Talking locally here, but both chain and locally owned businesses. I have to say K-Mart. Believe we're going to see the ones that are left here fall by the wayside. Every time I go to the one on Reynolds, it's devoid of customers, or close to it. It pisses me off, because I actually like the store, other than their penchant for continually trying to get by with less and less people-which is precisely what is killing them here- customer service. I remember two years ago at Christmas (2 days before), I was in a line that streched to almost the back of the store-and they only had two lanes/cash registers open. Didn't have anywhere near that problem this year, because practically nobody was shopping there. They also have a fantastic gardening center that reminds me of the sorely-missed Frank's Nursery and Crafts and they have the best toy department left in town, for my money. I'll miss then dearly, along with Frank's, Hills , and a few others that have long since departed. What are your predictions?
Places YOU think won't be around after 2009 due to the s(t)inking economy
updated by Darkseid on Feb 16, 2009 at 05:30:13 pm Comments: 39
Comments ... #
Most of the specialty shops on Central Ave., west of McCord, will be gone.
I've heard rumors about St. Luke's Hospital being in pretty serious financial trouble and are on the verge of having to close. Personally, I don't see them closing, but I do see them being engulfed into the Promedica or Mercy systems. I guess there's an outside chance that they could become affiliated with UT as well, although that's pure speculation on my part.
I'm surprised that some of the gyms (like Bally's on Airport) are still there - especially with newer and better gyms like Urban Active Fitness.
What about these Sherman Williams Paint stores ?
I wonder how they manage to sell enough paint every month, to cover the cost of renting commercial space, related over-head and employees....and still turn a profit ? What's so special about their paint, that people can't readily get at Sears, Lowes or Home Depot ?
Urban Active Fitness - I heard the memberships are expensive there, compared to just $19.95 a month at 21st Century Super Fitness.
posted by WalterAnthony on Feb 16, 2009 at 08:32:09 pm #
Urban Actives customer service is the worse I have experienced in many a moon. And I don't understand how people go there on their lunch hour when they only have like 6 showers. I am in no mood to wait to take a shower!
WalterAnthony: I think membership fees vary depending on when you sign up for UAF, i.e. $20+ when it was still an preview center. I hear it's $54.99ish these days. How is 21st Century Super Fitness? Pretty decent?
Ryan: I think people go during their lunch hour so they can beat the 3pm rush, and by rush, I mean high schoolers hounding the locker room. I don't know if the men's locker room is the same way.
21st Century Super Fitness - I think it's a good bargain for the money. Lots of room and equipment, especially at the Northtowne location. The location on Reynolds Rd just opened recently. The only bummer (in my opinion), is none of the locations have any basketball courts. Northtowne & Reynolds locations even have designated areas with work-out equipment, just for children and youths.
A few months ago, I heard a couple LifeStyle-4-Ladies clubs were closing. Last week, I drove thru the Secor & Stern intersection. Did they also close the club at that intersection ? It looked pretty empty when I drove by.
posted by WalterAnthony on Feb 16, 2009 at 09:10:20 pm #
Diamond Men's Shop - I know they've had many "Store Closing Sales" over the years. But somehow they still stayed in business. They have commercials running on t.v. again, announcing another Store Closing Sale.
Are they really closing this time ? For real ??
posted by WalterAnthony on Feb 16, 2009 at 09:13:31 pm #
Could be those fitness places are closing coz they heard Crossfit Lifesport was opening on Summit soon. :) Seriously, I think the smaller gyms with more personal service have a better-looking future than those big hulks. A Crossfit workout takes 30 minutes a day...you'll wait for a machine that long in some places...and you'll be in better shape after 30 days than 90 days at the big places, coz the trainer at Lifesport will be on you like white on rice if you slack, lol.
I, too, will mourn the passing of KMart, mostly for their garden center, but there are too many other places to go, so I won't be missing them for long. I was thinking the other day that maybe people need to decide which few businesses they want to survive and shop there ONLY. Like, stick with the ones that are closest to you and support only them, so they'll be there when you need to walk, lol. I wonder would that work?
I hear Rite Aid is in trouble-everywhere one looks there is one-far too many IMO.
Read some of the gyms are offering short-term memberships. Certainly Wildwood and other clubs charging $45/mo or more gotta be feeling the pinch. Btw, just left Major Magic's and at least 30 people were eating and playing games, go figure. The buffet is $5 all day long.
Yeah, but at least that fuckin COSI will be around for years to come!!
Again, correct me if I'm wrong, but I've heard Cousino's Navy Bistro isn't doing too well.
I had dinner at the Navy Bistro a couple weks ago and they seemed to be doing fine.
Gym memberships not necessary. Needed at home: set of dumbbells, chin-up bar, yoga mat, running shoes.
Great abs are made In the kitchen not the gym.
LOVE the Kmart in Pburg, aged 70's decor but spotless floors and shelves. Signage a little spotty at times. Rarely any other shoppers to deal with. We choose Kmart over Wallyworld or Target whenever possible-It's my way of helping to delay the inevitable. Remember, they are owned by Sears now, and if I recall correctly, the genius of the takeover was all the real-estate that Kmart owned free and clear. Evidently when Kmart went crazy building all those stores in the 70's they in many cases acted as their own developer, so often they own the entire mall they are located in.
Regardless I feel both Sears and Kmart are responsible for their decline of market share in the 80's-90's for several reasons, but are trying hard to reclaim it. I do fear that the placement of Craftsmen tools and equipment in KMart stores may cheapen the brand name a bit. But they have been pretty up-front about the distinction between "professional" and home-owner grade Craftsmen tools.
Pier One has got to go down...
posted by SavageFred on Feb 17, 2009 at 12:25:07 pm #
I see Old Navy closing in 2009. The Gap's sales for all lines of business were of 23% in January alone.
GAP INC. REPORTS JANUARY SALES DOWN 19 PERCENT; COMPARABLE STORE SALES DOWN 23 PERCENT
"I wonder how they manage to sell enough paint every month, to cover the cost of renting commercial space, related over-head and employees....and still turn a profit ? What's so special about their paint, that people can't readily get at Sears, Lowes or Home Depot?"
I know I can get my Paint cheaper at Sherwin Williams on my account than I can at Home cheapo or Blowes. Most Paint contractors deal with either Sherwin williams or Benjamin Moore. That is how the can afford it.
I've used both paint's and they both suck. If your a DIY type person, Behr and whatever that crap Blowes sells may work, but on the professional side I've had nothing but problems with both, especially the deeper colors. Behr is like putting colored water on the wall and Blowes's paint doesn't cover well.
posted by lfrost2125 on Feb 17, 2009 at 08:48:34 pm #
My living room looks great 7 years later in Behr. Maybe it has to do with the application.
We may have two different opinions on what looks great. I've seen paint jobs that looked like junk,but the HO thought it looked great. Not saying that yours doesn't though. I've just had horrible experiences with it and will not use it again.
No offense to you or anyone that uses it, but Behr and Valspar are DIY paints. You can ask almost any professional painter and they will tell you tons of horror stores about both brands.
posted by lfrost2125 on Feb 17, 2009 at 11:58:58 pm #
Hey, you never know. Didn't they cut back to only coming out bi-weekly recently? I used to enjoy it until they invented/unleashed 'Johnny Hildo'.
Agreed on the paints. Professional users have and will keep Sherwin Williams, Benji Moore, Pratt and Lambert and maybe Maxum in business for a long time to come. Contractors know if you don't want callbacks, you must use a quality product to start with.
posted by SavageFred on Feb 18, 2009 at 10:15:11 am #
I drove past Urban Active this morning; it was aglow with all its LCD/neon/plasma/ incandescent glory. Patrons with obligatory iPods and ear buds spinning away on treadmills and women power marching around the track (careful honey, don?t over do it) late model SUVs and European cars filled the lot.
Then, the Southwyck area! It looked like Love Canal!
slowsol, you don't have to read it if you don't like it. right? right.
TPS, the City of Toledo, The New Marina, The New Arena, COSI, TARTA, the Erie Street Market, and anything else the city has their fingers in.
posted by RaggedyAndy on Feb 18, 2009 at 03:27:09 pm #
That's right. But it still has to fill newspaper stands so that I have to glance at the cover when I walk into a restaurant!
It's amazing to me that people spend the time writing that garbage. The "Best of" cracks me! It's literally the same places every time they do the survey. Coincidentally, all the winners are major advertisers in their paper. Who wold have known?! "The best supermarket fried chicken: Kroger". LOL Is that a joke?
The survey is real and the winners advertise in the “Best of” issue because they are obviously told in advance.
Really, if you have time to worry about that you may want to engage in some form of hobby. You sound like the typical Toledoan who hates everything about the city, but doesn't move or do anything about it.
Lol. I love Toledo (not enough to work for them ;)). I dislike the City Paper. Is that ok?
The ads are in the paper prior to the contest. The City Papers' regular advertisers.
I always got infuriated when Chrys "The Giggler" Peterson and Jerry 'I'm The Main Man' Anderson won best female/male news anchors. EVERY stinking year.
Well you must have breathed a sigh of relief when it went to Diane Larson this year.
Maybe we will not have as many of those "loan shark" pay day loan companies.I swear there is one on every major intersection.
posted by buckeye278 on Feb 18, 2009 at 07:39:42 pm #
Well you must have breathed a sigh of relief when it went to Diane Larson this year.
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Told you above I don't read it any more, Ace. Nice try at your usual trolling, though.
If I didn't make it clear I no longer read it, my apologies. Pity-their expose of Jeep after the shootings was one of the best examples of writing and reporting I've ever seen in my entire life. Guess they had nowhere to go but down.
Of possible Interest:
Get Ready for Mass Retail Closings....
Yahoo News ^ | Feb 19th, 2009
About 220,000 stores may close this year in America, says our guest, retail consultant Howard Davidowitz of Davidowitz & Associates. As more Americans save and spend less, it's clear there's too much retail space. Just visit Web site deadmalls.com and track retail's growing body count. And luxury retailers? They're on "life support," Davidowitz says.
Among the brandname stores Davidowitz says are in trouble:
Nordstrom Neiman Marcus Tiffany Jeweler Zale Corp. Saks J.C. Penney Sears
(Excerpt) Read more at finance.yahoo.com ...
like I said, maybe people should start supporting the places they need that are closest to them. we used to take a ride in the sunset, see some new/old neighborhoods and end up on the other side of town for dinner. Now, it's Gino's on Woodville or anything on Navarre (sob! RIP Mr. Beefy's) and Google Earth 5.0. ;p
The City Paper's "Best of..." issue is a joke. I know someone who stacks the ballots in their lobby (medical profession) and asks people to fill them out while they wait. I think that's unethical. This guy sucks, too!!! All medical categories should be removed from the "Best of..." contest since they clearly may not be "the best," or even good at what they do. They may even be among the worst. I don't care about voting for businesses, but when it's the medical profession, the public should take it with a very BIG grain of salt and disregard them!!!!!!
Did not know Ballys fitness on Monroe St. is closed. Only Airport is still open. Told by a few to buy short-term even month to month memberships just in case they close. Btw, anyone know where all this old equipment is sold?
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