gc
22 September 2003, 11:32 AM
Downtown fringe feels slighted
Glenda Vosburgh
http://dallas.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2003/09/22/editorial2.html?page=1
With so much talk from Dallas city and business leaders about the need to revitalize downtown, small-business owner Todd Hedrick says he expected some sort of welcome from a city representative when he opened his new business, Salon Gossip, a hair salon and salon products retail store, on Commerce Street in downtown Dallas.
He was surprised when none came. The only people from the city Hedrick saw were the building inspectors. And, he says, he didn't exactly get that warm and fuzzy welcome-to-the-neighborhood feel from them.
"I didn't even get a fruit basket," he said. He's joking about the fruit basket. But he's serious about the need for organizations and city leaders who want to attract new business to downtown Dallas to expand their horizons a little.
Hedrick is excited about being located just a few blocks from the Farmer's Market, which he says should be the center of downtown. But, "Those of us east of Harwood feel a bit left out (his neighbors are Down Bar and Divan) in being noticed on our side of town."
When he opened his business seven weeks ago, he sent a letter to Dallas City Councilman John Loza letting him know about the new venture.
He finally got a response from Loza this week, but in all fairness, Salon Gossip isn't in Loza's district. It just recently became part of Veletta Forsythe Lill's district. Lill said she's thrilled to see new businesses opening in downtown, and really wishes she was able to personally welcome each one. But, her district is very large and, unless someone sends her an announcement of the opening, she's often not aware of it.
"I usually don't hear from a business unless they're having a problem of some kind," Lill said.
Hedrick thinks the city should provide handouts for new business owners with important information like who their city council representative is and how much parking is required for their building. That alone would be a welcoming gesture.
Fortunately for Hedrick, Nancy Hormann, executive director of the Dallas Downtown Partnership, has come to the rescue.
"When a new business opens in downtown we always send over a nice bouquet and a welcoming committee," Hormann said, "but, our (Main Street) district is from Harwood to Field and Commerce, Main and Elm."
In other words, Hedrick's business is out of the district.
Hormann says she learned of Salon Gossip's opening from Hedrick's landlord. She invited Hedrick to join her group's merchants association, which he has done. She adds that, since no one is really welcoming those businesses that open outside the Main Street district, her organization will work to fill that void.
"It's so difficult for anyone (business) who comes down here," she said.
That's all Todd Hedrick is asking for ... a little welcome into the neighborhood. Downtown is exactly where he wants his business to be.
"I looked at similar space in the Knox and McKinney areas before choosing this location, and they were going to cost me about $1,000 more a month" he said.
Hedrick thinks small retail businesses like his will play an important role in revitalizing downtown. "And downtown landlords are willing to work with businesses that want to move here," he said.
Salon Gossip's interior is chic and sophisticated with natural brick walls, a second-story catwalk around the front of the space and lots of windows and skylights.
Hedrick already has plans for expansion. His two-year business plan calls for expanding into the building next door -- about 8,000 square feet -- for the addition of a day spa.
"Being in downtown lends a certain sense of sophistication to your business," Hedrick said, "and there is a wonderful sense of community and commitment among urban pioneers."
He just hopes Dallas city and business leaders remember that downtown isn't just the core six or seven blocks in the middle. Downtown stretches "from overpass to overpass."
Vosburgh is assistant managing editor at the Dallas Business Journal.
Glenda Vosburgh
http://dallas.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2003/09/22/editorial2.html?page=1
With so much talk from Dallas city and business leaders about the need to revitalize downtown, small-business owner Todd Hedrick says he expected some sort of welcome from a city representative when he opened his new business, Salon Gossip, a hair salon and salon products retail store, on Commerce Street in downtown Dallas.
He was surprised when none came. The only people from the city Hedrick saw were the building inspectors. And, he says, he didn't exactly get that warm and fuzzy welcome-to-the-neighborhood feel from them.
"I didn't even get a fruit basket," he said. He's joking about the fruit basket. But he's serious about the need for organizations and city leaders who want to attract new business to downtown Dallas to expand their horizons a little.
Hedrick is excited about being located just a few blocks from the Farmer's Market, which he says should be the center of downtown. But, "Those of us east of Harwood feel a bit left out (his neighbors are Down Bar and Divan) in being noticed on our side of town."
When he opened his business seven weeks ago, he sent a letter to Dallas City Councilman John Loza letting him know about the new venture.
He finally got a response from Loza this week, but in all fairness, Salon Gossip isn't in Loza's district. It just recently became part of Veletta Forsythe Lill's district. Lill said she's thrilled to see new businesses opening in downtown, and really wishes she was able to personally welcome each one. But, her district is very large and, unless someone sends her an announcement of the opening, she's often not aware of it.
"I usually don't hear from a business unless they're having a problem of some kind," Lill said.
Hedrick thinks the city should provide handouts for new business owners with important information like who their city council representative is and how much parking is required for their building. That alone would be a welcoming gesture.
Fortunately for Hedrick, Nancy Hormann, executive director of the Dallas Downtown Partnership, has come to the rescue.
"When a new business opens in downtown we always send over a nice bouquet and a welcoming committee," Hormann said, "but, our (Main Street) district is from Harwood to Field and Commerce, Main and Elm."
In other words, Hedrick's business is out of the district.
Hormann says she learned of Salon Gossip's opening from Hedrick's landlord. She invited Hedrick to join her group's merchants association, which he has done. She adds that, since no one is really welcoming those businesses that open outside the Main Street district, her organization will work to fill that void.
"It's so difficult for anyone (business) who comes down here," she said.
That's all Todd Hedrick is asking for ... a little welcome into the neighborhood. Downtown is exactly where he wants his business to be.
"I looked at similar space in the Knox and McKinney areas before choosing this location, and they were going to cost me about $1,000 more a month" he said.
Hedrick thinks small retail businesses like his will play an important role in revitalizing downtown. "And downtown landlords are willing to work with businesses that want to move here," he said.
Salon Gossip's interior is chic and sophisticated with natural brick walls, a second-story catwalk around the front of the space and lots of windows and skylights.
Hedrick already has plans for expansion. His two-year business plan calls for expanding into the building next door -- about 8,000 square feet -- for the addition of a day spa.
"Being in downtown lends a certain sense of sophistication to your business," Hedrick said, "and there is a wonderful sense of community and commitment among urban pioneers."
He just hopes Dallas city and business leaders remember that downtown isn't just the core six or seven blocks in the middle. Downtown stretches "from overpass to overpass."
Vosburgh is assistant managing editor at the Dallas Business Journal.