The fact that the Cigaro Lounge is another in what is quickly becoming a glut of smoke/cigar shops in a half-mile stretch down Michigan Avenue may ultimately lead either Cigaro or one of its many competitiors to shutter. Long-standing Don Yeyo Cigar Company down the street, and Le Cigar in the struggling West Village Commons development already offer area smokers a wider range of cigars and tobacco.It brings to mind the ‘coffee shop triangle’ of a few years past, with Little Café, Au Bon Pain, Panera, Starbucks and Caribou coffee all located within a three-block radius, and all simultaneously vying for Dearborn’s caffeine lovers (and their cash). Only the corporate-backed Panera and Starbucks remain.
Of course, Fawaz and Abbas may take heart in the initial success of the Well Dearborn. Another bar in a business district that is rife with drinking holes. Yet The Well appears to be distinguishing itself and becoming a destination for the younger social set. Hopefully, the owners of Cigaro Lounge can do the same.
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Until the city eliminates paid parking, until they resolve the parking structure lawsuit, until landlords lower rents significantly and until the city actively pursues and entices businesses to come into downtown West Dearborn, everything else is a waste of time. Businesses are dropping like flies there and will continue to do so.
ReplyDeleteI hear The Well always dead???? Hope it doesnt stay like this
ReplyDeletePat S, you have hit the nail on the head. The people running for council want retail business back in the city but I don't hear a one of them with a solution to the problem or even any ideas of what can be done.
ReplyDeleteThe candidates running for council are saying and doing nothing new. The same old garbage will get the same garbage results. And a hookah emporium on Michigan Avenue is not going to change things for the better.
ReplyDeleteEast (End) becomes West (End) and West (End) becomes East (End)
ReplyDeleteBeen there and cigars are dry, nothing else there except coffee and a couple poker machines.
ReplyDeleteHaving had a busines on Michigan Avenue and having relocated to a much friendlier area of town, I feel qualified to say something on this subject. The biggest problem for us was the entire area being in the control of one landlord who did nothing to improve his building and now owns condemmed shells all along Michigan Avenue.
ReplyDeleteThe City Council and administration allow "for lease" signs to continue to be placed on these condemned shells. New business will not come into a part of town that looks like an uncared for ghost town.
The elections are right around the corner. Think about who you will vote for. Change is really needed. All of our property values go down when this kind of policy is allowed to continue.
Cloe, you are so right. I guess there is little you can do when a single developer buys up as much land as Fakhoury has in west Dearborn. It's just tragic that he's driving out established businesses and driving away interested entrepreneurs. I wish the city would buy up his empty, dilapidated properties just like they do with run down homes.
ReplyDeleteI just ran across an old article that I had saved from over 2 years ago from the Press & Guide that gave the timeline for the demolition of those condemmed buildings. Big surprise. They are still standing. They were also listed last year in the section of Foreclosed for back taxes" buildings. Somehow, he obviously got them back and still nothing has been done. There is no excuse for the City allowing this to be happen. Makes you wonder, doesn't it?
ReplyDelete"....I wish the city would buy up his empty, dilapidated properties just like they do with run down homes."
ReplyDeleteWould the current owner give the city get a discount or would we have to pay Montgomery Ward prices? Great idea Mike.
Guess 'what's good for one, is good for all' just doesn't apply in this city.
ReplyDeleteMy understanding of the rules was that if a building is condemned, the city has the right to demolish it and bill the owner. If this is true, why haven't they all been torn down by now? Vacant land would look a whole lot better than these eye sores. Noone is being fooled into believing that these buildings are viable just because they are still standing.
ReplyDeleteTOTALLY agree with Cloe. West Dearborn needs a bailout package.
ReplyDelete