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| That sorry strip mall on 9th and Booth |
Even if you never step foot in the Philadbundance grocery store/pantry, the beauty of their decision to take over that grossly underserved former supermarket on the far west end of town is that it is located on the far west end of town.
For the vast majority of retail outlets in Chester, they primarily serve the people of Chester because outsiders are afraid to come into our great city.
However, Philabundance , while planning to spend $4million of their own dollars to move to Chester, will be one of the first businesses that will regularly be patronized by residents from neighboring towns.
Believe me, the Philadbundance folks won’t be checking your ID when you enter their store to make sure you are a Chester resident. As much as there is a huge need for affordable food here in Chester, there are folks in Trainer, Marcus Hook, Lower Chi, and even northern Delaware, that will welcome Philadbundance being located right on the edge of Chester, making it desirable to shop there because shoppers won't have to come any further into our wonderful city.
In fact, there are probably more folks in those areas combined that will shop at Philabundance than Chester folks.
Wouldn’t it be great if the success of Philadbundace turns around that entire strip mall on 9th and Booth. There is nothing in that mall that attracts me. I can’t tell you the last time I’ve spent a dime at any of those shops. I think I purchased something at the Family Dollar a couple years ago, and I did stop at the Metro PCS to check on their deals once upon a time. Who remembers that Sam&Sam owned his first meat market in that strip mall.
(By the way, Philabundance will own the building and will keep Family Dollar in there. I wish they could buy the whole strip mall and make something out of it?)
Wouldn’t it be cool if food took over 9th street between Highland and Booth. It could be our version of restaurant row, starting with Just Pizza and April's and working its way to Booth where a new fast food restaurant can set up where the old Gino’s was.
Ahhhh, to dream!
That's actually a great idea, Stefan. Ya know, if we put up a couple of trees and flowers to line the street, and power wash the sidewalks in the area for curb appeal we could turn the entire Restaurant Row sidewalk into a quaint out-of-the-way sidewalk cafe during the spring summer and fall months.
ReplyDeletePerhaps play a little jazz music outside and have some of the high school students well trained so that they will be gainfully employed part time (and perhaps too busy for questionable activities).
Yes, Sir. That is a great plan.