I do not commute to NYC so naturally I do not see commuter parking as the main problem for the CBD.
Online shopping has cut into the sales at Macy’s, Sears and other large dept stores. They and a lot of other retailers will be closing stores. This business dynamic is hurting local stores and large retailers.
What brings shoppers to town? Maybe it is time to do a CBD survey.
People now come to eat and run errands. I do not buy clothing in town. I go to the post office, bagle store, and drug store. I may not go often but the shoe repair shop is a godsend. I have lunch and dinner in town (not at the restaurants that were aggressively lobbying for the garage). BYOB makes great restaurants affordable.
I don’t know if you can draw shoppers back to town. The malls are having a difficult time keeping customers.
It’s no mystery what brings people into Ridgewood. It’s a supply and demand principle. They come for the businesses that exist, and those businesses that fade and close are simply not used enough.
Thanks 11:53 …brilliant observation.
And thinking that online shopping has cut into sales at Sears is laughable.
the writer is right about a lot of things but one thing is for sure we DO NOT need another survey or study to tell us what’s right in front of our faces. “Shoppers” are NOT coming back to Ridgewood or Glen Rock or anywhere for that matter and the CBD will need to adjust accordingly. The market place will sort it out. NOT the hosers at VH.