Sunday, July 11, 2010

Businesses (update: minor edit)

Someone posted a comment about the empty storefronts and lots along 111th st and the search for investors to rehab and open some businesses. We have always stated, if you want a safe neighborhood, you need to have a prosperous one. Investors need to see the desire for Mt. Greenwood residents to shop in their neighborhood before they really decide if they are going to invest. Our first responsibility is to shop in our neighborhood. We know the taxes suck and destroy business, but these business owners are willing to take a risk in our neighborhood, we should take the time to shop a little bit.

What do people believe should be put in those empty storefronts and lots? We see neighborhoods throughout the city that have been rehabbed and strengthened. Usually there are a number of bars/restaurants, art museums, banks, mom and pop shops, etc. Just some basic ideas.

Mt. Greenwood has some very strong draw in the neighborhood that we could embrace that would help draw people to our neighborhood. St. Xavier University and Burbon St(Merrionette Park). Those two places draw numerous people day in and day out. We don't see many universities, especially those private catholic ones, surrounded by a shitty neighborhood. Usually, the students that go to these universities are looking for things to do and Mt. Greenwood is ripe for the developing.

As for that Public Aid office that is floating in the comments going up at the new Walgreens location, we do not have any proof of that happening. We do hope this TIF district financing project that has been in development for over 12 years doesn't go beyond scheduled time or cost us more money. Ha ha ha. We had a lot of trouble writing that last statement. Mainly because we knew the answer already.

46 comments:

Anonymous said...

Funny, especially when we know that Mayor Daley has absolutely no comprehension on how TIF's work.

Anonymous said...

Oh Daley knows how they work. Create TIF, fill coffers with money, spend however he wants. Then don't worry, no one will put up much of a stink, and He will continue to get re-elected because everyone and their brother is on the take.

Anonymous said...

Another way to look at this, is to have everyone post what they always leave the neighborhood to buy. OR what store do they frequent most outside of the neighborhood?

I for one, always leave the neighborhood to go out to dinner. We need more restaurants.

Richie's is too expensive for the fare and I prefer it when people go out to dinner, they don't wear baseball hats and/or warm-ups. Call me a snob, but please dress up a little. Besides the service was HORRIBLE my last time there. Had to walk out after waiting an hour and still couldn't get a seat in a 1/4 full restaurant. Couple behind me walked out too.

Anonymous said...

i want a d n d on the west end 0f 111th street. we would get more of a police presence driving up and down 111th late at night. Also the rats getting on and off the bus would see blue and whites in our neighborhood.

Anonymous said...

People have to support businesses in the neighborhood. The odds of a new business succeeding are slim.

Anonymous said...

This is a request to the resident of Mt.Greenwood that stole our street signs (114th and Sawyer) to kindly return them........Can I thank you when I am in need of emergency services that can't find my block, because you stole the signs. You were spotted on your ladder at 3:15am.....real nice!

Feed up with the couch potato winners said...

To the Poster of:
"I for one, always leave the neighborhood to go out to dinner. We need more restaurants.

Richie's is too expensive for the fare and I prefer it when people go out to dinner, they don't wear baseball hats and/or warm-ups. Call me a snob, but please dress up a little. Besides the service was HORRIBLE my last time there. Had to walk out after waiting an hour and still couldn't get a seat in a 1/4 full restaurant. Couple behind me walked out too."

But you want more restaurants, but Richies is to expensive, Koda's to expensive too? Franconellos, to expensive too?
Get real, you bitch but you are cheap and but want more restaurants but you will not support them. What happened to Corrigans, and many other places?
People just want big portions and pay little for them, but businesses cannot survive on cheapskates like you.

You have to spend money in the neighborhoods or the businesses that are there will close up and new businesses will not locate here.

You cannot have your cake and eat it too, so go to Whitcastle it might be in your budget, you think?

Anonymous said...

I pretty much buy everything outside of Mt. Greenwood...mostly because what is here is either too expensive, or stores have poor selection..it would be nice to see some more nice (but not too expensive!) restaurants and shops (i.e. clothing, shoes) that had a good selection and decent prices, then I would have no problem shopping here.

Drake said...

Although it might seem snobbish, something like a starbucks with a sidewalk cafe, or preferrably a nice looking dunkin donuts with a sidewalk cafe. Also a bookstore such as a barnes and noble or something along those lines. Look how nice downtown tinley park looks. I understand the housing market sucks but maybe some nice condos with stores below. And as far as I know, shitheads dont go to bookstores

Anonymous said...

we need a community center of some kind that our teenagers can go to so they don't have to just "hang around". It may keep them out of trouble--perhaps like a roller skating rink---or a mini golf, go carting facility--something similar to a Haunted Trails--Anyone with $$$ to invest in this???

Anonymous said...

Petes Produce sure seem to draw well.

Anonymous said...

Restaurants come to DIE around here. I'd like to have the option of eating something that didnt come on a pita or sesame seed bun within walking distance. I really wish Mia Francesca's would have opened here instead of 95th/Ridgeland. One thing we dont want is another X-sport with basketball courts if the one in Chicago Ridge is any indication of what might come with it.

Anonymous said...

open up almost any business that does NOT accept LINK

Anonymous said...

What happened to the Starbuck's they were supposed to build?

Anonymous said...

I leave Mt Greenwood to shop and eat out every time.

First reason- Taxes
Second reason- No shops or restaurants to fit my needs. Have I stepped up and asked for such places to be here. Yes, but the business community is so hung up on not letting in chain stores here that no progress will ever be made.

A real shoe store with current styles and reasonable prices for families. Payless would be fine. A sporting goods/shoe store would be great here with the many sports activities in MTG.

A real set of restaurants. JR boz's is great for the kids or icecream with the kids(really is a great place) but a business dinner or family party???There is no where here to go. I have a big family and could never get seated at the same time at Richies. The food is OK but not upscale.Corrigan's was bar food. Western Avenue restaurants? I been there did that and was embarrassed when a clients car was broken into. I will not go to Western Ave again for dinner. Just take a ride in Orland or Tinley and see the restaurants. Bring them here and let them have a liquor license without the usual 19th ward run around.

Where do we shop for clothes for our family? Not here. The new maternity dress shop is great but I am done having kids. Old Navy, Gap, any Mall store that can do a small scale store here.

What can bringing chains do for our teens? It can give them much needed jobs. Mom and Pop don't hire outside family members and close friends usually.We have alot of teens here that need jobs.

A real bakery not one that ships in baked goods is needed.Bake it here!

Cyber cafe, bookstore, mini movie theater,winery, and a prom dress/ tux place are more ideas.

All of these ideas have been given many times by many people only to fall on deaf ears. Chains and mom and pop can co exist. Build it and I will shop but until then....I'll be out of town.

Anonymous said...

It's tue about the Public Aid building coming soon at 111/Kedzie. It will forever change our Mt. Greenwood way of life. Prepare to become the next Englewood. You suck Ginger! Sad.

Anonymous said...

I shop in the suburbs and collar counties because I refuse to pay city sales tax. Lower the sales tax and I'll shop in Mt. Greenwood. Also, I won't shop east of Kedzie because of safety concenrs.

Anonymous said...

Ginger has a BIG say in what can open along the major thoroughfares in the 19th Ward. It looks like the old hot dog stand at 111th and Pulaski has been doing quite a bit of remodeling lately. Maybe something is getting ready to open up there.

Anonymous said...

We need some gun stores and shooting ranges.

Anonymous said...

To couch potato winners - I suppose you mean WHINERS...idiot.

I have NO PROBLEM paying for a decent meal. I actually spend quite a bit on food, and portion size is almost not a factor. I cannot leave a place hungry though.

If I'm spending Richie's money, I'll go to Krapil's. Better meat and service.

Koda's is not too expensive. I liked it very much, just don't go there because the wife doesn't like French food. I have paid, and would pay the price again.

Franconello's is too expensive. Their Penne with vodka sauce and sausage and peppers are great. But I prefer Francesca's on 95th or the one in Frankfort, for Italian food, much better venues. RoSal's on Taylor is my favorite though. As far Franco's, If you're charging $15-20 for a pasta dish, I would hope at some point you can afford to repair the sections of ceiling with huge stains from water damage.

I couldn't tell you the last time I had White Castle, but I can tell you they aren't the deal they used to be.

Bring me a Bar Louie. I would love that. Actually contacted them about opening one in the space across from Mt. Greenwood. 111th really doesn't fit their criteria and it takes a lot of money.

In the end, don't pretend to know what I do, how I am or what I'm about. Also, two of the restaurants you mentioned are in Beverly. Take that to the Beverly Protection blog asswipe.

Anonymous said...

July 12, 2010 12:56 PM

You must be Italian?

Anonymous said...

Someone who runs this blog must be affiliated with the accordian store, comic book store, lamp shoppe, or vintage store because my comment was never posted. All I'm saying is that the businesses that are in Mt. Greenwood now just don't draw. A couple in their mid 30s isn't going to go to a lamp shoppe to fix a lamp, nor buy comic books, and highly doubtful that any accordians are being bought. So aside from the bars and couple hardware stores, what is really around to patronize in Mt. Greenwood? 111th St. is just tired looking and run down. 111th St. looks like 79th and Racine lately. Won't let my kids walk around the neighborhood like I did when I was a kid in the early 80s. It's too different now. If we really do get a public aid building, it's all over. ALL OVER. Why can't we get a nice restaurant like a Cooper's Hawk, or a nice retail store like a Kohls or GAP?

I would love to pay my tax dollars around here if there was a place worth shopping at. What are they gonna do with McDuffy's now that it's closed? It looks horrible just sitting there. Everything is so dated. The 111th st strip could look so cute, like a downtown Naperville or something. So many of the locals have very nice houses and keep up so well, so why can't we figure out how to do something on 111th st besides the same ole same ole?

Anonymous said...

start calling 19th ward and demand no public aid office on 111th kedzie.

Drake said...

Something i just thought would be great would be like a real good steakhouse like a rosebud or Ditkas. Something like that would be packed, not a big chain such as applebees, but something that is known

Anonymous said...

To people talking about coffee places, go to Beverly Coffee @ 111th & Fairfield. The owner is a great guy. Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of starbuck's, but you will never get service like Beverly Coffee's anywhere else. And good food & coffee & ice cream as well.

Anonymous said...

Cant wait to move out of here. Nothing but political bullshit going on all the time.

Anonymous said...

we need a community center of some kind that our teenagers can go to so they don't have to just "hang around". It may keep them out of trouble--perhaps like a roller skating rink---or a mini golf, go carting facility--something similar to a Haunted Trails--Anyone with $$$ to invest in this???

July 12, 2010 12:01 AM

YOU ARE A COMPLETE IMBECILE. THIS WOULD ONLY ATTRACT MORE PROBLEMS.

Anonymous said...

Check out OAKLAWN, CRESTWOOD, PALOS AND ORLAND. ANYWHERE BUT SHITCAGO.

Anonymous said...

Let's be real here. How long has Ginger been in office? How long has she had to work on the issues that are being discussed here? What does 111th Street look like now?

If you ask me, she knows that the Mt. Greenwood residents are STUCK because of residency and people will live here whether it's a dump or a place they can be proud of.

I've lived in this area all my life and honestly, 111th Street really looks like shit. She needs to start throwing some crumbs this way because if this blog continues to gain momentum, it's going to be on. It's a centralized place for everyone to discuss what's relevant to where they have to live and important to their well-being.

Anonymous said...

THIS BLOG IS GREAT but again if all you do is bitch and moan on here NOTHING will ever be changed. I called the ward office today and did not get a call back. Suprise,Suprise
We need to get out there and start protesting. Everyone else can do it , why can't we.

Anonymous said...

A Bar Louie?

They just closed the one in Orland Park, do you think they would come to open a store in Mt Greenwood?

You people need to open your eyes, this is happening all over with business closing up, and nothing is opening up anywhere, until the economy gets better.

Linda said...

To people talking about coffee places, go to Beverly Coffee @ 111th & Fairfield. The owner is a great guy. Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of starbuck's, but you will never get service like Beverly Coffee's anywhere else. And good food & coffee & ice cream as well.

July 12, 2010 4:55 PM
To this post I think it is great. Why don't we ask them to open another one in Mt. Greenwood?

Anonymous said...

July 12, 2010 2:52 PM

Nope. Guess again.

Anonymous said...

Face it people. Ginger will never allow anything of substance to open in Mount Greenwood. Anything good she makes them locate in BEVERLY.

Anonymous said...

Francesca's most likely would not open in Mt. Greenwood we unfortunately do not meet the standards they look for. If 111th had more diverse businesses opened and doing well then maybe that would change. Try to talking to one of the Grants from Wonderburger, he is good friends with the owners of Francesca's. They all opened up Simones on 18th & Morgan together.That new business adventure is doing very well!

Anonymous said...

Anyone have any information on what is going into the rehabbed restaurant at 111th and Pulaski?

Anonymous said...

If parents got their kids to read the comic shop might due well. All parents do is buy video games letting their kids become tv zombies. I go in once a week and pick out a few for my kids to read, and I make them read.

Anonymous said...

the stores that need to go that bring in the most "outsiders" are burger king 110/kedzie, the dollar store 110th kedzie, jewel 103rd kedzie, mcdonalds 103 kedzie, little arab gas station 103rd kedzie... these buisnesses need to go!!! the beast from the east uses these stores every day and they are an eyesore and dude loves coming to the white neighborhood to use these stores. these stores draw dude from east over here... we need to get rid of those stores especially the dollar store!!

Anonymous said...

Goodyear/Wheelwright at 111th and Trumbull is CLOSED for good. Another empty building along 111th Street.

Anonymous said...

Well Honeydew, I'm gonna go out on a limb and say having another locally-owned coffee shop in MT GREENWOOD would never get funding by investors considering there's one directly over the tracks @ 111/Fairfield. Most normal people wouldn't bitch about a good shop only a few blocks from the edge of Mt Greenwood. The demographics of Mt Greenwood in and of itself do not call for it

Anonymous said...

Anyone have any information on what is going into the rehabbed restaurant at 111th and Pulaski?

I found a building permit on everyblock mount greenwood that stated it was going to be a beef stand. The permit was issued on 11 MAY 10. Thats all the info I found on it.

Anonymous said...

mount greenwood needs a nice bakery... not a fancy bakery but one where you can good donuts, coffee, cakes, cookies etc.. I really think if a bakery opened up in the neighborhood it would be a booming buisness... the closest bakery is wolfs bakery in evergreen.. it would be nice to walk to a bakery and grab something quick in the morning.

Anonymous said...

I am working towards opening a bakery, but it is too risky to do it here. There is little to no foot traffic, and I can't afford to go under. I wish that I could do this in my own neighborhood, though.

Our neighborhood main street could really be something special, but there is no one to make it happen.

Anonymous said...

I called the 19th ward office twice to ask about the 'green' building just south of 111th and Kedzie and received no response at all. What the hell is going on in this neighborhood? I grew up here and am raising my kids here and getting tired of this nonsense. No patrols but I was well able to get a ticket from Dept of Revenue the other day. Funny how people who go to work (for this city) every day get dinged to pay the tickets that no one else pays.

Anonymous said...

"we need a community center of some kind that our teenagers can go to so they don't have to just "hang around". It may keep them out of trouble--perhaps like a roller skating rink---or a mini golf, go carting facility--something similar to a Haunted Trails--Anyone with $$$ to invest in this???"

Assuming you don't live near me, how about at your house? The teenage creatures that lurk around this neighborhood need to stay home once in awhile and learn some manners and study habits. They are rude, destructive, and obnoxious ... I don't want groups of them passing through my yard to get to your community center! This is not the ghetto! Why don't you host the kids at YOUR house!? Don't want to be bothered either? Parents need to get a clue as to what their little angels are doing when they are lurking around the neighborhood. I have had rocks, bottles, flaming garbage, and snowballs, with and without chunks of ice inside of them, lobbed at me and my property and my home, and I've about had enough! They should alll stay home!!!

Anonymous said...

I live close to the where the new Walgreens is going up. They are supposed to put a Dunkin Donuts on the corner where the existing Walgreens is. I have seen the plans