[RP TownTalk] train cafe, cont'd

[poplifegirl at mac.com]

Riverdale Park needs help in marketing itself. It needs an image and it needs someone to actively take lesson's learned from other areas that have had similar history and market the city. I came to Riverdale Park from Del Ray Alexandria, it has similar qualities...its not about putting just any kind of business into Town Center just to be open, its about creating a sustainable economy in the town and attracting the right kind of businesses which promote community. 

An investment in shaping the message and image of what Riverdale Park wants to send to prospective business owners (and homeowners!) would be a step in the right direction. A second positive move could be to reapproach the Gateway District to extend that into Riverdale Park officially. The third would be to work with EYA to get them to meet with the city about developing mixed retail further on Route 1, including the much talked about 410 corner project. EYA, the new Independance Plaza and NOAA are clearly the best things that have happened to Riverdale Park, now its up to the City and its Business Association to invest in a clear message and attract the right type of businesses. 

With that said, I am happy to help move this along. 

Heather
Oliver Street

 
On Wednesday, September 27, 2006, at 11:16AM, <bruce.wernek at mindspring.com> wrote:

>All
>
>I'd like to have a cafe and I'd also like to have a million bucks.  Before we can get anything, the buildings in the Town Center have to be leasable.  Right now they are just shells with nice facades.  There is no plumbing, wiring, walls, bathrooms, etc.  in most of the buildings.  You can't have a cafe until you have a decent place to put it.  In addition, a cafe will require a significant amount of walk in traffic.  The amount of this traffic is directly related to the draw brought about by other businesses in the Town Center.  There are two businesses that I am aware of, these being the Second Time Around Consignment Shop and Emiley's Doll Shop, both of which are open part time.  The draw resulting from these businesses is no where near enough to support a cafe.  I don't think the train station will make a difference either.  It didn't help the Riverdale Bookshop when it was there.
>
>This cafe thing is putting the cart before the horse.  We as a body need to focus on getting the Town Center completed and leased and taking whatever steps are necessary toward this end.  It can be done, but we are going to need the help of the Mayor and Council.  I propose we let our elected officials know how we feel and get the ball rolling.
>
>Bruce
>
>-----Original Message-----
>>From: Sue Collins <wheadle at yahoo.com>
>>Sent: Sep 27, 2006 10:33 AM
>>To: TownTalk at riverdale-park.org
>>Subject: [RP TownTalk] train cafe, cont'd
>>
>>Well, nothing is easy, I agree that money would be
>>needed, and whoever would set up such a business would
>>need to research what's been done in the past, etc. 
>>However, that would be true of ANY new business. 
>>Whatever is put in those empty stores, I would hope it
>>would be something unique to the town, and not just
>>more Starbucks, etc., that people could find
>>elsewhere.  I mean, not that there's anything wrong
>>with Starbucks or other chains, but say I'm a person
>>living in Bowie, if I have a Starbucks in Bowie, why
>>would I want to travel out of the area to go to
>>another Starbucks?  However, if I knew there was a
>>store/cafe/whatever that I could only find in one
>>location.....   My point being, something like that
>>would make people come to town who might not otherwise
>>be interested.  
>>
>>__________________________________________________
>>Do You Yahoo!?
>>Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
>>http://mail.yahoo.com 
>>_______________________________________________
>>TownTalk mailing list
>>To post to the list, send mail to TownTalk at riverdale-park.org
>>TownTalk-request at riverdale-park.org is for automated subscription processing only
>>http://riverdale-park.org/mailman/listinfo/towntalk
>>
>>For more information about Riverdale Park, visit http://www.ci.riverdale-park.md.us
>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>TownTalk mailing list
>To post to the list, send mail to TownTalk at riverdale-park.org
>TownTalk-request at riverdale-park.org is for automated subscription processing only
>http://riverdale-park.org/mailman/listinfo/towntalk
>
>For more information about Riverdale Park, visit http://www.ci.riverdale-park.md.us
>
>