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Friday, March 28, 2008
IS DOWNTOWN MORRIS DYING?
And if so...why? The retail down there looks the same as it did 15 years ago. Businesses seem to be either closing up or moving elsewhere. Is it the big box syndrome?
I believe that our economy is having an affect on lots of small businesses, not only downtown Morris. I was in WalMart the Saturday before Easter (it was the first time I had been there since before Christmas)and the place was empty! People do not have the extra money to spend. Milk has gone up, eggs have gone up, the cost of gas continues to sky rocket and the cost of heating gas and electricity continues to climb....and my paycheck only increased by 3%!
No, I do not believe that downtown Morris is dying. I believe that our economy is in terrible condition and that will take its toll on small businesses. Hopefully most will be able to weather the storm that the next few months will bring.
Yes, Downtown Morris (DM) is dying, and for good reason. When we recently moved here (3+ years ago), we chose to shop locally to help the local economy, be good neighbors, etc. Yet at every turn, were got screwed by the local downtown merchants. Harsh, but true.
Let me explain:
When we decided to repaint our home, we went to a DM paint and wall paper store. I asked for 2 gallons of paint, in a color we choose from one of their paint chips. We were charged $90 for 2 gallons of paint. When I asked if there was a mistake, I got the tap dance about how it was a custom color, the time it took to mix, blah, blah, blah, and we had to buy it because it couldn't be resold. The same paint, same manufacturer, at Home Depot was $17 per gallon.
My wife wanted to read a book she heard about, goes to the local DM book seller, and orders the book. 3 months later we call inquiring about it, and the seller just can't seem to get the book right now, but if want to wait another 3 months, the paperback will be out, and we can save $6. Three days later, we had the book from Amazon, at 75% of what the DM merchant wanted.
I need a new set of tires, and head over to the local DM tire dealer after getting a quote for the rubber, installation, etc. from them. The quote is about $100 more than if I head to Discount Tire in Joliet (for an $800 set of tires). I bring the car in right at opening as per the owner to get the car in and out right away. As I'm waiting for my ride back home, I watch the dealer meet and greet several locals. He puts all of them in line ahead of me, and as I wait the rest of my day for the call to pick up the car, I finally call them 30 minutes before close, and they state that they just got the car up on the lift! When I get the car, they presented me with a bill substantially higher than quoted. When I called them on it, (insert the sound of tap dancing) they finally relinquish, and give me the quoted price, and after lying to me about how soon it would get done.
I place a carry out order to a DM restaurant. I arrive at the appointed time, and see my order on top of the oven, ready to pickup. As I stand there, ignored by the owner as he screws around the area, several locals come in, and they all greet each other, catch up on things, place their orders, and one of them even gets their food before I can get the freaking owner to ring up my food, that was now cold.
Statistically, folks will pay up to a 5% increase to shop locally, but when the owners are greedy, incompetent thieves, then they get what they deserve. I would gladly pay 5% over to help the local economy, but honestly, every time I shop in DM, I get screwed. And no, I'm not some asshole who deserves it. I'm nice, courteous customer who bathes regularly, and has all of their teeth.
Unless the "locals" can afford to support the overpriced trinket shops that litter DM, it is doomed to extinction. As far as we're concerned, internet shopping, and occasional trips the the larger communities are the way we shop now, and we are never disappointed, and rarely inconvenienced.
I've had similar experiences 3:17. The guy who owns the paint shop is the crabbiest curmugeon Ive ever seen...unless youre a local. The old lady trinket shops and clothing shops are way overpriced. Now we have two floral shops within 50 feet of each other, 2 card shops on the same block, empty store fronts, crappy, smelly, dirty restaurants that look like nursing home cafeterias. One coffee shop that seems to be the gossip central during the day. (Watch THAT go when Starbucks comes in). I walked into one of the restaurants and every eye turned on me as if I were an alien. Living here is like something out of the twilight zone. I'm heading back to the burbs in the summer. Adios and good riddance Morris.
Just about anyone sitting in a small eatery where the opening of the door is heard and the place is relatively quiet may turn to see who is coming in the door. It isn't the Twilight Zone, it is human nature. Sometimes people might even be waiting for someone to join them. Smile! Say hello!
Back in the day, a college sociology instructor of mine had the class conduct an experiment. He wanted us to walk around campus for one day looking directly at the people we enocuntered on the sidewalks, have a smile on our face and say hello to everyone we met along the way--keep walking--but smile and say hello. He wanted our reactions--how we felt and what we perceived to be the reactions of our fellow pedestrians. The classmates were a mix of students from small towns where it was the norm to say hello to other people when walking down the street, or from the suburbs where people didn't generally walk around but drove most of the time, or from the city where people were in a hurry and bustled past others anonymously. Those of us from small towns were amazed that the kids from the burbs or the city felt like it was an alien experience to look at people, smile and say hello. Some of the kids really had trouble with the experience, the concept was so foreign to them.
Small towns are throw backs to the past--even today. That is part of the charm of a small town, if you are up for charm. To get in the groove of small towns, a person has to be willing to take a chance and reach out to others--smile, say hello, engage others in conversation.
Morris has had people grow up and leave town for good. Others have grown old here and died, or just died. Many, many people have moved here from somewhere else. Most of the people who live here have not been here forever. They can't be because of basic math--those who moved away and those who died have been replace by people who moved here from somewhere else. They may have raised families here and added to the population but they did move here from somewhere else.
There were only about 5,000 people here maybe 40 years ago and the population has just about tripled. There is just not that great a percentage of people who are multi-generations, what with kids growing up and moving away, people dying.
Join a service organization, a church, go to programs at the library, council meetings, get involved, lighten up! Put a smile on your face and say hello to people. Be open for new experiences.
There are a lot of ways to meet people with similar interests--just keep trying. Most of the people I know are either friends with people from work, parents of their children's classmates from being involved in the school, kid's sports, dance class. You gravitate to what you know--those of you with kids and little spare time like most of us--your kids' world!
Sometimes people make too many assumptions. For instance, ask the owners of the downtown shops how long they have lived in Morris, what year they moved here. You will be surprised at how many people who own businesses downtown did not live here all their lives or go to high school here like a lot of newcomers posting on these local websites seem to believe.
Start smiling and say hello to strangers you think might hold promise for friendship. Strike up a conversation in the grocery store, Menards, wherever! I have met a lot of fascinating people that way--and, of course, a few interesting nut cases. LOL Try it! Have fun! Smile!
7:54...I agree with you, the downtown area is a joke and I was born & raised here!!! Oh but wait, I wasn't a jock so I guess I'm considered an outsider...btw, Starbucks has chosen NOT to come to another small town, so it looks like the local coffee shop will stay open...LMAO
I don't think DM is dying. A new sports bar is going in at 312 Liberty and an engineering firm is moving in next door. I admit that I am not sure how some of the DM retail businesses stay open. DM may eventually turn into a place of only churches, bars and professional offices.
What I really miss is the old downtown movie theater. Wish they could have done a supersaver cinema instead of selling it to a church.
12 comments:
what? your not a idiot?
I believe that our economy is having an affect on lots of small businesses, not only downtown Morris. I was in WalMart the Saturday before Easter (it was the first time I had been there since before Christmas)and the place was empty! People do not have the extra money to spend. Milk has gone up, eggs have gone up, the cost of gas continues to sky rocket and the cost of heating gas and electricity continues to climb....and my paycheck only increased by 3%!
No, I do not believe that downtown Morris is dying. I believe that our economy is in terrible condition and that will take its toll on small businesses. Hopefully most will be able to weather the storm that the next few months will bring.
A rumor is circulating that Free Speach Morris is a flaming homosexual. It it true?
No, 6:08, it isnt true in the same way the rumor that you're intelligent, educated and literate isn't true either.
Is Mercky now Peraica's campaign manager....http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=164680&src=1
Yes, Downtown Morris (DM) is dying, and for good reason. When we recently moved here (3+ years ago), we chose to shop locally to help the local economy, be good neighbors, etc. Yet at every turn, were got screwed by the local downtown merchants. Harsh, but true.
Let me explain:
When we decided to repaint our home, we went to a DM paint and wall paper store. I asked for 2 gallons of paint, in a color we choose from one of their paint chips. We were charged $90 for 2 gallons of paint. When I asked if there was a mistake, I got the tap dance about how it was a custom color, the time it took to mix, blah, blah, blah, and we had to buy it because it couldn't be resold. The same paint, same manufacturer, at Home Depot was $17 per gallon.
My wife wanted to read a book she heard about, goes to the local DM book seller, and orders the book. 3 months later we call inquiring about it, and the seller just can't seem to get the book right now, but if want to wait another 3 months, the paperback will be out, and we can save $6. Three days later, we had the book from Amazon, at 75% of what the DM merchant wanted.
I need a new set of tires, and head over to the local DM tire dealer after getting a quote for the rubber, installation, etc. from them. The quote is about $100 more than if I head to Discount Tire in Joliet (for an $800 set of tires). I bring the car in right at opening as per the owner to get the car in and out right away. As I'm waiting for my ride back home, I watch the dealer meet and greet several locals. He puts all of them in line ahead of me, and as I wait the rest of my day for the call to pick up the car, I finally call them 30 minutes before close, and they state that they just got the car up on the lift! When I get the car, they presented me with a bill substantially higher than quoted. When I called them on it, (insert the sound of tap dancing) they finally relinquish, and give me the quoted price, and after lying to me about how soon it would get done.
I place a carry out order to a DM restaurant. I arrive at the appointed time, and see my order on top of the oven, ready to pickup. As I stand there, ignored by the owner as he screws around the area, several locals come in, and they all greet each other, catch up on things, place their orders, and one of them even gets their food before I can get the freaking owner to ring up my food, that was now cold.
Statistically, folks will pay up to a 5% increase to shop locally, but when the owners are greedy, incompetent thieves, then they get what they deserve. I would gladly pay 5% over to help the local economy, but honestly, every time I shop in DM, I get screwed. And no, I'm not some asshole who deserves it. I'm nice, courteous customer who bathes regularly, and has all of their teeth.
Unless the "locals" can afford to support the overpriced trinket shops that litter DM, it is doomed to extinction. As far as we're concerned, internet shopping, and occasional trips the the larger communities are the way we shop now, and we are never disappointed, and rarely inconvenienced.
You reap what you sow...
wuzzup with that Missy? Duck and run? Will the county die next?
I've had similar experiences 3:17. The guy who owns the paint shop is the crabbiest curmugeon Ive ever seen...unless youre a local. The old lady trinket shops and clothing shops are way overpriced. Now we have two floral shops within 50 feet of each other, 2 card shops on the same block, empty store fronts, crappy, smelly, dirty restaurants that look like nursing home cafeterias. One coffee shop that seems to be the gossip central during the day. (Watch THAT go when Starbucks comes in). I walked into one of the restaurants and every eye turned on me as if I were an alien. Living here is like something out of the twilight zone. I'm heading back to the burbs in the summer. Adios and good riddance Morris.
Just about anyone sitting in a small eatery where the opening of the door is heard and the place is relatively quiet may turn to see who is coming in the door. It isn't the Twilight Zone, it is human nature. Sometimes people might even be waiting for someone to join them. Smile! Say hello!
Back in the day, a college sociology instructor of mine had the class conduct an experiment. He wanted us to walk around campus for one day looking directly at the people we enocuntered on the sidewalks, have a smile on our face and say hello to everyone we met along the way--keep walking--but smile and say hello. He wanted our reactions--how we felt and what we perceived to be the reactions of our fellow pedestrians. The classmates were a mix of students from small towns where it was the norm to say hello to other people when walking down the street, or from the suburbs where people didn't generally walk around but drove most of the time, or from the city where people were in a hurry and bustled past others anonymously. Those of us from small towns were amazed that the kids from the burbs or the city felt like it was an alien experience to look at people, smile and say hello. Some of the kids really had trouble with the experience, the concept was so foreign to them.
Small towns are throw backs to the past--even today. That is part of the charm of a small town, if you are up for charm. To get in the groove of small towns, a person has to be willing to take a chance and reach out to others--smile, say hello, engage others in conversation.
Morris has had people grow up and leave town for good. Others have grown old here and died, or just died. Many, many people have moved here from somewhere else. Most of the people who live here have not been here forever. They can't be because of basic math--those who moved away and those who died have been replace by people who moved here from somewhere else. They may have raised families here and added to the population but they did move here from somewhere else.
There were only about 5,000 people here maybe 40 years ago and the population has just about tripled. There is just not that great a percentage of people who are multi-generations, what with kids growing up and moving away, people dying.
Join a service organization, a church, go to programs at the library, council meetings, get involved, lighten up! Put a smile on your face and say hello to people. Be open for new experiences.
There are a lot of ways to meet people with similar interests--just keep trying. Most of the people I know are either friends with people from work, parents of their children's classmates from being involved in the school, kid's sports, dance class. You gravitate to what you know--those of you with kids and little spare time like most of us--your kids' world!
Sometimes people make too many assumptions. For instance, ask the owners of the downtown shops how long they have lived in Morris, what year they moved here. You will be surprised at how many people who own businesses downtown did not live here all their lives or go to high school here like a lot of newcomers posting on these local websites seem to believe.
Start smiling and say hello to strangers you think might hold promise for friendship. Strike up a conversation in the grocery store, Menards, wherever! I have met a lot of fascinating people that way--and, of course, a few interesting nut cases. LOL Try it! Have fun! Smile!
7:54...I agree with you, the downtown area is a joke and I was born & raised here!!! Oh but wait, I wasn't a jock so I guess I'm considered an outsider...btw, Starbucks has chosen NOT to come to another small town, so it looks like the local coffee shop will stay open...LMAO
What's the latest about the Morris PD? Seems like everyone has clammed up about this.
I don't think DM is dying. A new sports bar is going in at 312 Liberty and an engineering firm is moving in next door. I admit that I am not sure how some of the DM retail businesses stay open. DM may eventually turn into a place of only churches, bars and professional offices.
What I really miss is the old downtown movie theater. Wish they could have done a supersaver cinema instead of selling it to a church.
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