Looking to start a business in Davis...

[ronhaha108.livejournal.com]

I've posted here before (a while back) about what kind of store is missing from Davis, what the community really needs and would utilize.  Well, I finally have saved some $$$ and really would like to get something going within the next 6 months (though, I'm really just starting this journey), so, the question raised again, what's missing?

Another question, since I'm just really starting on this, are there good resources on the web to find out where to lease / buy business space (preference is to buy).

Thanks,
Ron

Comments

[ron_newman]

I can't think of much vacant business space in Davis, though if you wanted to displace some of the first-floor accountants or insurance agencies or banks, that would be a public service.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

The one thing I can guarantee we don't need is a women's clothing store: there's Poor Little Rich Girl, Suneri, Davis Squared, Magpie, etc. All stores I hear good things about from those who buy women's clothes. Nor do we need yet another restaurant, we've got all the bases covered in that respect.

Bowl and Board is moving into McIntyre and Moore's old space, if that helps with your decision.

If you can get it close to the Square, I'm thinking either a primarily new bookstore or a bike shop would be your best bet. To be honest I miss having a bookstore to kill time in terribly.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

Well, banks not so much, some of us like having convenient ATMs, Ron. :-)

my vote is for #1

[perich.livejournal.com]

Either:

(1) A coin-op laundromat, or

(2) A booth, a la Lucy in Peanuts, where you tell me where a closer coin-op laundromat than the one six blocks down Highland Ave is.

[ronhaha108.livejournal.com]

Yeah, everything seems to go pretty quickly, I started to look into the Mcintyre & Moore space, then, whoosh, it was gone... then when I heard boloco was leaving, swoop, here comes Green Tomato...

Funny thing is my grandparents 2 1/2 family on cutter ave and dresden circle is being sold, but it's not commercial space, so nothing I can use... :(

Grandparent's place (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=cutter+ave+and+russell+ave,+somerville,+ma&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=46.677964,64.423828&ie=UTF8&ll=42.397728,-71.119201&spn=0.010696,0.015728&z=16&layer=c&cbll=42.3947,-71.11996&panoid=j9NbyVspM3jVDzpkD6CWFg&cbp=1,360.36999999999995,,0,5)

Re: my vote is for #1

[ronhaha108.livejournal.com]

lol, that was my original thought, something like a laundromat / coffee shop or something like that.

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

Well, there's a great bookstore in Porter, and there's a bikeshop at Elm and Willow, so we have both of those fairly close to the Square...

What we need is a good pet supplies store that isn't Petco. Big Fish Little Fish is not it. We do have Stinky's in Ball Square, but nothing anything closer, and they're mainly dogs with some cats. It would be nice to have supplies for cats, dogs, ferrets, birds, rabbits and small mammals that, as I say, isn't Petco.

[ron_newman]

So yeah, how about a men's clothing store? With Burlington Coat Factory and the Gap both gone from Porter, I actually can't think of a nearby place to buy men's clothes. We also don't have any shoe stores.

We don't really need another bicycle shop, as we already have Paramount, Ace Wheel Works, Ata Cycle, and Bicycle Exchange all within a few blocks of Davis.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

Heh, I'm not a pet owner so I can't vouch for that, but I would imagine you're right considering how many pet posts we see on here.

Re: my vote is for #1

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

The one four blocks up, at Teele. I think there's also one right on Mass Ave and Day, but don't quote me on that.

Re: my vote is for #1

[perich.livejournal.com]

Seriously though, it's a working business model. Lease eight washers and eight dryers, charge $1.50 each. Put a change machine and a coin-op detergent dispenser in the corner. Get family members to sit around and watch Oprah.

Re: my vote is for #1

[perich.livejournal.com]

Oh, I will quote you.

Re: my vote is for #1

[ron_newman]

Especially now that the one at Mass. Ave. and Dover Street is closed, and shows no sign of reopening.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

I don't know, Ron, menswear is kind of a rough market. I don't know that a store selling suits would do so well, and honestly when I buy clothes I want to get what I need and leave.

A shoe store, on the other hand...

Re: my vote is for #1

[ron_newman]

Sorry, that's been closed for months. I only used it occasionally, but I liked having it there, and nothing has replaced it.

Re: my vote is for #1

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

Then quote this:

"Never trust anybody who tells you there's a better way. They usually want to sell it to you blind for $29.95."

Re: my vote is for #1

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

I could swear there was another nearby. Oh well, you'd know better than me.

[ron_newman]

I didn't mean suits so much as general men's clothing. The kind of stuff the Gap sold before they closed.

Re: my vote is for #1

[perich.livejournal.com]

You know, I could hear myself quoting that.

Re: my vote is for #1

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

Feel free. Just say it's somebody more impressive until I become famous. Then it can be a quote with a muddled history people argue endlessly over on the Internet.

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

AGREED!

Re: my vote is for #1

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

How about Highland Laundromat (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=l&hl=en&geocode=&q=highland+laundromat&near=somerville+ma&ie=UTF8&ll=42.397918,-71.117849&spn=0.034418,0.064201&z=14&iwloc=A), which is in between west st and whipple st.

[fappyheet.livejournal.com]

Out in Amherst, there's a place called Dave's Soda and Pet Food City, being (I think) two things people can stock in large quantities.

Something like that in Davis would be seven flavors of awesome.

Re: my vote is for #1

[perich.livejournal.com]

...

[lbmango.livejournal.com]

Since no one else mentioned it... What Davis square totally needs is another burrito joint!

Sorry, it's Monday, and I'm grumpy