If you got to choose, what type of business would you like to see enter downtown? / LJWorld.com

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Asked at Massachusetts Street on October 1, 2010

“I guess I’d like to see a game store — board games and stuff like that.”

— Daniel Dyer, Wildland firefighter, Lawrence

“I would say more local, less franchise stores. More local mom and pop businesses that offer a unique product that you don’t find in other stores.”

— Kristie Wilson, Owner of La Bella Vita Hair Studio, Lawrence

“Probably more clothing stores. There’s a lot of food so more clothing stores would be nice.”

— Brandon Kueser, student, Australia

“I would love to see a bakery or a patisserie that served French macarons. It’s my new favorite dessert, and I haven’t found them anywhere in Lawrence yet.”

— Ashley Graff, unemployed, Portland, Ore.

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RoeDapple 2 years, 7 months ago

A Sam's Club, a Lowe's and a Cabela's. Along with the parking to go with them, that ought to just about cover it. Oh, and a car dealership. Doesn't matter which, as long as it's 'Merican. Couple of box liquor stores and a McDonald's ought to round it out. Invite Sarah Palin to cut the ribbon for the grand opening!

She's HOT!!

missunderestimate 2 years, 7 months ago

Oh, Roe. You devil. [wink]

vertigo 2 years, 7 months ago

Asian massage parlor.

I got, uhm... a sore back. Yea that's it.

Gene Wallace 2 years, 7 months ago

I second the Game Store. Include a room for free board gaming, computer gaming kiosks, live game demos, game tutorial video section, a discussion area, a game piece/card laminating station, and a beverage/snack bar for gamers and customers. And a big No! No! No! to a "mall type" game store. Hmmmm! Sounds like an "Apprentice" challenge. CCG!

Gene Wallace 2 years, 7 months ago

Pauley Perrette, Kirsten Vangsness, and Allison Scagliotti would be my favorites for the "Ribbon Cutting".

misterlee 2 years, 7 months ago

Big and tall men's clothing store.

Gene Wallace 2 years, 7 months ago

YES!

Gene Wallace 2 years, 7 months ago

Real clothes, not just suits and work clothes.

none2 2 years, 7 months ago

I guess I have no idea what non-real cloths are. When I think of non-real clothes the only thing that comes to mind is the Emperor's Clothes.

RETICENT_IRREVERENT 2 years, 7 months ago

Someplace with music that is a mixture of guitar, drums, accordion and screaming.

miker 2 years, 7 months ago

Then that would be headshandsfeat tomorrow at The Baldwin Blues & BBQ Festival at The Lumberyard Art Center! We start at 6:00 & go to 7:00....shameless promotion...

LogicMan 2 years, 7 months ago

A side of a block that is intentionally old-west, with wooden side walk, a saloon, and old-fashioned behind-the-counter grocer, bank, trading company, etc. No modern businesses hiding as old-west in there.

GardenMomma 2 years, 7 months ago

That could be kind of fun!

Would we have shoot-outs at high noon too?

kernal 2 years, 7 months ago

We already have that any time of day.

Gene Wallace 2 years, 7 months ago

Temecula, CA. transformed one of it's older commercial streets, (Kinda like North second/third in N. Lawrence) into a wonderful Wild West themed commercial district. Take a look : http://www.oldtowntemecula.com/

Pywacket 2 years, 7 months ago

~LIKE~

labmonkey 2 years, 7 months ago

A gun shop that sells and repairs guns. Cabelas has a little too much sensory overload in that department, and waiting in line sucks.

ivalueamerica 2 years, 7 months ago

I think Lawrence is ready to support a gay bar.

phoggyjay 2 years, 7 months ago

Agreed

ggwalker 2 years, 7 months ago

Gay bars don't do well in Lawrence because the gay population is well accepted at most the current bars in town. Most good bar owners know the gay population is a great demographic to cater too. High income and highly educated as a group demographic.
Bars that cater to more of the gay population already existing are Henry's downtown and Chateau on Iowa. Several have failed over years for the reason I mentioned above.

Gene Wallace 2 years, 7 months ago

Have you checked out Wilde's Chateau 24 on Iowa on a Thursday night???

ggwalker 2 years, 7 months ago

No. I assume it must be hetro night. I did not state that Chateau is a gay only bar. I stated Chateau caters to the gay pop. and I stand by my statement.

whats_going_on 2 years, 7 months ago

I think Chateau is pretty much a gay bar

grammaddy 2 years, 7 months ago

A consignment store for all of our local crafters to sell their stuff.

monkey_c 2 years, 7 months ago

I would like that too.

kernal 2 years, 7 months ago

I think the rents downtown are too expensive for a consignment store.

Pywacket 2 years, 7 months ago

I second that, although we've had at least two that have failed in the past. They would need to find just the right balance of accessible location and non-exorbitant rent. The second condition would rule out downtown.

GUMnNUTS 2 years, 7 months ago

I would like a store that sells monkeys dressed as people.

monkey_c 2 years, 7 months ago

I would enjoy that too.

Gene Wallace 2 years, 7 months ago

Try the NorthEast corner of Sixth and Mass.

whats_going_on 2 years, 7 months ago

rofl

consumer1 2 years, 7 months ago

A mosque right next to the gay bar.

none2 2 years, 7 months ago

Come on now, don't you know that downtown space is limited? It would be better to have the gay bar INSIDE the mosque. They could even use Compton's Templar building that is boarded up. The only stipulation would have to be to make sure the bar moves outside 5 times a day.

independant1 2 years, 7 months ago

great idea!

Kontum1972 2 years, 7 months ago

Ditto Jess....

conservativepunker 2 years, 7 months ago

Anything that will make Fratboys uncomfortable.....

monkey_c 2 years, 7 months ago

Like perhaps a gay bar next to a mosque?

none2 2 years, 7 months ago

It is only uncomfortable if they didn't catch it on a webcam.

CWGOKU 2 years, 7 months ago

B.S. You are always liquored up... I hope you are right on these score predictions.

merrill 2 years, 7 months ago

There is a game store in downtown. It's called Fun and Games on the top floor of the Antique Mall on Mass Street..

Stores such as Old Navy, Apple,Sony Style,Lands End and a camera store would bring people downtown thus support for existing locally owned stores increases. Experts say it is generally the small business community that actually supports any business community. A big name scattered here and there make good partners.

Many downtowns have big name anchors surrounded by mostly "mom and pops".

There is plenty of foot traffic downtown which should be attractive to new business.

Bring all the KU home games back to Lawrence. Downtown can use the business!

GardenMomma 2 years, 7 months ago

Fun & Games has really changed (not so much for the better) since it was in its own shop in Mass. St.

monkey_c 2 years, 7 months ago

Yep, I agree it totally stinks now. Not that that is quite what you said...but I think it's lousy now.

kernal 2 years, 7 months ago

Lands End was acquired by Sears a few years ago and now sells there stuff at Sears as well as online. Eddie Bauer was downtown at one time and the stuff in the store was not as good as what was in their catalogs, so they only lasted a couple of years.

Gootsie 2 years, 7 months ago

Red Lobster or Olive Garden. Sorry - I'm a sucker for those two franchises.

Gene Wallace 2 years, 7 months ago

Home Town Buffet!!!

CreatureComforts 2 years, 7 months ago

Mmmmm, mediocre crapiness

RuralWanderer 2 years, 7 months ago

There are tech gurus who actually still use Blackberries? Yowtch.

Practicality 2 years, 7 months ago

I would like to see a Lowes, Cabelas, Bass Pro, Workforce Center (So people could ask for a job instead of money), a Merchant Marine recruiting station, and the Republican National Headquarters building where the US Bank building is at.

monkey_c 2 years, 7 months ago

This vision of downtown you create is horrid and I wouldn't go down there anymore!

dipweed 2 years, 7 months ago

Good Night Nurse....just bring back Paradise Cafe for cripes sake!

Andini 2 years, 7 months ago

...and Tin Pan Alley.

grammaddy 2 years, 7 months ago

And Cornucopia!

dipweed 2 years, 7 months ago

Yes to all three of those great dining establishment! One serving of carp lips for grammaddy!

snap_pop_no_crackle 2 years, 7 months ago

Gootsie sighting!

westcl 2 years, 7 months ago

A mom and pop grocery store.

rse1979 2 years, 7 months ago

The type that will still respect it in the morning.

blindrabbit 2 years, 7 months ago

Back in the day, several neighbor businesses tried to save Paradise (buy ownership shares). Too bad this did not work out as business went downhill in that block following their closure. Unfortunately, quality of food and service started to decline several months before their closure. My guess the owners just got worn out from long hours. Too bad, I still wear my t-shirt on occasion and get inquiries as to "what happened". Miss their Cowboy eggs, mussels, and gumbo.

snap_pop_no_crackle 2 years, 7 months ago

Snap's College of Cheese-Making and Taxidermy might relocate to downtown. Everybody would get used to the smell eventually. We're running a 20% off sale on marmots and gouda this month.

kernal 2 years, 7 months ago

Can I assume they're both aged?

flux 2 years, 7 months ago

Mens clothing store

somedude20 2 years, 7 months ago

Guitar Center would be killer because $10 for a pair of sticks and $8 for a pack of guitar strings is way too much!! On second thought, what if there was a half Hooters half Guitar Center hybrid. Busty ladies with musical instruments would be tops!

blindrabbit 2 years, 7 months ago

Some ideas I've seen work elsewhere; may work here now.

Real cafe and/or diner, not a First Watch, Milton's, Mirth, or Perkins but a genuine one! To get that now I go to Tonganoxie, Eudora and many small towns around here. Lawrence used to be full of them; died out about 20 years ago! Unfortunately, those in BillTown, Baldwin and Overbrook have also closed
A real Chicken house, i.e. Brookfield, Strouds, and Annie's and Mary's in Pittsburgh!
A establishment that served real, quality "New Mexican cuisine", not the standard "Mexican gruel" that everyone has.
A brewing, winemaking supply business. Lawrence had one several years ago, but now gone; maybe not enough demand. Now, have to go to Olathe, Topeka or online suppliers.
Grocery store in North Lawrence.

dipweed 2 years, 7 months ago

I like the way you think!

none2 2 years, 7 months ago

I have no idea what constitutes a "real" diner. Is that where they basically take the plain kind of food you can by frozen in the grocery stores, but the diner will microwave it for you?

lawrencekansan 2 years, 7 months ago

All great ideas!

9070811 2 years, 7 months ago

A real bakery would be nice. One with pastries, cookies, muffins, cakes etc. I bet there is some space to put in a small bowling alley. That would be pretty fun and good for families or birthday parties.
What I really want is another pharmacy. Pretty ticked that Round Corner was pushed out. I miss being able to walk downtown to get some over the counter meds or just some band-aids. A small grocer would also be nice. The Casbah Market was nice, but not exactly convenient in terms of prices and selection; great idea though. Can we have a combined grocer and pharmacy downtown? I wish something like that could survive! I would certainly go there and I think a lot of us around OWL and East Lawrence would take advantage of it. I think that is what I would like to have the most :)

snap_pop_no_crackle 2 years, 7 months ago

"9070811 (anonymous) says… A real bakery would be nice. One with pastries, cookies, muffins, cakes etc." Is WheatFields just too far off Mass for you?

9070811 2 years, 7 months ago

Wheatfields is a restaurant. I want real bake shop with cookies, tarts, chocolate croissants etc... Thanks for being a snot, though.

snap_pop_no_crackle 2 years, 7 months ago

Last time I made the long and tiring trek to WheatFields, they had most all of the items you mentioned.

9070811 2 years, 7 months ago

Last weekend they did not.

somedude20 2 years, 7 months ago

have you tried the pink box on mass? They have a number of the fattening things that you want

areyousure 2 years, 7 months ago

How about Pink Box?

9070811 2 years, 7 months ago

... is dry, lacks variety on any given day, horrible set up...screwed up a cupcake.. Doesn't have apple tarts, fruit filled pastries and other essential pastry items that you'd find at a pâtisserie. But hey what gives, this is Lawrence Ks, not the east coast or France.

Maxwell Butterfield 2 years, 7 months ago

My god, are you picky. Why don't you just open up a bakery yourself?

KU_Dude 2 years, 7 months ago

Hooters.

missunderestimate 2 years, 7 months ago

Definitely Hooters.

Marty_McFly 2 years, 7 months ago

A soda fountain would be heavy.

labmonkey 2 years, 7 months ago

Would we be able to get a Pespi Free or a Tab there?

Pywacket 2 years, 7 months ago

Hush your mouth! You could get a cherry phosphate or a green river and be glad for it.

CWGOKU 2 years, 7 months ago

Dang, KU Dude beat. Hooters. Strip Club.

greenstrings 2 years, 7 months ago

Wax Museum, Indoor Paintball, Comedy Club, or something that is for all ages, until after 10:00 PM ,when it becomes a scene for those 18 and up.

monkey_c 2 years, 7 months ago

Comedy Club is a top notch idea

sissezz 2 years, 7 months ago

Paradise Cafe.... miss them. I second a good chicken house! and the grocery store idea!

monkey_c 2 years, 7 months ago

I concur. Good God I'm agreeable this afternoon.

Gene Wallace 2 years, 7 months ago

Get me some backing and I'd do it. I just made this one at Zazzle a couple weeks ago. http://www.zazzle.com/gnome_coming_2010_tshirt-235141560942533401 "Gnome Coming 2010" Much better than the ACME place on 9th and Mass.

rando1965 2 years, 7 months ago

i agree cause i can not find a 5 xl k.u shirt anywhere in town joe college allways got my shirts within 2 days now i have to go to acme at 9th and mass but not the same.

neuhofel 2 years, 7 months ago

Local - Speciality butcher shop. Chain - Trader Joes.

vertigo 2 years, 7 months ago

Geez just any kind of butcher shop would be nice- doesn't have to be a specialty shop. When I lived in Australia every town had a butcher shop or two. You could always get good quality cuts of meat. I kind of miss that.

somedude20 2 years, 7 months ago

I thought he did already and it is called Sacred Journey

nobody1793 2 years, 7 months ago

I'd like to see a nukular plant.

KU_Dude 2 years, 7 months ago

I'd like to see a city hall that actually allows new business without a lot of hoop jumping.

scopi_guy 2 years, 7 months ago

I'd like to sell oranges down at the stoplight on the corner. $3 a pop.

monkey_c 2 years, 7 months ago

Rip off. I would not buy an overpriced orange from you...a hot dog on the other hand...

scopi_guy 2 years, 7 months ago

You only tell the cop you're selling oranges...if you get caught!

riverdrifter 2 years, 7 months ago

I'd like to see a steak joint that sold prime beef and has a great bar. A private club, no college kids -except for the waitresses...

blindrabbit 2 years, 7 months ago

neuhofel: Trader Joe's is a great idea for cities like Lawrence, but they don't look for locations (i.e. Kansas) where they cannot sell wine (Two Buck Chuck's aka Charles Shaw). Although, they have decided to open a store at 119th and Roe in Overland Park and also Philadelphia. Pa. has liquor laws even more antiquated than Kansas'. The same situation will keep stores like City Market and Whole Foods away from Kansas.

Two Bucks $1.99 per bottle in Calif; $2.99 every other state.

pace 2 years, 7 months ago

Guess my age, I miss both Duckwalls and Woolworths.

GardenMomma 2 years, 7 months ago

Old enough to also remember Town Crier, Adventure Book Store, & Raney Drugs? Do you recall the pets for sale downstairs in Woolworth's & the diner in the store as well?

scopi_guy 2 years, 7 months ago

I always wanted to eat in that diner but never got to. I remember all of those stores (usually bought my mom's Christmas present each year at Town Crier) except I don't really remember pets for sale in Woolworths. I remember their downstairs...that's where the toys were!

pace 2 years, 7 months ago

I really miss the town crier. Clean well lighted place, wide aisles and good variety.

monkey_c 2 years, 7 months ago

I guess OLD. Old as yer tounge and a little bit older than yer teeth. Like Santy Claus?

carguyshu 2 years, 7 months ago

waffle house, in n out burger, white castle, jack in the box.

thomgreen 2 years, 7 months ago

A wine store similar to Cellar Rat in KC. Where you could take different wine classes throughout the month. I'm for another brewery too. I think Lawrence could support another local GOOD brewery.
Chain stores that I'd like to see here would be an Apple store, possibly an Aldo shoes, and a Converse store would be nice too.

As far as the Trader Joe's, Lawrence isn't necessarily out of the picture. Typically Trader Joe's follows a cluster of three business plan. They announced two spots in KC, a third store announcement would seem to be logical.

But most of all I'd like to see a downtown property owner who understands it's not all about making the almighty dollar. Take pride in the town you live in, stop raising rents so that smaller businesses can't survive. Do you really have to own everything?

Editorator 2 years, 7 months ago

You can buy mixed cases at Jensen's Liquor on 9th, although I'm with you, I'd like to see something like Emerald City Market in Manhattan, and the wine class is an idea that some place like Milton's could pick up.

It's a shame smaller businesses can't find affordable rent downtown, but I really think Lawrence has a great mix of downtown businesses.

mrbig 2 years, 7 months ago

Stip club.

vertigo 2 years, 7 months ago

Defintion:

Stip- In geometry, the pentagrammic prism is one in an infinite set of nonconvex prisms formed by square sides and two regular star polygon caps, in this case two pentagrams.

That doesn't sound like a very fun club to me. It'll probably be full of nerds.

consumer1 2 years, 7 months ago

A store front for the guy who stands on 11th street and holds the sign "honk for hemp". Then people could go inside and honk him for hemp.

none2 2 years, 7 months ago

I'd like to see a fruit orchard and a ranch downtown. It would give Lawrence that more diversified business climate which is lacking.

blindrabbit 2 years, 7 months ago

thomgreen: Great idea about a wine store and especially offering wine/beer making classes. I inquired about the "class" idea and was told that the Kansas liquor laws prevent this. Apparently, as soon as you add yeast to a beer mash or wine squeezings with the intent to produce alcohol (unless done privately) you need a producers license.

booyalab 2 years, 7 months ago

I've wanted to start a lingerie shop for the past few years. My idea is it would be sort of an anti-victoria's secret in that it would serve the hard-to-find bra size niche and the models would be relatively normal-sized local women. Unfortunately, my imagination is a lot bigger than my bank account and I'm against taking out loans because I think it's not conducive to wise financial decisions. Plus, Lawrence is just not friendly to new businesses.

kernal 2 years, 7 months ago

That would probably find a good niche in a large city!

Pywacket 2 years, 7 months ago

How about closing Mass St to traffic, digging out the road, and diverting some of that river and stocking it with trout? I could really go for sitting outside Chipotle's, eating a barbacoa and snagging a cutthroat to tote home. Well..... not snagging, exactly.... you know what I mean.

none2 2 years, 7 months ago

You mean some kind of Venice for fishermen as well as lovers?

Pywacket 2 years, 7 months ago

There's an idea--lovers! The former meter maids, since they'd be out of ticketing work, could put on sailor pants, striped shirts, and those flat hats with the fluttering ribbons and learn to steer gondolas while singing ballads to paying lovebirds.

As long as they didn't interfere with my trout fishing.

gphawk89 2 years, 7 months ago

Summit Racing, Grainger, Grizzly Industrial, Newark Electronics, Lab Safety, Classic Industries, MSC Industrial Supply, Rockler - all fully stocked warehouses. And a Guitar Center.

bearded_gnome 2 years, 7 months ago

24-hour Der Weinerschnitzel!

nothing even close in Lawrence.

bearded_gnome 2 years, 7 months ago

907: Round Corner drugs was not squeezed, pushed, or forced out FGS!
Tom the pharm and owner needed to retire.

Pendragons: you better watchit thar buddy! "gnomecoming" can be misunderstood.

A mosque next door to the Eldridge (surviving relic of Quantrill's raid). on the other side of the Mosque: the Der Wienerschnitzel or other hot dog shop selling pork hot dogs and sausages. then back of the mosque would be perfect place for the new brewer/wine shops [see above].
plus the pedacab could stop at the mosque five times a day too.

but the Muazzin has to vocalize in a kansas city blues sort of style!

mdrndgtl 2 years, 7 months ago

A failed pewter blacksmith selling early-80s snuff films for pennies on the dollar. Also, he sells candied yams and homemade stationary made with Elmer's glue and dryer lint.

independant1 2 years, 7 months ago

24 hour combo soda fountain, donut shop/coffee house with beer on tap w/popcorn/ass't nuts. Steak n Sushi bar optional add on or weekend fare. With impromptu 24 hour amateur.volunteer entertainment

independant1 2 years, 7 months ago

uh oh, left it wide open for anyone who wants to comment on the new shelter in east l'ville.

RuralWanderer 2 years, 7 months ago

Combined cheese shop and wine shop and related goodies, promoting local producers. Could be connected to the whole local foods movement which seems to be trending right now. LJWorld should allow us to subscribe to entries. I enjoy this thread, but I don't have time to come back and manually catch up.

Liberty275 2 years, 7 months ago

I'd like to see a hybrid nudie-bar/best buy/latte-shop go in downtown with a hooters built onto the side. I would shop there and have lunch.

Jimo 2 years, 7 months ago

Oui, un pâtisserie - my thought exactly. Or some type of boulangerie.

pooter 2 years, 7 months ago

Cannabis Cafe

tetsuwanatom 2 years, 7 months ago

Several of the comments in this forum are some of the funniest things I've read in a long time. Some of you could write jokes for comic talent.

snoozey 2 years, 7 months ago

Paradise Cafe - I miss it so much - as does the rest of the city. Please, bring it back. All will be forgiven.

rando1965 2 years, 7 months ago

more street vendors. how about asian food.

phoggyjay 2 years, 7 months ago

Rave cave

streamfortyseven 2 years, 7 months ago

Trader Joe's. Definitely.

Kookamooka 2 years, 7 months ago

Entertainment. High end office supply/stationery store like Archivers or Levenger. Bring back papers and pens. Art supplies. Also...a fountain that people can run through or play in. Stuff for kids to do-like a City museum concept to draw people off of the highway into downtown. A rooftop bar. An outdoor pavilion or ampitheater where live music can play but people could also eat their lunch there.

Banana Republic, Anthropologie, Burberry, Sephora, Designer Shoe Warehouse. I wish Lawrence could lure Dillards distribution center here with an outlet. They used to have one at Indian Springs Mall...I have no idea where it is now. Wouldn't have to be downtown.

An ice skating rink.

pace 2 years, 7 months ago

'what I want is a complaint store where we talk about some idea about a business we would open but not really, where we would choose to not do a business plan, not do any market research, reject any ideas about investing any of one's own money in it or consider a business loan and then blame its' failure of the city by stating , it failed due to the City's lack of support for business.

jkanderson 2 years, 7 months ago

Terre Haute, Indiana has a store "Gabby Junction -- Dog Grooming and Beanie Babies". It isn't a viable business any longer in The Haute but maybe Lawrence has a market for it. Think outside the box.

slowplay 2 years, 7 months ago

A casino. Nothing fancy, just a few black jack tables and video poker.

Alexander Neighbors 2 years, 7 months ago

Good luck wig that we don't have a choice... It what ever the city approves of ... If they don't like your business they will do everything they can to shut it down

AnnaUndercover 2 years, 7 months ago

Street food vendors would be awesome.

whats_going_on 2 years, 7 months ago

More nice clothing stores...I can't shop at JCP or Kohls unless I want to look like a 15 year old or a 50 year old, and I'm not going to find many professional/work attire, or even quality clothes, at Britches, etc. So...fail. I have to order online for all that, or just happen to be at the mall. :(