138 replies to this topic

[cw68]

I have to say that it sounds pretty funny to hear you all complain about a bank and a coffee shop when it's yet another bar you wanted. Another bar?! Come on! Is Sutter street supposed to be the next great place to find hundreds of people at a time all gathering in one area to get intoxicated or is it supposed to be a place where families want to come and spend time enjoying the history and unique shops? There is already too much alchohol there, thank you. I don't need to take my kids for a saturday stroll down the old streets for lunch, a visit to the museum, an ice cream cone and to watch a bunch of drunk twenty-somethings hootin and hollerin.Very nice, very classy, another bar. No thanks.

The toy store will be very nice, a bank and starbucks is basically innocuous. And speaking of shameless greed (since you brought it up in a previous post), who's doing the whining here? The guy who didn't get to put the bar in? His friends? I doubt it's the other local merchants or families who patronize Sutter street.

There's a toy store going in there? Didn't know that. Cool.

[vjensen]

Unfortunately, we prove, time and again, that the people of Folsom, and in communities around the country, want chains.

Think of how many independent restaurants have come and gone, some lasting only months, whereas chains, such as BJ's, Mimi's, Applebee's and Macaroni Grill are packed, night after night.

We don't want good. We don't want unique. We want sameness. That's what those places sell; sameness.

I'll never forget going on a business trip to Japan with a host and 5 others. The host, who had lived in Japan, wanted to show us the 'real' Tokyo. He knew where to go to experience the art, culture, and the great food (not expensive if you know where to go).

The rest of the group wanted to go to Roppongi, the district where most of the tourists are American or European, and where one can find Denny's, Burger King, McDonald's and the Hard Rock Cafe.

These people travelled half a world away to eat a Grand Slam Breakfast and a cheeseburger? They wanted the sameness they had at home.

Don't be too surprised if we find the GAP and Sunglass Hut opening on Sutter. They are guaranteed success.

Very interesting discussion. Great points.
Locals may be attracted to a chain (funny, just realized the double meaning), and even visitors looking for something familiar, but tourists seek--travel more than 150 miles and pay--for the unique. Cities that promote what makes them special (New Orleans, Williamsburg, even Mendocino) access a broader customer base--sustainability.
Looking to a bigger picture, with the development of Historic Folsom Station (Rail Yard), Historic Folsom will mean much more than Sutter Street and could support a good mix of businesses that appeal to a range of visitors: locals, tourists who appreciate the familiar and people from all over the world looking to experience a piece of what makes California great.
Not sure how secure the plans are for the building, but as (not if) Historic Folsom moves toward its real potential, unique businesses will be a more viable option. Think Corporation Yard that's zoned for a resort and what would happen if we had genuine public access to the river--like most towns with a river running through it.
Tenant mix is very high on the list of concerns for revitalization: http://www.historicf...s=hd_tenant_mix
If you have a vision of how to make things better, have Jeff Ferreira-Pro (Project Manager for Revitalization--listed on the website) add your name to the list of contacts for meeting times, input, etc.
A conference on Cultural and Heritage Tourism is scheduled for this month (Jan) in the Lake Natoma Inn and Jeff has info about that as well.
The potential for this town to develop into a world-class attraction is really pretty serious--we have the history and the setting--tenant mix will definitely be a critical element of how things shake out down the road.

[vjensen]

What's going down in Historic Folsom Town?
Check out this discussion chain: http://www.tomatopag...showtopic=11219

[Dave Burrell]

tourists seek--travel more than 150 miles and pay--for the unique. Cities that promote what makes them special (New Orleans, Williamsburg, even Mendocino) access a broader customer base--sustainability.

The potential for this town to develop into a world-class attraction is really pretty serious--we have the history and the setting--tenant mix will definitely be a critical element of how things shake out down the road.

Great post and full of good info! I also agree that most visitors would be coming here for unique things to see. One can get a cup of Starbucks ANYWHERE, but you can't see the old Folsom train station, the museum, the power house (the real one), historic bldgs and houses on/near Sutter and the UNIQUE restaurants that we have, anywhere else but right here in old town Folsom.

Thats what people mainly come here for - the unique places we have and the history of our town.

[mylo]

Has anyone actually confirmed the Starbucks rumour yet?

[Dave Burrell]

Has anyone actually confirmed the Starbucks rumour yet?

Time to talk to the Historic District Commission folks who's charter is as follows:

1. To preserve and enhance the historic, small-town atmosphere of the historic district as it developed between the years 1850 and 1950;

2. To maintain, restore, and reconstruct historic structures and sites within the historic district;

>>> 3. To encourage an active business climate which promotes the development of a diverse range of businesses compatible with the historic district as it developed between the years 1850 and 1950;

4. To retain the residential areas within the historic district;

5. To ensure that new residential and commercial development is consistent with the historical character of the historic district as it developed between the years 1850 and 1950;

6. To increase the awareness, understanding, and appreciation of the history of the city; and

7. To preserve and enhance open space areas. Folsom Municipal Code Chapter 17.52

[ngilbert]

Time to talk to the Historic District Commission folks who's charter is as follows:

3. To encourage an active business climate which promotes the development of a diverse range of businesses compatible with the historic district as it developed between the years 1850 and 1950;

So, if I'm reading this right, it would be okay for Starbucks to open, say, a livery stable that just so happens to serve coffee too. Like, "Dr. Starbuck's Brand Feed, Hay & Anti-Ailment Elixers" or somesuch. I'd be okay with that.

Though what Sutter Street *really* needs is a good old-fashioned dance hall. Powerhouse Pub has a halfway-decent dance floor, but they need can-can girls and a piano player who stops playing whenever them there Clanton boys walk through the door.

Plus we need an opium den.

The antique stores are nice, though of course, in the 1880's they were just called "stores"

[Dave Burrell]

So, if I'm reading this right, it would be okay for Starbucks to open, say, a livery stable that just so happens to serve coffee too. Like, "Dr. Starbuck's Brand Feed, Hay & Anti-Ailment Elixers" or somesuch. I'd be okay with that.

Though what Sutter Street *really* needs is a good old-fashioned dance hall. Powerhouse Pub has a halfway-decent dance floor, but they need can-can girls and a piano player who stops playing whenever them there Clanton boys walk through the door.

Plus we need an opium den.

The antique stores are nice, though of course, in the 1880's they were just called "stores"

Hehehe exactly! and the Starbucks coffee should be brewed over an open fire and served in tin can cups. Course it needs to be strong enuf to grow hair instantly too hahahaha!

hey I like that idea of a dance hall, maybe add a vaudeville theater too!

Someone mentioned a toy shop, that'd actually be a neat store to be there.

[john]

Is anyone on the Historic Commission? Is this something they can look in to? Starbucks doesn't exactly help preserve the "1850-1950" atmosphere.

[Dave Burrell]

Is anyone on the Historic Commission? Is this something they can look in to? Starbucks doesn't exactly help preserve the "1850-1950" atmosphere.

Here's the city webpage with the names of the folks that are on the commission: LINK

[Chad Vander Veen]

Be sure and attend the commission meetings to voice your opposition to Starbucks

[ngilbert]

Hehehe exactly! and the Starbucks coffee should be brewed over an open fire and served in tin can cups. Course it needs to be strong enuf to grow hair instantly too hahahaha!

Yep, coffee so strong that, as John Steinbeck once wrote "you could float nails in it" - I'd totally go there. Especially if, instead of slacker baristas, the coffee was served by some dude named Jebediah or "Cookie" or something, and if you say "venti", he'd whack you with a branding iron and say "we don't speak no Apache here! Now hold out yer cup!"

[mylo]

Yep, coffee so strong that, as John Steinbeck once wrote "you could float nails in it" - I'd totally go there. Especially if, instead of slacker baristas, the coffee was served by some dude named Jebediah or "Cookie" or something, and if you say "venti", he'd whack you with a branding iron and say "we don't speak no Apache here! Now hold out yer cup!"

I believe the Maidu indians are native to Folsom.

They, however, did not order their lattes "venti", but did prefer their mochas "no whip"

[Dave Burrell]

Be sure and attend the commission meetings to voice your opposition to Starbucks

There's a meeting tomorrow night.

Here's the schedule:
Meetings are held on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month, 5:00 p.m., Community Development Conference Room, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 50 Natoma Street

[Dave Burrell]

Yep, coffee so strong that, as John Steinbeck once wrote "you could float nails in it" - I'd totally go there. Especially if, instead of slacker baristas, the coffee was served by some dude named Jebediah or "Cookie" or something, and if you say "venti", he'd whack you with a branding iron and say "we don't speak no Apache here! Now hold out yer cup!"