Mayor Boob: "We believe in a free market, and we welcome businesses that fit into the Vienna environment."
What does Vienna environment mean exactly? Banks and mattress stores?
Empty Stores Reflect Economy
Vacancies rise with market slowdown.
By Donna Manz, The Connection
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Around Vienna, "For Lease" signs have been popping up in established shopping centers along and around Maple Avenue.
The former "That’s Amore" and Hancock’s Fabrics have been vacant for months. So, too, has the building that once housed Furniture Direct and C.L. Barnes. Apple Federal Credit Union has taken over part of the property, but the far end of the commercial center remains unoccupied.
What’s going on?
"Our retail vacancies are a function of the economy," said Gregory Hembree, director of Planning and Zoning for the Town of Vienna. "Office space is rented. It’s retail that is risky now."
"We get lots and lots of calls every day," said Hembree, "We look at the type of business and whether parking requirements fit the area."
Hembree said businesses do their research before contacting him.
"When we get inquiries, I tell businesses, ‘send me a proposal.’ We’ll help them to locate here. It makes sense to do business in our town."
Hembree says Trader Joe’s grocery stores have approached the Town, as had a major national drug store chain. "We’re always looking for good quality businesses to make a home in Vienna."
Unoccupied stores cast a shadow over the life of the Town. Shoppers are aware, as are other retail workers. And Hembree says that everyone has an idea of what should "go in" there, regardless of where "there" is. People know what they would like to see go into a vacant property, he says.
"Empty spaces always impact on the vitality of a town to some extent," said Mayor M. Jane Seeman. "We believe in a free market, and we welcome businesses that fit into the Vienna environment.
"We don’t have a budget for economic development," said the mayor. "We cannot afford fee-based intermediaries. We encourage prospective businesses to come to us with their interest."
SEEMAN, TOO, notes that the Town is approached daily by businesses aiming to locate or relocate to Vienna, and she agrees with Hembree that these businesses do their own market research on the viability of doing business in Vienna. "But Vienna is a prime location for businesses to locate here. They see the traffic going down Rt. 123, they see the housing growth. Businesses recognize the opportunity to do well here.
"Rents are going up in Vienna," said Seeman, "and businesses operate on a narrow profit/loss line. When the economy picks up, we’ll see more businesses coming into the town."
Many residents ask the mayor or the Town Council members why there are so many banks in town. Banks are among the few new businesses who can afford the high rents, the mayor says. "Business trends come and go … we used to have quite a few bagel shops several years ago," Seeman said.
"Things will bounce back here when the economy turns around."
Beyond vacant storefronts is the issue of shopping centers that are in need of updating or enhancement. The Town cannot demand improvements from businesses or commercial centers grandfathered in, but it does enforce zoning regulations.
"This is a big property rights state," said the mayor. "So we have little leverage to force owners to make improvements. If an existing property wants to expand or a new building wants to come in, it goes before the architectural board.
"In those cases, we can rule on signage and landscaping and design."
Hembree and Seeman are optimistic. Church Street is drawing new businesses, and many of the businesses located along Maple Avenue have been thriving there for dozens of years.
"Quite frankly, as long as the foreclosures continue, business people are sitting on their hands," Hembree said.
Comments
It's like a bad dream. Dumb people running a Town full of dumb people. Is everyone in Vienna brain dead? No, but the Town Council and the SPECIFIC people who elect them are not very bright people. Is more evidence than that article needed?
Posted by: Twit World | September 10, 2008 08:27 PM
no budget for economic development? yet they had money for a $6mil town square? Maybe if they used some of the budget for economic development, there'd be development to fund an economic development budget.
Posted by: anne smith | September 10, 2008 09:00 PM
loved the part about reviewing parking...who reviewed parking for the small strip where Chipole is? that is a nightmare!
Posted by: Lynda | September 10, 2008 11:52 PM
Hembree says Trader Joe’s grocery stores have approached the Town, as had a major national drug store chain. "We’re always looking for good quality businesses to make a home in Vienna."
What do you bet the drugstore goes in and not Trader Joes. A drugstore would not showcase the lack of parking/planning in Vienna; whereas Trader Joes would.
The Town should be wooing these business, and not making these ridiculous statements. People are afraid to do business because of the Town. Change the leadership and the Town will change into a vibrant community!
Posted by: SOS | September 11, 2008 11:10 AM
Let me get this straight, when That's Amore was A&P grocery store, there was plenty of parking. Now, that a Trader Joe's is interested, there is not enough parking? Something else is going on ...
Trader Joe's would be AWESOME but I cannot believe they would put their chain into such a disgraceful looking shopping center. The owners of Danor Plaza should be ashamed of how that place is kept - dirty, potholes and just plain ugly.
Norm's, Cenan's, etc deserve for the owner to take better care of that place. I cannot believe only now has the parking lot finally been paved.
Posted by: vienna mommy | September 11, 2008 01:44 PM
I love Trader Joes and am very saddened that the Town has declined on the in That's Amore's old location.
Posted by: anonymous | September 11, 2008 03:17 PM
Isn't it funny that national leaders, whether their proposals are true or not, claim to be able to fix the economy, but on the local level where political decisions DIRECTLY affect economic development, Vienna leaders pull their pants down, bend over, dig their heads in the sand and quack about everything being fine once the "economy" turns around? Isn't Seeman in one fell swoop saying that she is quite possibly one of the worst political leaders Vienna has ever seen AND at the same time calling all of us a bunch of f***ing morons?
Posted by: The Economy | September 11, 2008 04:36 PM
Trader Joe's in Falls Church has a lot less parking than what is currently near the former That's Amore/Fabric Store not to mention the ridiculous amount of parking across the street for the Giant. Grocery stores request a lot of parking. If Trader Joe's can live with less, they are the ones who need to succeed and should know what they need.
Posted by: We want Trader Joe's | September 11, 2008 08:17 PM
Did I miss something? Posts moved from saying Trader Joe was considering the site to "the town has declined on it" because of the lack of parking. Where? who? when?
Posted by: Also longtime Vienna resident | September 12, 2008 08:31 PM
Longtime Resident:
I think you can read between the lines with what Hembree says here:
Hembree says Trader Joe’s grocery stores have approached the Town, as had a major national drug store chain. "We’re always looking for good quality businesses to make a home in Vienna."
Trader Joe's "approached" the Town but what did the Town do with this gesture? I am gathering nothing or they turned down TJ's since Hembree and the Mayor did not elaborate at all. Does Hembree think that it is just as good to even be "approached"?!
SEAL THE DEAL, YOU DOLTS!
Posted by: vienna mommy | September 13, 2008 10:28 AM
If they don't have a budget to attract new business (economic development), then how exactly does Mom "encourage" businesses to come to Vienna?
Posted by: Tommy S. | September 13, 2008 05:33 PM
From what I've seen they DON'T encourage new business. In fact, at every opportunity, Maude insults developers & brags about keeping them out. Without new development and redevelopment of tired old shopping centers, it's hard to draw new businesses.
Posted by: anne smith | September 13, 2008 06:35 PM
Mayor Seeman for VP!
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/09/17/palin_mayor/
Posted by: The Internet | September 17, 2008 05:36 PM