G.S. Outfitters says goodbye

One of the few remaining retail businesses has decided to close shop.  G.S. Outfitters - located on Third St just east of Patterson - will be going out of business.  According to the DBJ article (below), a developer has offered to buy the property and the owner decided to take the money rather than continue to battle the big chains, Internet shopping and downtown's uncertain future.

Dayton Business Journal
Link: Downtown retailer closes to make way for development project

A venerable downtown retailer -- another victim of shoppers' attraction to suburbia's "new mall world'' -- is closing to make way for a commercial development project that is already in the works, a top store official said Tuesday.

GS Outfitters, described as "Dayton's LL Bean," will shutter its operations at 401 E. Third St. by Thanksgiving. A going-out-of-business sale starts Thursday...

...the buyer has a comprehensive plan for "a good, imaginative reuse" for the property, which includes three buildings and a large parking lot with between 60 and 70 spaces. Schultz said he could not elaborate other than that it will be a "non-retail" project. The buildings will not be demolished and will be readapted for the new use...

While this is more sad news for downtown, it is nice to know that the property is getting redeveloped right away rather than left to sit vacant like many other properties.  If anybody has any ideas as to what the new developer has in mind, do tell...

Independent Restaurants Fight Back

About 19 local restaurants are banding together to put together a marketing campaign which they hope with help them compete against the army of chain restaurants that has infiltrated the Dayton region. If you read MostMetro regularly, you know that we've touched on this topic at least a couple of times before - and yes, we still believe that independent businesses are important to our community and we should try to support them when we get the chance. Though, I do see some irony in the fact that the Dayton Daily News is where the group has decided to advertise, seeing that the DDN has been almost giddy over the opening of The Greene while continuing to ignore our REAL downtown. But I digress...

I've been told that this group of independent restaurants chose not to participate in the Dine Originals website because it is a national site. We'll see if they end up putting together their own site or if they simply rely on traditional media. I will say this - viral marketing is not only much cheaper but in many cases can be much more effective. I know a good website they might want to check into ;) .....

Link: Local eateries start ad blitz.

A consortium of at least 19 independently owned Dayton-area restaurants will launch a marketing campaign today in an effort to protect their customer base from the recent influx of chain restaurants — and to introduce themselves to potential new patrons.

Independent Businesses MAKE the City...

The topic of Dayton's independent restaurants, their struggle against chains and how important they are to our city's identity has been very popular lately in our local media and of course here on Dayton MostMetro.  I realize that Dayton is hardly alone when it comes to having an influx of corporate chain stores threatening to destroy the city's uniqueness, but I still find it ironic that this week's Smart City Radio interview is with Kaie Wellman - creator of eat.shop.guides - a series of books that feature various cities and the independent restaurants and stores that make each city unique.  Listen to the interview below, and notice that Kaie ONLY includes businesses that are in urban cores. 

Restaurants unite to battle chains - Part II

In my previous post, we discussed the Dayton region's local restaurants and their battle against the influx of chain restaurants over the past couple years.  A few have gotten together and are working on ways they can collaborate so that they can survive as new chain restaurants seem to be opening up every day in a region that hasn't grown in population in years.  I promised some advice for our local restaurants, so here it is...

Restaurants unite to battle chains

Yes, it is no surprise that the Dayton region has been inundated with new chain restaurants over the past couple of years - probably more so than any time in our history.  Independents are struggling, and many are closing their doors for good.  You've probably read our previous blogs so you know how we feel about supporting our locally owned businesses; if you don't then allow me to reiterate:  we MUST support our locally owned restaurants and other businesses, because it is they who give our city and region its character.  Without them, our city loses its identity as we become to look exactly like any other boring city in America.  Not to mention that the dollars you spend at locally owned businesses stay in our local economy.

At Risk Retail Establishments

Numerous small businesses downtown are likely in jeopardy – particularly retail establishments, for a variety reasons, including the following downtown specific challenges. 

Proposing a Downtown Dayton Small Business Association

How are businesses represented in downtown Dayton?

A Dayton Region Chamber of Commerce Primer

I became curious about the Chamber of Commerce organizations that exist in the Dayton region and decided to compile a list of facts and observations that are relevant and foundational to future blogs.