Not too long ago the city council contemplated an international marketplace somewhere along Anaheim Street, and like a lot of suggested actions, this one still remains on the drawing board. A positive outcome from those discussions could have a place for the downtown along the Pine Avenue corridor.
Beginning with a city wide community survey of the most popular places to eat and shop, it could be possible to recruit many of these popular eateries and retailing locally owned businesses to establish themselves on Pine Avenue beginning from 7th Street and Pine and working south to Ocean Blvd.
As a former eight-year president of the Belmont Shore Business Association, it was very clear that in order to succeed in the Shore and generate the renaissance it is now experiencing, the clear strategy was to concentrate on the successful businesses and their ability to attract the locals, particularly those within walking distance to their establishments. Interestingly, their business brand in many cases was well known throughout our city and many people would travel from all parts of Long Beach and neighboring cities to frequent these places of business.
Historically, downtown redevelopment strategies have included rent subsidies and business start up grants. Through the information gathered from the citywide survey the opportunity and timing could be right, with redevelopment assistance, to sit down with these favorite pioneers doing business throughout every corner of Long Beach and offer them a second location opportunity with as close to a risk-free proposal as prudently possible and recruit them to locate downtown. Success with this strategy comes with more new jobs and sales tax revenue back to our city.
Let me cite a few examples of tried and proven businesses as a sampling of who could potentially be among these local favorites. Bixby Knolls for years has been faithfully served by Luan’s Dress Shop on Long Beach Blvd, Meggie Lou’s for children’s apparel in the Marketplace, “5001” Furniture and Accessory boutique on 2nd Street, Circle Pet at the Traffic Circle/Ximeno Shopping Center just to cite a few. (George’s Greek Café and SuperMex are a couple of restaurant examples of this successful multiple location concept)
Unfortunately, the facts are very clear, many from our local community will not go downtown for various reasons. Many will cite safety concerns, others will point to parking problems.
Parking has always been problematic on 2nd Street in Belmont Shore, and our downtown, like most other urban downtowns is no different. The safety issue can be argued from various different directions, but the one point that makes the most sense is that when you have more people walking and patronizing businesses on any main street, crime goes down – on the other hand, the less people, the more problems.
This could all change if we look to the ability of the traditionally loyal clientele that would support these new “downtown pioneers”.
This is a major risk for sure; however, those of us in business know that success does not come without risk. It’s time to take this major leap forward, we’ve already wasted millions and cannot afford to wait any longer.