The beautiful thing about living in a remotely located little town is that there is always some association or organization getting its panties in a wad over something. This week’s Wedgie Winner is Main Street Steamboat with their call to arms regarding “formula stores”. You can read the article in its entirety here:
‘Critical’ time for downtown
If you can’t be bothered reading it here’s a quick summary. This summer construction will begin on appproximately 90,000 square feet of new retail space. Local business owners are concerned about who will fill these spaces and they want to put ordinances in place to keep formula stores (The Gap, Pier One, Barnes & Noble, etc.) out. Why? Allowing these types of businesses in would take away the “small-town feel” and also keep Steamboat from becoming a major destination for shopping. First of all, the “small-town feel” was killed years ago, so let’s quit pretending that it exists. When I moved here around 15 years ago you could cross-country ski downtown, ride your horse and hitch it up outside the local bar and not risk dying by crossing the road. Secondly, who in the hell is going to drive hundreds of miles out of there way to shop here? Steamboat Springs will NEVER be a shopping mecca. People come here for the things they can’t get at home; mountains, fresh air, open spaces. Once they get here they will spend their money at whatever stores and restaurants we have. Where else are they going to go? What is really at the heart of the matter is that the local businesses are afraid of some competition and competition is exactly what we need. Too many current shop and restaurant owners have grown complacent and lazy in running their businesses. So, I say come on in formula stores! Let’s start shaking things up a bit.
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