[RP TownTalk] if you support mixed use development of Cafritz property...

[bruce.wernek at mindspring.com]

In case you haven't noticed, the Town Center has been vacant for 30+ years if not longer.  I've been attempting to get a long term business in the town center for the last ~20 years.  They come and they go because there is not enough interest in Town or elsewhere to keep them afloat.  One offs are not going to keep the RP Farmer's Market alive.  If Whole Foods and the EYA organic market pull a modest percentage of shoppers away (very likely), it won't be profitable for the farmers to do business in our Town.

I predict when the EYA organic market opens it's going negatively effect the RP Farmers Market.  Add to that Whole Foods and Mom's and what's left?    


-----Original Message-----
>From: Sarah Wayland <sarah.wayland at gmail.com>
>Sent: Aug 11, 2011 8:27 AM
>To: TownTalk <towntalk at riverdale-park.org>
>Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] if you support mixed use development of Cafritz	property...
>
>> I don’t think Whole Foods is going to help our Farmer’s Market.  Why would
>> anyone come to an empty Town Center to swelter or freeze when they can go to
>> Whole Foods and shop in comfort for possibly lower prices?  It’s a no
>> brainer.
>
>Well, I buy most of my produce, meat, and baked goods at our local
>farmer's market, and do my other shopping at My Organic Market in
>College Park. Anything I cannot get at those two places, I supplement
>with a trip to the regular grocery store (Giant or Shopper's).
>
>I prefer to shop at the Farmer's Market - it's always my first choice.
>I like that I can talk to the farmers about what they have grown or
>made themselves. They can guide me to purchase things that fit my
>personalized tastes. I also like to support our farmers directly.
>
>There are lots of complicated reasons why people shop where they do.
>For me, climate control doesn't matter. For me, cost matters some, but
>not as much as access to high quality produce. I like to enjoy what I
>eat. And I also like to support local businesses. But those are my
>reasons.
>
>Other people have other reasons. You say above that you prefer a
>climate controlled store and cheaper prices. Others might want to do
>all their shopping in one place. Perhaps others want access to
>specialty foods that are only available at Whole Foods.
>
>Starbucks figured out that you can have two outlets of the same exact
>store across the street from each other, and both will do a good
>business (e.g., in Woodley Park.)  I don't understand exactly how that
>works, but it seems that at least part of the equation is that if you
>build stores that are attractive to a certain clientele, they search
>nearby for similar things that interest them.
>
>I'm not denying that your other claim that the zoning change doesn't
>guarantee anything about what will go in on the Cafritz property. But
>Whole Foods has *signed a lease*. That's much more than wishful
>thinking.
>
>-Sarah
>
>
>
>-- 
>Sarah Wayland
>sarah.wayland at gmail.com
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