Calgary Water Cooler Talk Thread

[Calgarian]

Yeah Domino's will definitely ruin the neighbourhood, better block it...

[Ramsayfarian]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Thoughts on the grumbling of some folks in Inglewood about a Domino's pizza opening up on 9th avenue? It's going in where the crossfit studio was.

But where will the douche bags train?

As someone who used to Crossfit, I find it amusing that Domino's is opening up in that space. Almost as amusing when Boudoir Rouge took over the Christian bookstore.

[lineman]

Or when Coconut Joes became a daycare.

[Ramsayfarian]

Originally Posted by lineman

Or when Coconut Joes became a daycare.

I forgot about that. I wonder how many of their initial clientele were conceived in thanks to Coconut Joe's or other clubs on Electric Ave.

[DizzyEdge]

Originally Posted by lineman

Or when Coconut Joes became a daycare.

I used to get loaded in that playground.



When it was a patio I mean.

[Centro]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

They don't like the idea of a chain restaurant/company opening up on their precious urban-hipster strip that is 9th avenue. Of course they neglect to think that it is a local Calgarian opening up the franchise and the landlord with the now empty bay due to the crossfit location being gone has a hole to fill.

While I'm not opposed to franchises at all (eg. I recently went to the newly opened A&W on 17th - what an improvement over the revolving door of businesses that used to be there!), I do find it odd that it'll be opening literally steps from Inglewood Pizza. I'm less concerned about Without Papers as that's a different market, but I worry that Domino's could spell trouble for IP.

Would've been better if it was another independent pizza joint opening up - could've had our own Pizza Corner here like they do in Halifax!

[Innersoul1]

Originally Posted by Centro

While I'm not opposed to franchises at all (eg. I recently went to the newly opened A&W on 17th - what an improvement over the revolving door of businesses that used to be there!), I do find it odd that it'll be opening literally steps from Inglewood Pizza. I'm less concerned about Without Papers as that's a different market, but I worry that Domino's could spell trouble for IP.

Would've been better if it was another independent pizza joint opening up - could've had our own Pizza Corner here like they do in Halifax!

But isn't this the nature of an economy? If IP is the superior pizza joint then people will vote with their wallets. The franchise owner has obviously seen an opportunity. There will always be people who support IP and others who will go to Dominoes it's just how it works.

Bigtime and I went to school in Varsity. A block from out school was a strip mall that was home to Varsity Pizza and Subs (a mom and pop shop) and also a Subway. The majority of students went to Varsity Pizza, but there were still some who went to Subway. It's just business.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Innersoul1

Bigtime and I went to school in Varsity. A block from out school was a strip mall that was home to Varsity Pizza and Subs (a mom and pop shop) and also a Subway. The majority of students went to Varsity Pizza, but there were still some who went to Subway. It's just business.

Oh man I gotta go back, it's been too long!

[Riise]

Originally Posted by Centro

I do find it odd that it'll be opening literally steps from Inglewood Pizza. I'm less concerned about Without Papers as that's a different market, but I worry that Domino's could spell trouble for IP.

Proximity might be a good thing for Inglewood Pizza as people who see the Domino's will also see Inglewood Pizza. If someone was craving pizza and they saw the easily recognizable Domino's without knowing there was another option down the street, they'd probably just go with what they know. However, by being so close Inglewood Pizza will quickly be identified as a possible alternative.

[Centro]

Originally Posted by Innersoul1

But isn't this the nature of an economy? If IP is the superior pizza joint then people will vote with their wallets. The franchise owner has obviously seen an opportunity. There will always be people who support IP and others who will go to Dominoes it's just how it works.

Bigtime and I went to school in Varsity. A block from out school was a strip mall that was home to Varsity Pizza and Subs (a mom and pop shop) and also a Subway. The majority of students went to Varsity Pizza, but there were still some who went to Subway. It's just business.

I know, let's let the market decide - don't disagree with you there. Hopefully they can co-exist. I popped into Varsity a couple times ages ago... wonder if they still have Pacman??

Originally Posted by Riise

Proximity might be a good thing for Inglewood Pizza as people who see the Domino's will also see Inglewood Pizza. If someone was craving pizza and they saw the easily recognizable Domino's without knowing there was another option down the street, they'd probably just go with what they know. However, by being so close Inglewood Pizza will quickly be identified as a possible alternative.

Good point

[suburbia]

Regarding this Inglewood thing, there are my general points:
- In this economy, it seems silly to kick a gift horse of a dozen jobs in the nuts
- The franchise is owned by a local Calgarian running a small business. It is not mega-corp coming in to convert neighborhood children into GMO cheese and deposit toxic sludge into a tailings pond where the local park used to be.
- Instead of saying outright no, perhaps folks with a concern could make doable suggestions about design and the like, but refusing investment outright makes zero sense
- Inglewood isn't at a stage where people are lining up to invest in new businesses there. It is home to among the most densely populated welfare businesses around.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by suburbia

Regarding this Inglewood thing, there are my general points:
- In this economy, it seems silly to kick a gift horse of a dozen jobs in the nuts
- The franchise is owned by a local Calgarian running a small business. It is not mega-corp coming in to convert neighborhood children into GMO cheese and deposit toxic sludge into a tailings pond where the local park used to be.
- Instead of saying outright no, perhaps folks with a concern could make doable suggestions about design and the like, but refusing investment outright makes zero sense
- Inglewood isn't at a stage where people are lining up to invest in new businesses there. It is home to among the most densely populated welfare businesses around.

A thousand times the bolded part.

[suburbia]

As me and my fellow futurist visionaries reflect on the deepening energy crisis and its impact on Calgary, two areas stand out as potential major strengths:

1. Logistics and distribution
- enabled by enhanced YYC capabilities and capacity, and leveraging our central location in context of western Canada and being on the can-mex corridor, this will not only be an opportunity to gain more market share in these areas for this half of Canada, but also something that can entice American manufacturing when moving things the other direction in a reduced dollar environment.

2. Travel and tourism
- further enabled by YYC capacity is bringing people in to take advantage of a lower dollar. I think we need a more comprehensive and global-looking strategic plan in this area, reinforcing not only our proximity to beautiful nature, and enhancing intra-city assets. The low dollar needs to start working better for us, and it has not yet.

[suburbia]

Some time ago, I had suggested that it could be interesting locally and regionally to have a museum of Calgary. Vancouver already has one of these, and I thought I'd post it here for comment.

http://www.theprovince.com/business/muse...+focuses+city+future/11642582/story.html

[Bigtime]

Let me add a #3 to your list suburbia:

3. Film & Television Production: Calgary and area has already been home to many of these productions. Stretching back to Lonesome Dove and Legends of the Fall. In the last few years some very famous productions have filmed in the Calgary area. Inception, Hell on Wheels, Fargo, Heartland, The Revenant, and many more. Now with the construction of the film studio underway and our low dollar we should push even harder to bring more of these productions here. The economic spin-offs impact many local companies and citizens.

[suburbia]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Let me add a #3 to your list suburbia:

3. Film & Television Production: Calgary and area has already been home to many of these productions. Stretching back to Lonesome Dove and Legends of the Fall. In the last few years some very famous productions have filmed in the Calgary area. Inception, Hell on Wheels, Fargo, Heartland, The Revenant, and many more. Now with the construction of the film studio underway and our low dollar we should push even harder to bring more of these productions here. The economic spin-offs impact many local companies and citizens.

Good thinking, and you're right. We need to accept a low dollar, and instead of seeing it as a weakness (as we do when grocery shopping) leverage the heck out of the situation.

[edit]

As I reflect further, however, I do not find it plausible that the Calgary film industry could increase by say $1B annually, whereas #1 & #2 could be true positive economic juggernauts.

Anyway, what pieces can enable these three items?

[Ramsayfarian]

Originally Posted by Riise

Proximity might be a good thing for Inglewood Pizza as people who see the Domino's will also see Inglewood Pizza. If someone was craving pizza and they saw the easily recognizable Domino's without knowing there was another option down the street, they'd probably just go with what they know. However, by being so close Inglewood Pizza will quickly be identified as a possible alternative.

I've ordered from Inglewood Pizza for years or at least ever since George's closed. My memory fails me, but there was some type of family connection between IP and Georges, but I digress.
I've stopped going to IP as their pizza has gotten very expensive. It's good pizza, but not worth the price they charge.

[fusili]

Originally Posted by Innersoul1

But isn't this the nature of an economy? If IP is the superior pizza joint then people will vote with their wallets. The franchise owner has obviously seen an opportunity. There will always be people who support IP and others who will go to Dominoes it's just how it works.

Bigtime and I went to school in Varsity. A block from out school was a strip mall that was home to Varsity Pizza and Subs (a mom and pop shop) and also a Subway. The majority of students went to Varsity Pizza, but there were still some who went to Subway. It's just business.

I went to Varsity Pizza every Friday after school for like a year. Then I lived across the street during University. I ate a lot of Pizza from there.

[mwalker_mw]

Originally Posted by Ramsayfarian

I've ordered from Inglewood Pizza for years or at least ever since George's closed. My memory fails me, but there was some type of family connection between IP and Georges, but I digress.
I've stopped going to IP as their pizza has gotten very expensive. It's good pizza, but not worth the price they charge.

IP was a long time favorite of mine as well but did tend to have some bad nights from time to time.... the last one involved some bad Calimari and 4 days of misery. Consequently, haven't been back in about 6 months (though usually it was just an occasional cardboard crust). Maybe one of these days.

Some competition might be good... but just not Dominos... that pizza is truly terrible. Inglewood could use a good Shwarma place...

[Spring2008]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

They don't like the idea of a chain restaurant/company opening up on their precious urban-hipster strip that is 9th avenue. Of course they neglect to think that it is a local Calgarian opening up the franchise and the landlord with the now empty bay due to the crossfit location being gone has a hole to fill.

Inglewood nimby's are the worst - basically sprawl supporters. That strip has the most character buildings outside of Stephen Ave but needs a serious shot of density in order to be a lively, go to destination again. At least it looks like that fairly large mixed-use res building west of Avli is underway. Overall though that neighborhood has really under-performed in terms of realizing its potential. If they expect better tenants/amenities, time to embrace density.