By Neena Strichart, Publisher
Hold on to your chairs folks, someone actually wants to hear what you’ve got to say. Bolour & Associates development company wants to know what you’d like to see occupying the retail space at the new Bixby Point– southeast corner of Atlantic Avenue and Carson Street. To do so, fill out the form on Page 2 and send it to them. Check off any or all of their suggestions along with some of your own. They want to know what interests you. The form will run in the paper for two more weeks.
Now, although you and I are asking, nothing is guaranteed. Mark Bolour assures me they will do their best to accommodate our wishes–but ultimately it is up to the companies being recruited to decide if they want to join our lovely community. Let’s help Bolour romance those we want with lots of love letters in the form of returned surveys.
Do keep a few things in mind when requesting retailers, restaurants or service providers to establish in our neighborhood. I believe in unique destinations. We are flooded with sameness. Now is our chance to get creative. What are we missing? What do you travel across town to find? What takes your money out of our shopping district? Only you know the answers to those questions. I want to see businesses we are lacking occupy those prime spots in the new Bixby Point. Success will breed success and more upscale retail will scamper to romance us for a change.
To the residents of California Heights, Wrigley and the city of Signal Hill, please take the time to let them know what you want. Although Bixby Point may not be directly in your neighborhoods, it is close enough to be convenient. What are you missing in your shopping areas?
Besides redundancy, duplication ad nauseum is counterproductive. Oh I believe in friendly competition, but let’s not be ridiculous and hurt those independent businesses that are struggling to stay afloat. They are the folks who give you the customer service you have grown so accustomed to. They are the people who shop and live here as well.
I don’t promise that this center will be the area’s retail panacea, but if we do it right, Bixby Point will be the magnet that attracts others of quality and our small businesses will thrive with the hustle and bustle of shopping dollars floating though the area. It’s possible, isn’t it?
This is the first time in my memory that a developer asked me what I wanted. Usually they build it, fill it with whoever will sign a lease and we take what we get. Maybe this is for real. Let’s take a chance and send in the forms. We’ll publish the final tally when we get the numbers.
Oh by the way, there are also prize drawings involved–check out Page 2 for details.
P.S. Happy Mother’s Day to my mama–Marjorie Grommé. I love you.
