Businesses in Davis

[ronhaha108.livejournal.com]

Hi group, I'm thinking of starting a business in Davis, something possibly with a store front, and am trying to come up with some ideas. What do you think is sorely lacking in Davis?

Cheers,
Ron

Comments

[ron_newman]

A food store, something like Trader Joe's, but locally owned. That would be divine.

[mrpet.livejournal.com]

As long as it's not a bar, coffee shop, or bank ;)

[anotherjen.livejournal.com]

Exactly - a place to get groceries, especially health food/organic types.

[kelmit.livejournal.com]

co-op?

[philbot.livejournal.com]

A place I can drink beer *and* shoot pool.

[oonh.livejournal.com]

something wet, fragrant, with a lot of color.
like a pigment, scent, and tea shop
inks, spices, flowers, vegetables, teas, papers.

[kevin-church.livejournal.com]

...or a pizza joint.

[ron_newman]

A music store?

Tower Records is closing in Harvard Square. Virgin Megastore is closing in the Back Bay. HMV closed all of its local stores a year or two ago. This suggests a big hole in the market for someone local to fill.

[cosinezero.livejournal.com]

There's already CD Spins...

[veda815.livejournal.com]

... or it suggests that music stores are no longer profitable?

[ron_newman]

Or just that big national (and multi-national) chains have trouble with the Boston market.

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

That suggests everyone is downloading their music online.

[marphod.livejournal.com]

Pemberton Farms is the market/plant store on mass Ave.

Pemberton Market is the quick-market/liquor store at the corner of Mass Ave and Ringe.

[hissilliness.livejournal.com]

* Laundromat with a wet bar. Good luck getting a liquor license.

* Sex shop (the nearest good one is in Brookline). The nearest place to buy Liquid Silk is Hubba-Hubba in Central.

* Computer store; the nearest (if you don't count Radio Shack) is probably Microcenter.

* Sparqs (http://www.makezine.com/extras/26.html). God, I miss it.

* I bet a fantasy/anachronistic clothing store could do well 'round these parts.

[ariwriter.livejournal.com]

An arcade.

A deli. Think Johnny's Luncheonette.

Or a bonsai nursery. Heck, any nursery. There are plant shops and there are nurseries; none of the latter around here.

[dani-namaste.livejournal.com]

I'm SO in agreement with this.

A place to get stones, scents and teas to soothe the soul; meditation supplies, art, etc.

Also, bubble tea. Indie music.

[dani-namaste.livejournal.com]

I also second sex shop and computer store; especially one that sells Mac stuff.

[dani-namaste.livejournal.com]

I think there have been a lot of good ideas here, and I've agreed with many of them, but what kind of business do YOU want to start? What are your strengths?

Not to shove hard questions on you, but as a fellow business owner, I know that unless you REALLY LOVE what you're doing, it's hard to commit to a business long enough to make it successful. It might be worth looking at what you can provide to the community and seeing if there's a genuine market for it.

[-afton-.livejournal.com]

I agree with the sex shop.
The closest one is a hike, and I'm pretty sure there are a fair number of tufts students who would frequent it... actually, I know that there are.

...

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

I've pondered the idea of a sex shop around here for years now and would totally do it if I had a person or persons to go in with me. (I'm not the type to do this sort of thing all alone.) I think it'd be great. Not to mention a context where it wouldn't be inappropriate to constantly share my opinions on all the different toys. :)

[amethystmoon.livejournal.com]

well, if you're mostly looking to fund, I really want to start a craft studio. More hands-on and dirty than Spark, less specialized than Mudflat, and preferably CHEAPER than all of the above (I'm thinking non-profit). I've got it all worked out, minus the capital and what kinda of insurance and permits I'd need (various chemicals, soldering stations, spinning machinery, and open-flame acetalene torches).

[ron_newman]

Nearest computer store to Davis is probably Computer Cafe in Arlington Center.

[treacle-well.livejournal.com]

Sex shop. Yes!

[an-art-worker.livejournal.com]

Sparqs closed? That's too bad - I thought it was a cool venture (though I looked into it I never used it - being able to wrangle shop access through one of the local art schools).

I wonder if it was too far out (in miles)? Or...? One would think Boston would be a hotbed of DIYers but maybe it's all school-based activity. It's been tough to get a dorkbots started here or similar sort of hacking group.

[an-art-worker.livejournal.com]

maybe the art center that is going to open up on Highland could co-locate/offer space? They seem headed in a 'club' type (as in art/craft - not dance) thing.