Salt Lake:Official development news thread

[SLC Projects]

"Sam Weller's Books announced Thursday that it will close its store on Main Street and move to an undetermined new location." Sandy?

But no really this blows. I've been there to that store a few time. What a true lost to Main.

[ski_steve]

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

not sam wellers

[Comrade]

Man, just when you think Salt Lake is finally turning the corner, this news opens the reality we're still nowhere near where we need to be as a city.

[WeST]

I would hold off on your weeping and wailing until you see where they are planning on moving to. Tony said they are really excited about the possibilities and the new ideas for a book store of the "new millennium". Tony has also made it clear he is a big believer in downtown, so I would not lose hope and think all is lost. I wonder if they plan on opening up closer to city creek or the convention center. I wouldn't expect them to open in city creek because of his anti establishment/anarchic beliefs.

[jedikermit]

Sam Weller? Leaving?

Good grief.

Actually, not good at all.

Man. This makes me sick.

[delts145]

Originally Posted by WeST

I would hold off on your weeping and wailing until you see where they are planning on moving to. Tony said they are really excited about the possibilities and the new ideas for a book store of the "new millennium". Tony has also made it clear he is a big believer in downtown, so I would not lose hope and think all is lost. I wonder if they plan on opening up closer to city creek or the convention center. I wouldn't expect them to open in city creek because of his anti establishment/anarchic beliefs.

Hopefully then, they will locate elsewhere downtown, and a fantastic club/restaurant will open at their current location. From what you're saying it would sound as if they need a more flexible space.

[Comrade]

Originally Posted by WeST

I would hold off on your weeping and wailing until you see where they are planning on moving to. Tony said they are really excited about the possibilities and the new ideas for a book store of the "new millennium". Tony has also made it clear he is a big believer in downtown, so I would not lose hope and think all is lost. I wonder if they plan on opening up closer to city creek or the convention center. I wouldn't expect them to open in city creek because of his anti establishment/anarchic beliefs.

Unless it's Main Street, my point still stands.

Downtown as a whole isn't hurting, Main Street, however, is and that's what blows.

[goldcntry]

Originally Posted by Comrade Reynolds

Because Utah liquor stores ARE funny.

Get rid of 'em and allow local business to open liquor stores.

Comrade pretty much summed it up. Relaxation of the liquor store law will in my mind (what there is) lead to the eventual disbanding of the state stores. Probably prodded along by a large Arkansa based company...

[WeST]

Comrade brings up a good point that if it isn't on Main Street somewhere, then Main Street will be the big loser in the Weller closing. I have never been the guy to shop at a local establishment solely because of that status because there are a lot of lousily run local businesses in Utah, but Sam Weller is a diamond in the local business rough.

If I am Mayor Becker, I do everything reasonably in my power to ensure they find another spot in downtown. They are an asset to Salt Lake City and other local businesses should emulate their model more often. Unfortunately, they are operating in a industry that is having dramatic growing pains and really a paradigm shift that will leave only the most imaginative business standing.

[jtrent77]

Originally Posted by goldcntry

Comrade pretty much summed it up. Relaxation of the liquor store law will in my mind (what there is) lead to the eventual disbanding of the state stores. Probably prodded along by a large Arkansa based company...

According to Wikipedia (the source that knows everything....or at least the people that contribute to it think so...), there are 18 states that have liquor control laws that force you to buy anything harder than beer or wine at state stores. Somehow I don't see Utah as switching over just because they get rid of Private Clubs, or even if they change the beer percentage rule. And given that there are other states, I think you should give up your hope of that changing--afterall even highly liberal Vermont has a similar liquor law.

[RFPCME]

Originally Posted by jtrent77

According to Wikipedia (the source that knows everything....or at least the people that contribute to it think so...), there are 18 states that have liquor control laws that force you to buy anything harder than beer or wine at state stores. Somehow I don't see Utah as switching over just because they get rid of Private Clubs, or even if they change the beer percentage rule. And given that there are other states, I think you should give up your hope of that changing--afterall even highly liberal Vermont has a similar liquor law.

jtrent77: I assume your remark "even highly liberal Vermont" was tongue-and-cheek. I mean this state, most famous for the quote from the old Bob Newhart Show TV series: "Hi, I'm Larry. This here is my brother Larry. This here is my other brother Larry," is anything but liberal. Commonsensical? Maybe (because it did vote for John Kerry over "W" in 2004). But "liberal," never.

That aside, truly liberal states, like MI and PA (and quasi-liberal states like VA) all have state controlled liquor stores, which keep profits up and competition down. Very socialist in that respect.

But I like that system. It controls bootlegging fairly well. Provides a good source of income for states and never kept me from buying a bottle in MI, PA, VA, Vermont, Utah or anywhere else I went.

I'm glad Utah finally did away with the asinine private club system. However, like polygamy, it will probably take the rest of the country a 100-plus years to realize the State is not as weird as they thought.

[Comrade]

Up until 1992, Vermont was reliably Republican.

[RFPCME]

Originally Posted by Comrade Reynolds

Up until 1992, Vermont was reliably Republican.

Absolutely correct!!!

[jtrent77]

Originally Posted by RFPCME

jtrent77: I assume your remark "even highly liberal Vermont" was tongue-and-cheek. I mean this state, most famous for the quote from the old Bob Newhart Show TV series: "Hi, I'm Larry. This here is my brother Larry. This here is my other brother Larry," is anything but liberal. Commonsensical? Maybe (because it did vote for John Kerry over "W" in 2004). But "liberal," never.

That aside, truly liberal states, like MI and PA (and quasi-liberal states like VA) all have state controlled liquor stores, which keep profits up and competition down. Very socialist in that respect.

But I like that system. It controls bootlegging fairly well. Provides a good source of income for states and never kept me from buying a bottle in MI, PA, VA, Vermont, Utah or anywhere else I went.

I'm glad Utah finally did away with the asinine private club system. However, like polygamy, it will probably take the rest of the country a 100-plus years to realize the State is not as weird as they thought.

Not to get way off topic, but 1992 was 17 years ago. Quoted from the Baltimore sun December 11, 2005:

As the home of Ben & Jerry's "Peace Pops," and with its staunchly liberal politics, Vermont would seem unlikely to rank first among states in soldier deaths per capita from the Iraq war. Yet it does.

Another news article 2009:

Closer to home, New Hampshire is considering a bill proposing that it join a half-dozen other states, including liberal Maine and Vermont, in banning smoking in cars where children are present.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to say what is good or bad, just saying Vermont definitely is on the liberal side of things these days. As far as VA goes...not so much, it was strongly republican in the past and is now seen moreso as a swing state in that Northern VA has more liberal influence compared to the rest of VA which is usually a bit more republican leaning.

[delts145]

A new chapter: Sam Weller's owners reflect, prepare for move

http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705290834,00.html?pg=2

...But the store has moved before. The next stop will be the family's fifth location — the sixth if you count the temporary space Sam Weller's occupied after a four-alarm fire damaged the store in 1972.

[delts145]

Hey, I like the updated pic (Jan. 2009) of Salt Lake City on Wikipedia! This angle will look awesome when we have the 'Very Sexy Tower 1' placed in the pic.


wikimedia.org

[TANGELD_SLC]

Agreed! I'm glad someone finally had a worthy replacement for my own picture.


As for Sam Weller's moving to a currently undisclosed location downtown, I don't have an issue with it because it's still going to be downtown and something else can take it's place, like a restaurant as Delts suggested.

[jtrent77]

Originally Posted by TANGELD_SLC

Agreed! I'm glad someone finally had a worthy replacement for my own picture.


As for Sam Weller's moving to a currently undisclosed location downtown, I don't have an issue with it because it's still going to be downtown and something else can take it's place, like a restaurant as Delts suggested.

Is Carl's Jr. looking to move? hehe just kidding...ha

[delts145]

Originally Posted by TANGELD_SLC

Agreed! I'm glad someone finally had a worthy replacement for my own picture.


As for Sam Weller's moving to a currently undisclosed location downtown, I don't have an issue with it because it's still going to be downtown and something else can take it's place, like a restaurant as Delts suggested.

With a couple of qualifications, I don't have a problem with it either TANGELD. As long as it's not a Carls Jr. that replaces it. A kick butt restaurant/club, w/outdoor seasonal seating would be very cool. I guess we'll just have to wait and see, both where Wellers relocates and who replaces them. I'm thinking that Weller's will be an outstanding plus for another street downtown. Then, if we fill in the Weller's with something new and very positive, this could be a Win-Win situation. I'm definitely not ready to start protesting yet.

While not a lot of details are being said out loud yet, I'm wondering if the lease on that particular location is about to see a significant cost increase. I think with 222 and especially CCC, Regent, Theatre, etc. we're going to see a bit of a gentrification of Main. We shouldn't lament that it's getting more empty, because this is only the process of what will be happening over the next two years, as major life altering projects on Main near completion. Of course, the jury is still out, as far as who will be moving in. So far I've liked the newly established businesses.

[Viperlord]

A little news update that I was reading the other day in the SLC RDA's minute meetings:

Ninth Street Place is currently on hold due to the economic situation, which is no real surprise. They cited the poor economic conditions as the reason. Financing is drying up. The project had 4 banks excited and eager to lend on the project, now that number has whittled to 1 bank. Banks arent willing to lend on condo projects anymore unless if they are 50% pre-leased. Also, they stated poor sales in the area as another factor for holding the project. The kirtland Condos have only sold "a few" units, leaving the completed condos basically vacant. Angelinas corner has also only sold a smaller than expected share of its condos. So, until demand picks back up dont count on this project going, which is no real surprise. They did say though that there is plenty of demand still for rental housing.