Urban Planning gone wrong

[m00n.livejournal.com]

While we are on the topic of community development, does anyone have an explanation for there now being a third convenience store in Teele Square within view of the other two?



Beyond the fact that I don't feel like these stores contribute much (if anything) to the community, I'm kind of wondering how it is that this neighborhood can even support three of them (four if you count the Indian market down the street that sells pretty much all the same stuff).

I don't mean to be such a community troll about these things, but I live in that neighborhood and it is starting to get a little depressing...

Comments

[ron_newman]

Have you talked to the proprietors of any of these stores about ways they can improve their facades and differentiate their merchandise mix from their competitors? (e.g. suggest that one of them specialize in fresh fruits and vegetables, like Farmer's Bounty in Davis Square?)

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

I find the "Neighborhood Market" completely useless, but the "Teele Square Market" has a great selection of Indian food and seems to be more of a family enterprise. I didn't realize a new one had gone into that corner space and haven't checked it out yet.

My preference for convenience (and really awesome Indian groceries) is the store a few blocks down Broadway by North St, because they have a bigger selection (and are right by Guru :).

[m00n.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I mean, selling curries, rices, and chutneys counts as a specialization of some kind, and they're contributing something to the neighborhood by selling me something that would otherwise be difficult to find. The Neighborhood Market and this new place both appear to be selling basically the same exact things, almost all of which are already available at the two Indian markets (AND Foodmaster, which is like 5 minutes away).

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

But this way, you get the benefit of being able to pay twice the price. Think of the convenience!

[m00n.livejournal.com]

That might not be a bad idea, although the lack of effort at differentiating the place that they've put in so far does not give me a lot of hope...