What's up with all the Chain Stores on 30A?

[Paula]

Major developments on 30A must feel they need a anchor store to attract people to their retail spaces. What happens when they all have the same anchor stores (i.e.Starbucks) in their communites and they are competing amongst themselves. I expect they all will but just ordinary! I thought 30A is supposed to be special!

Interesting persepctives below:

Andersonville Study of Retail Economics:
found that spending $100 at one of the neighborhood's independent businesses creates $68 in additional local economic activity, while spending $100 at a chain produces only $43 worth of local impact. They also found that the local businesses generated slightly more sales per square foot compared to the chains ($263 versus $243). Because chains funnel more of this revenue out of the local economy, the study concluded that, for every square foot of space occupied by a chain, the local economic impact is $105, compared to $179 for every square foot occupied by an independent business.

-State of Maine http://www.newrules.org/retail/midcoaststudy.pdf
-Civic Economics http://www.liveablecity.org/lcfullreport.pdf

Yes, good stuff, Amavida. Here's a thought and I mean it seriously. Would 30A allow food carts? Someone with a great idea, high quality, and fun and good service could probably do OK with a food cart - e.g., $7.00 for drink (maybe smoothie), chips, and a healthy hot dog (we used to get fantastic hot dogs - not healthy ones,though -- at a dive in Massachusetts, they had grilled onions and mustard on them. That's the only way you could have them and I still remember those hot dogs 30 years later...

So, would it be feasible, allowable to put a cart near some high-traffic places, public rather than private property or give a small cut to private property owners if they're not competing with that type of food?

Foods that could be appealing with a food stand on wheels would be drinks, hot dogs, pretzels, bagels, pita sandwiches, wrap sandwiches, how about mideastern wrap sandwiches (hummus, grilled chicken, whatever you call that green salad made with lots of parsley all with a nice sauce -- we get those locally and they are amazing - to drool for), chips, good coffee, ice cream bars and sandwiches or freezies - people could get their food and eat at the beach. The goal could be to enable a family of 4 to get a really good-tasting lunch for about $20. The owner could be open for lunch and early dinner (e.g., 11:00 - 6:00) and call it a day (the owner would have to get set up and close down, though) but not a bad work day compared to owning a restaurant or diner.

I realize that doesn't solve the high-rent and other affordability/chain problems on 30A, but could a clever entrepreneur do that? Won't be me because when I get to spend more time on 30A it will be to be a beach bum, but is it feasible?

 

[Bobby J]

I'll admit to a soft spot to Tropical Smoothie- sandwich, chips, and drink for less than $7 at the one down the way. Do takeout, and you've got an affordable picnic at the beach, and if you eat in, they've got free wi-fi. And a half the sugar Peaches and Silk after a hot day at the beach would taste sublime.

A while back, I was trying to track down chain restaurant headquarters for a project at work, and, oddly enough, the Tropcial Smoothie corporate contact address I found is located in the office space above Destin Commons. So they're sort of local, I guess.

I love that place. Nothing beats a smoothie by "For the Health of it" but I love the veggie/veggie at Tropical Smoothie. I am torn on this whole commercial thing on 30A. We need more options. If locals can not do it then maybe the chains will have to. It looks like that is what is happening anyway (Starbucks, Subway,Chops).

 

[Smiling JOe]

Yes, good stuff, Amavida. Here's a thought and I mean it seriously. Would 30A allow food carts? Someone with a great idea, high quality, and fun and good service could probably do OK with a food cart - e.g., $7.00 for drink (maybe smoothie), chips, and a healthy hot dog (we used to get fantastic hot dogs - not healthy ones,though -- at a dive in Massachusetts, they had grilled onions and mustard on them. That's the only way you could have them and I still remember those hot dogs 30 years later...

So, would it be feasible, allowable to put a cart near some high-traffic places, public rather than private property or give a small cut to private property owners if they're not competing with that type of food?

Foods that could be appealing with a food stand on wheels would be drinks, hot dogs, pretzels, bagels, pita sandwiches, wrap sandwiches, how about mideastern wrap sandwiches (hummus, grilled chicken, whatever you call that green salad made with lots of parsley all with a nice sauce -- we get those locally and they are amazing - to drool for), chips, good coffee, ice cream bars and sandwiches or freezies - people could get their food and eat at the beach. The goal could be to enable a family of 4 to get a really good-tasting lunch for about $20. The owner could be open for lunch and early dinner (e.g., 11:00 - 6:00) and call it a day (the owner would have to get set up and close down, though) but not a bad work day compared to owning a restaurant or diner.

I realize that doesn't solve the high-rent and other affordability/chain problems on 30A, but could a clever entrepreneur do that? Won't be me because when I get to spend more time on 30A it will be to be a beach bum, but is it feasible?

Good idea, and one that I have already looked into. There are some strong requirements associated with the "Roadside Vending License" in Walton County, such as lease, parking, commercial property, etc, that almost make the good idea become a headache really quickly.

 

[Paula]

I'm sure trying to do something like set up a great food stand would have a lot of hurdles. But, once they are crossed, it could be a good income, provide a great service, and be consistent with what 30A is about -- something along the lines of the creativity of Paradise Taxi (something people want/need that can be done in a creative, funn way). It could be called "SoWallies" with signature pretzels or sandwiches or whatever called "The Miss Kitty", or "The Grayt One". It would be soooo SoWal....

I wonder if someone could find a business that doesn't sell food that's on 30A so it wouldn't be in competition with that place, and then "rent" at a low rent (or some % of earnings) from that person. I don't know if there are any places that like left. But, the businesses would complement each other and people coming for food might want what the store had and people who go to that business may want a bite to eat.

 

[supermom262]

My husband and dad would love to do it in the shed ( not a food cart, but same principle) on our property at the corner of Hotz and Garfield. I guess it used to be the World's Smallest Art Gallery. They want to do Hot Dogs, Chips and Pop! Is this a crazy idea?

 

[SGB]

I know that we would frequent a hot dog place in Grayton. When you spend the day on the beach, it would be grayt to send the kids off to get a hot dog within easy walking distance instead of planning ahead and bringing food.

Last year, for about 3 months or so, there was a food stand (it was on a trailer and looked like a mini, mini mobile home) in the parking lot of Capos after Capos closed down. Lots of beach goers at Ed Walline would grap lunch there. I think they had some type of ethnic sandwich... maybe cuban or greek?

 

[Bobby J]

My husband and dad would love to do it in the shed ( not a food cart, but same principle) on our property at the corner of Hotz and Garfield. I guess it used to be the World's Smallest Art Gallery. They want to do Hot Dogs, Chips and Pop! Is this a crazy idea?

Great ideal! Anything you can do with a low overhead will work here. You can also close it up in the off season! The problem in this area is overhead and off season. Solve that and you got a homerun!

 

[amavida]

It looks like what we need is a chamption/organization in the 30A community that can bring together a vision and give direction of what the 30A communty should be/could be. Contrary to popular beliefs, the decline of independent businesses is not inevitable or the result of free market forces. In the case of 30A, public policy or the lack of public policy has played a major role, and developers are opting for short term profits. In short, overpriced retail space does not build healhy communities.
Imagine if we are adopted land use rules that deter chain stores and actively encourage local ownership. Imagine if developments like Rosemary, Seaside, Watercolor, Alys Beach, Redfish, and so on actually collaborated and shaped the vision for 30A. Imagine if looking at 30A ten years form now as a community with our own local character and identity; something that sets us apart from all of the other ordinary resort communites. Imagine 30A enriched by local business owners that are committed to the civic and cultural life and the well-being of the community.

 

[Jdarg]

My husband and dad would love to do it in the shed ( not a food cart, but same principle) on our property at the corner of Hotz and Garfield. I guess it used to be the World's Smallest Art Gallery. They want to do Hot Dogs, Chips and Pop! Is this a crazy idea?

NO!!! We had always thought that it would be nice to have someplace to grab a lunch- instead of packing everyone back to the house to eat or mommy spending time packing a lunch every morning!! We used to grab stuff at the old Grayton Market when it was in the Zoo Gallery building.

Tell your husband and Dad- YES YES YES!!!

 

[Teresa]

Paula, there used to be a guy in Rosemary Beach with a cart selling hot dogs - "Dogmandu". He may still be around, I don't know. He donated a hot dog party to the school's silent auction.