Comments on: Valu Land, a Discount Grocer, Coming to Dearborn

By: Jeff

Jeff — Sat, 18 May 2013 15:40:00 +0000

I would like to see a Whole Foods come here, I want Non-GMO foods, I want farm fresh foods, from cows that graze on grass, non-caged chickens, no antibiotics and crap all stuck in the food. I would suggest all companies label their foods NON-GMO, I have seen a couple do this and what a great idea. Please read this Suppliers!!!

By: disqus_2rY6pHEo89

disqus_2rY6pHEo89 — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 15:29:00 +0000

What is wrong with a low-cost grocery store? Shouldn’t poor people be able to find affordable food? The objections to opening Valu Land echo those made prior to the Goodwill opening: that Dearborn used to be a “classy” town and is now being ruined. I’ve lived here nearly 20 years, but grew up in Grosse Pointe. I’ve never thought of Dearborn as an upscale city. It never has been. It’s a working-class city with a significant number of educated professionals. Anyone who has lived here for any length of time knows this. I’ll continue to shop at ACO and Dearborn Music. I guess the rest of you will just have to find somewhere else to go given your disdain for the lower classes.

By: mdalbano3701

mdalbano3701 — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 16:34:00 +0000

In case people haven’t noticed, for quite some time, most of the big chains, upscale and unique type of store models have moved to communities surrounding Dearborn, and/or Downriver. This gives them access to a much broader market, along with access to Dearborn without them having to go through our outdated, overly strict building codes, rules and regulations. As much as some might not like these lower end model type stores, until Dearborn gives the types of businesses residents want a reason to move to Dearborn, they won’t move here.

As far as Newman, regardless of what business model types are moving into his locations, this should at least tell us that when given a choice, they move into Newman’s retail suites, instead of the user-paid parking area suites. It is not hard to figure out the reasons for this.

By: Teresa Duhl

Teresa Duhl — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 02:41:00 +0000

Deep, I’m hoping you can report on more details. I would like to know what the planning commission’s logic was. Why not a Trader Joe’s or a Whole Foods or an art house movie theater?

I get that the space has been vacant for years, and Dearborn needs to fill its bazillion empty store fronts, but we need a mix of stores that attract a variety of income-levels. I love the Panera Cares, and I think the Goodwill store is great too, but a discount grocery store, one that is akin to a dollar store? And another grocery store at that?

I’m an ambiance shopper. I love Westborn Market and Cafe con Leche in southwest Detroit, and other places where you don’t just go to buy, but to enjoy the atmosphere. I’m not alone in this. An Aldi-like store is like a fast food restaurant: get in, get out.

I’m hoping that there is a strategy involved here that will make this decision sensible.

By: Kitty Gee

Kitty Gee — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 06:59:00 +0000

Lee Corso writes: “We have gone from a “Top-Tier-City” – to near the bottom of a long list.”

That would be incorrect. Dearborn is nowhere “near the bottom of a long list.” Dearborn is in the category of “has-been.”

By: PassTheBatonAlready

PassTheBatonAlready — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 02:13:00 +0000

And Dearborn tried the $1 “renovated” movie theater thing on Nowlin as well. After the neighboring communities got wind of it, it quickly became a tire store.

By: PassTheBatonAlready

PassTheBatonAlready — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 02:12:00 +0000

Wayne constructed a large parking structure ……for what I’ll never know…….and it was quickly filled with boats. Maybe W. Dearborn should do the same with their two.

By: Lee Corso

Lee Corso — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 16:32:00 +0000

All:
We have gone from a “Top-Tier-City” – to near the bottom of a long list. We are just a cut above Ecorse, Highland Park, Lincoln Park, and Pontiac, maybe? Lincoln Park’s downtown is looking good!! Even bankrupt Allen Park, now, has a nicer downtown and (as everyone knows!) a better shopping district! Dearborn, a once proud City, has gone downhill fast – and a lot of residents are not happy about it! We now take a back seat to once considered “lowly” Cities like Wayne, Taylor (remember ‘tucky’?), Westland, Wyandotte, not to mention the obvious choices of – - Plymouth, Milford, Chelsea, Manchester, Ann Arbor, Novi, Saline, Northville, Dexter, South Lyon, Birmingham, Royal Oak, Franklin, Bloomfield,……and the list goes on & on. Sad! When is the last time we had this kind of good news? These, once second-tier, cities now have brick-paver walk-paths, park benches, street lights w/their City Flags, a great mix of businesses, etc. Seems like they had a “plan” and followed through with them? For example: WAYNE, Mich. – Nov. 11, 2012: “A 66-year-old movie theater in suburban Detroit is getting a 21st century face-lift. The venerable State Wayne theater in downtown Wayne has been refurbished. A grand re-opening ceremony is set for Saturday to unveil the new State Wayne Digital Theater. It’s to come at the conclusion of the annual Wayne Holiday Parade on Michigan Avenue. The public is invited to come inside and tour the newly renovated theater and get a behind-the-scenes look at the latest in digital projection Technology.The State Wayne theater was built in 1946. The City of Wayne retains ownership but has signed Phoenix Theaters to manage on a long-term contract.” Let’s get going Dearborn! I hope it is not too late!! Don’t like taking a back seat to City’s like Wayne!!

By: dan_pepper

dan_pepper — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 15:35:00 +0000

Stores offering extraordinary value are the trend…even in Beverly Hills. This from the LA Business Journal: 99 Cents on Rodeo Drive?

By Bethany Firnhaber – Originally published October 9, 2012

Deep discount retailer 99 Cents Only Stores on Tuesday said
it’s looking for space to open a store on famed Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills.

The chain is known for its humorous advertising, but the chief
executive told the Business Journal that he is serious about finding
space there. “Our stores do well with all income levels and all
demographics,” said Eric Schiffer. “Rich people like deals more than
anybody.”

However, the Rodeo Drive Committee, which is made up of merchants and property owners there, expressed deep skepticism. In a statement, it said: “Based upon some of the highest commercial retail rents in the world and the fact that Rodeo Drive is experiencing the street’s highest occupancy in recent memory, it is highly unlikely that a 99 Cents storewill ever open on the street. The company issued a similar statement 10 years ago, and the announcement never came to fruition.”

Jay Luchs, a broker for CBRE Group Inc. in West Los Angeles who
represents most properties on Rodeo Drive, said the announcement must be a joke. “It’s not true, obviously,” he said. As the store’s name implies, 99 Cents Only sells each item for less than $1. Rodeo Drive, by contrast, is one of America’s most luxurious shopping streets.

In Tuesday’s announcement, the Commerce company urged anyone with information about available retail space on the high-end shopping street to contact its real estate department. Schiffer, the CEO, agreed that finding affordable space would be a challenge.

By: PassTheBatonAlready

PassTheBatonAlready — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 08:50:00 +0000

Dearborn (West anyway) was a stable community for generations. It’s demographics didn’t change over “20 years”, they changed drastically the last 2 years I was there.