncated our malls and added public atriums with WiFi we could reimagine the mall but for small business and makers. Even better if anchored by a big box to pay the majority of the building.
Thanks for touching on this phenomenon. I remember being in the 'cool' part of chicago and seeing the same stores popping up that are in southend that i thought were unique like jeni's. I feel like they market these stores to seem special and unique when they are not.
It really sucks that mom and pops cant afford to be part of new developments, landlords can only trust big brands, and customers want to feel special, so you start to see these condado taco type places that meet in the middle.
The Commonwealth project in plaza midwood just announced some tenants and surprise, surprise, all food places, all famous from other cities. sad part is the people are ecstatic. will be interesting to see if the space will fill with anything else local or unique
Yes! I saw the list last night actually after checking in on that project. I can only imagine how this is also alienating commercial designers and architects as well since buildouts are pretty much rinse and repeat from previous locations. There can be a mix of both big box and local but local should always be the priority if the elected officials care at all about true economic development and affordable housing.