2495 replies to this topic

[provid]

Btw the people renting the units at peerless have told me more than once they want a grocery store in one of the Peerless retail spots.

If we did not have a mall I dont think you would find stores scattered around downtown. Providence. The mall has been a reason why alot of things have happened for downcity.

Edited by mikepl, 12 March 2005 - 08:19 AM.

[Cotuit]

pdxstreetcar, on Mar 12 2005, 01:22 AM, said:

In Portland there are strict ordinances regarding blank walls fronting the sidewalk and also surface parking lots must have a low, punctured and decorative wall which gives the sidewalk an edge and reduces the expansive open space feeling that parking lots have.  Some would say these are restrictive but they have done miracles to Portland and revived the city's core.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think there is a lot about Portland that could be a model for Providence.

mikepl, on Mar 12 2005, 09:17 AM, said:

If we did not have a mall I dont think you would find stores scattered around downtown. Providence. The mall has been a reason why alot of things have happened for downcity.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I agree, I don't think anyone would be here now (retailerwise) without the mall.

[eltron]

mikepl, on Mar 12 2005, 10:17 AM, said:

Btw the people renting the units at peerless have told me more than once they want a grocery store in one of the Peerless retail spots.

If we did not have a mall I dont think you would find stores scattered around downtown. Providence. The mall has been a reason why alot of things have happened for downcity.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I agree...as much as I hate the mall in concept, it really has done wonders for Providence...

on that point, I wonder why the mall here was so successful, while we read the urban malls of worcester and hartford were complete failures and are now being torn down? maybe it was the shear scale? types of stores? location and visibility (easy on and off the highway, just like a suburban mall)?

as far as the grocery store, I have heard repeatedly that a trader joes is going in somewhere, and it certainly should hurry up...I think the market for it here is already pretty huge...

also on the topic of grocery stores, I heard that a huge new wholefoods is opening in Cranston, at which time the Wayland Sq. location will close. Thats a shame, I like the little one, and hate seeing stores go suburban.

[CtownMikey]

Hey, my input is more for the teen- mid twenty crowd. But I would like to see high-end stores like french connection and von-dutch. YES, these are verrrryy expensive places to shop at...but Providence has the most colleges per square mile ..or college students per sq mile.. something like that-- in the entire country!!! I'm just sick of driving to newbury street and nyc for these marvelous brand names! I DESPISE BOSTON!
As far as a pharmacy-- I work for walgreens and they are still the #1 pharmacy in the country- (they have less stores than cvs and they still make more money   ) hah..but no really, they offer many more prescription services that would benefit those who need them. And maybe it would make the  cvs' ceo, Thomas Ryan, step up and build the cvs HQ in providence. But i know the drugstore business, and walgreens loves to be on the corner of "main street and main street", and with providence getting this new mini building/population boom, a pharmacy will definately be in the mix soon!

[CtownMikey]

I'm sorry I have to add one more thing. Everyone who visits providence complains about the dead nightlife. I agree with previous posts that we need to have places open after 5 and 6 pm at night, like at least 10pm!! a few 24hr places would be nice..with security guards of course.. and clubs need to stay open a couple of hours later..weekdays and ends. Providence nightlife ends at 2am on weekends and 1am on weekdays!!! thats when new yorkers start to shower and go out!    I just know a bunch of people who are turned off by it and drive to New haven or Boston and they would love to stay here if "curfews" were different

[Cotuit]

There's a proposal to allow the clubs to stay open until 4am. This will allow the clientele a chance to sober up before leaving, and could also stagger the times that people exit, instead of a mass 1 or 2am exodus. Of course we may just see a mass 4am exodus.

[AriPVD]

I remember that as Duany's proposal during the charette.  Any idea on a time frame?

[Cotuit]

AriPVD, on Mar 12 2005, 11:33 AM, said:

I remember that as Duany's proposal during the charette.  Any idea on a time frame?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm not sure what ever became of it. I believe there was a formal proposal to the city council, there was obvious resistance to it. I'm not sure if it's dead or still on the table.

[AriPVD]

It's definitely a controversial idea, but in my opinion worth trying.  From my experience elsewhere, people steadily leave the bars between 2-3:30, without an exodus at 4.  The results are less traffic and vandalism.

[pdxstreetcar]

Isnt there a grocery store opening on the ground floor of 110 Westminster?

[Cotuit]

That's the plan. If Cornish gets one into Peerless first though, who knows?

[pdxstreetcar]

I went to the Trader Joes in Boston across the street from the ICA convention center.  It would be nice to see one like that in downtown Providence.

[Garris]

pdxstreetcar, on Mar 12 2005, 09:26 PM, said:

I went to the Trader Joes in Boston across the street from the ICA convention center.  It would be nice to see one like that in downtown Providence.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Trader Joes would be perfect for Providence...  I'm hoping it goes where the current Wayland Sq Whole Foods is when it closes (and according to the people I have been talking to, it apparently will be closing, when is uncertain, could be '07 or '08, but it will close after the opening of the Cranston one ).  I can't think of any other business that could make it in that Wayland space.  However, Downcity would probably also be perfect as well.  Perhaps we could have two Trader Joes?  It's not like there's much Downcity/Wayland shopping overlap.

- Garris

[AriPVD]

Trader Joes is definitely coming.  Apparently they need to find a location with at least 68, dedicated surface parking spots.  Not likely Downcity...Believe me, Buff would love to have them.

[Cotuit]

AriPVD, on Mar 13 2005, 05:17 PM, said:

Trader Joes is definitely coming.  Apparently they need to find a location with at least 68, dedicated surface parking spots.  Not likely Downcity...Believe me, Buff would love to have them.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That's dumb, if they go somewhere outside of the Downcity core, they lose my business. I want a place Downcity where I can stop on my way home from work and pick up what I need for dinner (I already use the Kennedy Plaza 7-Eleven as my ice cream store on the way home from work). Not someplace outside Downcity with parking. Even if I had a car, and even if I drove it to work, I'm not looking for a place that I can drive to to shop, I already have that.

[pdxstreetcar]

The Boston ICA Trader Joes store didnt even have one parking space.

[Garris]

AriPVD, on Mar 13 2005, 04:17 PM, said:

Trader Joes is definitely coming.  Apparently they need to find a location with at least 68, dedicated surface parking spots.  Not likely Downcity...Believe me, Buff would love to have them.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

<Trembling> Need... to... go... count... Wayland... Square... Whole Foods... Parking... Lot... Spaces...

<Teeth chattering> Need... Trader... Joes... to... replace... XR^@#$!&... Whole... Foods...



- Garris

[Jenkins]

AriPVD, on Mar 13 2005, 04:17 PM, said:

Trader Joes is definitely coming.  Apparently they need to find a location with at least 68, dedicated surface parking spots.  Not likely Downcity...Believe me, Buff would love to have them.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Having lived in Boston (Brighton to be exact) for 8 years the one thing I really miss in Providence is a Trader Joes. Seems to me like the perfect environment. One less Whole Foods would be fine with me, as long as TJ's replaces it. Are you sure that TJ's is coming? Hate to get my hopes up  

[AriPVD]

Their reps were in town over the summer actively looking for locations.  I remember that parking stipulation as the main reason they were going to avoid Downcity.   Maybe once the local downtown population eclipses a certain number they would be more likely to consider...?

[ArtInRuins]

Not even with the new parking garage that will be built on the old Traveller's Aid (Union St)? RISD kids as well as all the new tenants in Cornish properties will be all over it if it was there, as well as J&W across the street. Icant believe an outlet like Trader Joe's wouldn't be interested in such a high foot traffic area... too bad.