THE STORE BELOVED by Generation X and Y is headed for Downtown Ventura. Urban Outfitters will move in right next door to my favorite coffee and gelato spot, Palermo, at 327 E. Main St.
Kudos go to Mark Hartley, who owns the building and brokered a tough deal with the national clothing retailer to get them to sign on the dotted line. It will be a big boost to our Downtown, which is quickly becoming a favored shopping destination. Hartley, along with business partner Jim Rice, also owns the new Watermark restaurant. Hartley's partner in the Urban Outfitters building is Mike Hernandez of Real Investments. We are very lucky to have citizens like these who have invested heavily in our local economy and have played a large part in the renaissance of our Downtown.
As a big proponent of the "shop local" motto, I must admit that my occasional forays out of town to shop have usually been to the Urban Outfitters in Thousand Oaks and Santa Barbara. My daughter loves their clothing and can poke through the bins and racks of this uniquely merchandized establishment for hours.
Luckily, they have comfy couches for tired moms and silly books to read.
I texted my daughter this morning to let her know the news and I got back an obviously excited "Yessssssssss!"
I think she's happy.
In this down economy, it doesn't take a lot to perk us up.
Thanks for this endorsement Marie. While we all know Ventura's real value in this world of banal and predictable shopping destinations (State St, any Outlet mall) is our unique local business owners and chef-owned restaurants, a little national chain or two is GOOD for Main Street too. Really. For several reasons. This nationally-known connoisseur of hip neighborhoods [and historic buildings] has boosted downtown Ventura's profile by this decision to expand here. The announcement will certainly spawn more investment in downtown over time. Along with LA-based American Apparel, UO's presence will also likely instigate LATER store hours on that block, at least, by autumn. Wont it be nice to have dinner AND shop a little on, say, a Tuesday at 7:30pm? Save our unfortunate national economy, it is my opinion that limited evening store hours is inherently the primary obstacle to our downtown taking off—not the perception of crime or the reality of a few homeless. 90+% of consumers WORK during the same hours most of our downtown retailers are open. That’s hours and hours of missed opportunities to sell something to people who have disposable income. National brands also advertise much more prolifically than locally-based merchants can afford to, thus increasing our downtown’s visibility. I hope the local business owners of downtown Ventura embrace this new neighbor as ANY addition of retail—especially at that size [8,000 SF]--is a gift in this economy. Thank you to the property owners for sticking with the negotiations--for almost a year. Nice job.
~ Rob Edwards, Executive Director, Downtown Ventura Organization
Oh boy... Another high priced clothing store.
I checked out their online store and after being shocked at the prices people are willing to spend to look 'trendy' I can tell you that I won't be spending any money to clothe my family at this place.
Then again, I'm a stick in the mud and stuck in neutral in a lot of my thoughts. To me $10 jeans from Target/Wal-Mart serve the same purpose as $50 jeans from anywhere.
Also.... Marie says that she is "a big proponent of the 'shop local' motto" and that is a good thing. However shopping at a national clothing chain either downtown or at the mall is only keeping a small percentage of your purchase $$ local. The rest go off to Trenton, SC or Bentonville, AR.
That being said, I am glad that there is a new retail store in town. Sales tax revenue, no matter how it is generated, is a good thing. Filled retail space, no matter who is filling it, is a good thing. Let's hope that this (and others) store prospers. Let's hope that the powers that be see that 'if you build it they will come'.
Maybe if we're lucky we can have a downtown like Santa Barbara or Pasadena.....
;-}
Always gotta throw a black cloud at everything huh, dude?
Skip says:
"Always gotta throw a black cloud at everything huh, dude?"
Well yes I do. Someone should take the rose colored glasses off and look at the OTHER side of things.
Or we could all become sheeple and follow the piper off the cliff.....
Well...have to say I know very little about "Urban Outfitters" or for that much "American Apparel".
I don't doubt for a moment that such "upscale" shopping venues are not good for the Ventura downtown...it's just that by virtue of being neither young, nor "hip", nor "trendy", or by any means a "stylish dude" that I would ever shop in either location.
Its also true that I never shopped in the plethora of thrift shops that plagued the Ventura downtown.
I also avoid the blandly inconspicuous Pacific View Mall. Just not my sort of shopping venue. Going there is a certainly a chore.
I guess it's good to have this sort of "chain" outlet. Certainly does not sound like a "TJMaxx" or "Ross For Less"...
I guess I'm optimistic for our town...just not enthused about the prospects for my personal shopping opportunities.
....but then again, as I age, I become ever more a curmudgeon.
Well...have to say I know very little about "Urban Outfitters" or for that much "American Apparel".
I don't doubt for a moment that such "upscale" shopping venues are not good for the Ventura downtown...it's just that by virtue of being neither young, nor "hip", nor "trendy", or by any means a "stylish dude" that I would ever shop in either location.
Its also true that I never shopped in the plethora of thrift shops that plagued the Ventura downtown.
I also avoid the blandly inconspicuous Pacific View Mall. Just not my sort of shopping venue. Going there is a certainly a chore.
I guess it's good to have this sort of "chain" outlet. Certainly does not sound like a "TJMaxx" or "Ross For Less"...
I guess I'm optimistic for our town...just not enthused about the prospects for my personal shopping opportunities.
....but then again, as I age, I become ever more a curmudgeon.