Home > Norcross.Talk > Archives > 2007 > April > 29 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USYawn….We’re starving for variety in Norcross!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Norcross, we have cornered the market on certain industries, such as furniture, billiard halls, cell phone shops, dry cleaners, farmers’ markets, flea markets, pawn shops.
It just amazes me considering our location in metro Atlanta, that to find any decent shopping, we have to trek to Gwinnett Place, Perimeter or Northlake Mall.
We are a cookie-cutter community from the architectural styles of our homes right down to the choices of shopping. It’s all pretty much the same thing, one shopping center along Jimmy Carter Boulevard to the next.
To prove my point… just take a wild guess as to what is going in those two new shopping centers (so far) on JCB.
Yyyuuuup… more of the same. More sub shops and yet another cell phone shop…(Snores)
Now, before anyone gets all upset and starts a hissy fit about this rant, let me first say that I completely understand that these property owners have to do what they can to fill their available space and, naturally, make a buck. I do understand that, and I wholeheartedly hope they do so with great success.
But I beg and implore them to, please, for all that is good and great, stop the insanity and use some creativity. I am so very sick and tired of the lack of a variety of choices.
How about a Willie’s, Moe’s or Burrito Bros. Taco Co.? A micro-brewery? If Peachtree Corners can get a Trader Joe’s, why can’t we have a Whole Foods Market? We have a Starbucks on Indian Trail and Northern Star Coffee in downtown Norcross. While I love both, let’s bring something different like…Caribou Coffee. Give us a liquor store so that we don’t have to drive into Dekalb County for crying out loud! Even a bookstore would be nice!
You know, I don’t really care what comes here. Just no more cell phones, subs, pawn shops, flea or farmers markets or billiard halls. No more of the same. Enough already. I want whatever does come here to be something to make me say “WOW!”
We need that in this community. We are starved for it. We need change to be excited about so we know we are not always going to be living and working in “more of the same.”
What shops or restaurants would you like to see in the area?
Permalink | Comments (18) | Post your comment | Categories: Woody Bass
Comments
By B
April 29, 2007 10:03 AM | Link to this
I agree! No more pawn shops, markets, or billiards! I hope they read your article..and listen.
By J. Compeau
April 29, 2007 2:08 PM | Link to this
Open such a business yourself! Quit complaining!
By Katie
April 30, 2007 5:55 AM | Link to this
Woody, the best thing we can do with these businesses (cell phone and sub stores) is to NOT give them our business. I for one hope they do not make a profit and have to close down. I’m sick of these types of businesses in my community, they are an eye sore. We did have a farmer’s market but that closed. Now we have a Mexican farmers market (The Little Giant) which is a joke to shop at and leaves us Kroger or Publix. I guess I just don’t have anything positive to say about Norcross and I apologize for that.
By jim d
April 30, 2007 8:50 AM | Link to this
Woody,
I agree with J. Compeau.
You are welcome to start a business or even go out and solicit business’s, of your liking, to move into the area. I’m sure with your influence you could come up with a couple.
By Woody Bass
April 30, 2007 8:58 AM | Link to this
jim d: I have often considered it, but it is just not the right time for me to consider that right now.
By Jean
April 30, 2007 9:03 AM | Link to this
I agree with not supporting these businesses. You can add to that list beauty supply stores, dollar stores, nail shops and the common Mexican grocers/panaderia. I’m sick of those too. I think one or two in a city is enough.
There is an underground movement in Lawrenceville to stop supporting such businesses and I wish there was one in Norcross too. In fact, expect to see BIG changes in Lawrenceville over the next five years. A friend told me about these changes and I’m SERIOUSLY thinking about moving near the downtown historic Lawrenceville area. I don’t think my 400K Norcross home will be worth much soon as the ghetto closes in.
By jim d
April 30, 2007 9:16 AM | Link to this
Yeah, I know Woody. They already have a Hooters :-)
By Sandy_G
April 30, 2007 9:35 AM | Link to this
I have had the same thoughts Woody when looking around my area, like “how many Dominican bakeries, Super Mercados, cell phone stores, etc. can this area support? And why doesn’t someone open something different? I guess the answer is that businesses are (rightly) geared toward the demographics of the area. If there is a large population of people who purchase Dominican bakery products, then that’s the type of business that’s going to flourish in a particular area.
I think what you are going to see in the future in areas such as old town Norcross, is that as more young professionals move into the area, the businesses that they will support, will follow.
I’ve seen it happen in downtown Atlanta. First the condos go up, people move in and when there’s a large enough population to support them, then you see businesses like Kroger, Publix, Starbucks, etc. move in. Basically, it’s “if they come, we will build it”. I’m sure this will happen in areas in Gwinnett as the population demographics change.
By Woody Bass
April 30, 2007 10:08 AM | Link to this
Sandy_G: That is exactly why I think (and many people disagree with me) that a Whole Foods would be prime for Norcross/Gwinnett Village. And there is one PERFECT location right off 85/JCB for it too.. unfortunately its occupied at the moment with one of those ‘markets’. I would go atleast once a week just to get their salad bar if a Whole Foods came to town. Its going to take something big like that to signal change. The problem is going to be to sell it to companies like Whole Foods that they can get ahead of the curve if they do it .. now.
By Paul
April 30, 2007 10:18 AM | Link to this
Ummmm - we used to have a “Whole Paycheck” nearby, on Satellite, but it moved out to Yuppieland.
By Bruce Wilcox
April 30, 2007 11:12 AM | Link to this
Paul’s right, good old Harry’s was taken over by Whole Foods and we just didn’t come up to their standards. I’ll remember that if they ever try to make a come back.
By Woody Bass
April 30, 2007 11:33 AM | Link to this
I had heard rumors/rumblings a few years ago that they are still planning on doing something with that site.
Personally, I am not sure that old Harry’s site was a good location for them as they would require heavier traffic (and as was pointed out earlier.. the younger professional crowd that I anticipate will make up Norcross/Gwinnett Village soon) like the site on Roswell Rd has.. and JCB/85 could provide.
By Jean
April 30, 2007 11:40 AM | Link to this
I would support a Whole Foods too (I like the salad bar too). Did you know that Whole Foods only setup shop in areas that are largely college-educated? I read that on their web site. My guess is that they believe only college-educated citizens understand the benefits of organic foods. This falls into the statistics that lower-income people also have poor health because they don’t see anything wrong with eating a $3.99 value meal (burger, fries and soda) over a more expensive, organic meal.
Attracting better business and industry is also why some areas of Gwinnett are considering catering to young professionals by revitalizing their downtown areas with condos and live-work-play communities. I wouldn’t be surprised if downtown Lawrenceville ends up with a Whole Foods within the next 10 years.
By Lacy
April 30, 2007 11:51 AM | Link to this
Woody:
Jimmy Carter Boulevard will have to make some SERIOUS changes before a Whole Foods will EVER setup shop at the 85 intersection. I know that changes are on the way with the CID, but I couldn’t picture a Whole Foods being anywhere near a check-cashing place, pawn shop or panaderia. It would require bulldozing some of those establishments.
By AL
April 30, 2007 1:56 PM | Link to this
Add dry cleaners to the list of “too many”…heck, add strip malls in general.
I see many posts already regarding Whole Foods, and I agree with all. Another twist: perhaps Whole Foods feels the “college-educated” crowd is more likely to able to afford their higher prices for groceries. The trend-following mindset prevalent in that demographic may also come into play…Whole Foods is very trendy right now. While it would be great to see them open a store in Norcross, I just don’t see it happening (I hope I’m wrong). I still have a beef with them leaving the Harry’s location.
By Last American
April 30, 2007 3:34 PM | Link to this
I agree - Whole Foods. I drive over to the Forum to Caribou’s Coffee, I love it.What about Sabarros Pizza, a good chineese restaurant with a good report card from the health dept. An American Diner with real American Food.How about Longhorns Steakhouse.Five Guys Famous Burgers. What about a Florist. Only problem is like what everyone else is stating - this is a Latino area. They have Plaza Latino and another one is going up - also on Buford Highway.
By KA
May 2, 2007 8:01 AM | Link to this
Woody, The demographics and businesses of Norcross and all of Gwinnett County have drastically changed over the last 20 years. You would be wise to move to an area that has the businesses you desire, and not wait for them to come to your area.
By Bill Ficke
May 10, 2007 9:04 PM | Link to this
Woody: You have obviously lost sight of the demographic changes that have occurred in most of South Gwinnett including Norcross in the last 10-15 years. The business climate has changed dramatically. How many Mexicans, legal or Illegal, living on Mitchell Road or any other areas outdise of downtown Norcross does it take to support a Whole Food Store?? Like it or not, I think the businesses are serving the populations needs. I sure wish I could speak Spanish!!!