Chain stores in town - good or bad?
Is the addition of a Jersey Mike's, where a Chevrolet dealer and a Good Year store once stood, such a threat to Ojai? Are we trying to protect mom and pop stores or our image as a tourist town?
posted by OVN administrator at 7:08 AM
37 Comments:
Talk about a leading question that could easily trick a reader. It is not like we are choosing between a "mom and pop" and "image".
I think we are trying to protect the mom and pop stores and protect our image as a tourist town. Keep in mind that over 50% of our city budget comes from tourism.
In fact, if Jersey Mike's were a "mom and pop store" I might be inclined to eat there. However, it is not a mom and pop store even though the owner lives in Ojai, he also owns at least two other Jersey Mike's locations (that I know of) and I would not consider a franchise, with national support, a "mom and pop store."
Let's encourage the owner to open a sub shop in that location without the support of a New Jersey company (where some of our money will go). Let's help make that happen...dump the franchise agreement and open a sub shop.
For me, this is not really about Jersey Mike's specifically, it is about maintaining local integrity and preventing Ojai from looking like so many other cities in the United States. Yes, we have some chains in town but for the most part they are not retail and food service.
As with Lisa, I would encourage all readers to head over to the Ojai Post and read all the comments posted there.
Is it too late to intervene and
stop the franchise agreement?
Why allow one now- it sets a precident for more later. The
owner of local eatery said keep
it local, as it is hard dollar as it is.
oI strongly oppose the addition of any franchise store or shop in our community. We have managed very.,. nicely-thank you very much
People. It's an empty storefront. Nothing has succeeded there. Wal-Mart didn't make the Ojai Brew Pub and previous restaurants fail.
The owner lives in Ojai. The workers and customers served would be from Ojai. And the 30-50 illegals standing around all morning would have a nearby place to eat. The city would rid itself of an eyesore, and get tax revenue.
Win-win-win.
BAD, BAD, BAD
Although part of Ojai's charm is its mom & pop stores, it would be HEAVEN if only Trader Joe's were to buy Dahl's market in Oak View.
Please post a picture of Jersey Mikes. I have never seen it nor been aware of such a business. Hard to decide without some evidence. And where would it be located? Please give address as I wasn't around when the Chevy dealer was. From: Saltkist
BAD. BAD IDEA. BAD REALITY
This one is easy...just head to San Juan Capistrano and drive down Del Obispo. What was once a charming area has now been blanketed with fast food traps and strip malls. Keep Ojai Unique!
Ojai could be charming, but get real about Ojai Avenue.
Coming into town, you have a liquor store on the right, so bums can buy booze and drink at Cluff Park on the left (or Libbey). Then you have a Carrow's and BofA (both chains) and across the street you have a burger stand surrounded by ugly empty frontage that needs to be torn down. The arcade. Libbey, where the city is so strapped it tears down the wood pergola and leaves the empty plaster posts, just in time for the Ojai tennis tournament. And then a Chevron superstation, and across from that a strip mall that never made a dime and looks like all the blownout empty strip malls in Lansing, Michigan or Gary, Indiana.
Ojai Avenue is far from charming, and the city doesn't have a line forming of locals who can't wait to lose money on a retail business.
And to the person writing "bad bad bad", your point-of-view might be more valid if you included a thoughtful argument, instead of a 4-year old's reaction.
If Ojai wants to keep its character as a great small town, it will keep that feeling and integrity by keeping franchises out and keeping the flow of money in Ojai. Of course franchisers and franchisees want a piece of Ojai but once you sell a piece of your soul, the game is over. A town's character shines through its local businesses. Ojai is a very special place. Allowing the extration of money that could serve the community is simply a bad precedent.
I think it would be awesome. It would give the highschoolers somewhere to work besides the McDonald's or Vons and therefore they would be able to add their earnings back into the economy. Ojai is a tourist town yes, but for the normal people who live here we need businesses to come into the area so that we dont have to commute, or in othercases, move to somewhere more affordable with available jobs.
I've been here from childhood to now, off and on. It still is Ojai, a nicer and kinder place than most. But, I fear, not by much. A pox on those who want our valley to become an L.A suburb with all its filth. I, for one, would love to go back and cruise town from the bowling alley to the tree, see my friends, and know that life here is good. A chain sub store?
Dysentery to all who patronize
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVEN'T SPENT YOU LIFE IN OJAI. NO, NOT 20 YEARS. TRY 50 OR MORE. WE ARE THE NATIVES OF OJAI. WE WOULD NEVER ALLOW FRANCHISES IN THE CITY LIMITS. AND, THE O HI FROSTIE IS LIKE A LANDMARK IN OJAI. BUT, THOSE OF YOU WHO WEREN'T HERE WHEN WE WERE IN JUNIOR HIGH AND HIGH SCHOOL WOULDN'T RELATE TO THIS.
WE, THE NATIVES OF OJAI SHOULD BE THE ONES TO SPEAK UP. MANY CAN'T BECAUSE WE OWN AND RUN BUSINESS'S AND CANNOT SOMETIMES FOR FEAR OF LOSS OF FUTURE BUSINESS AND NOT GETTING INVOLVED IN POLITICS. NO FRANCHISES IN OJAI EVER.
Wake up and smell the coffe guys, or the Starbucks!!! That one was o.k., and how about Quiznos and Subway. Oh, yeah those aren't in the precious little village of Ojai. Ojai is short for oblivious, which most of you all have become. Glad I'm leaving.
I think this new franchise restaurant is a bad idea and will do nothing to enhance the downtown. The Brew Pub was dirty and an eyesore, but I believe something better than Jersey's Mike's could go there. Even the name is tacky. I buy all my clothing in Ojai because the stores here have things that the malls don't carry. We have unique restaurants which appeal to residents and tourists alike. Why bring in a chain, set a precedent, and encourage more tacky businesses.
I would like Ojai to retain and cultivate the small town/village look and feel that attracted me to it 10 years ago.
I like that the fast food, Blockbuster and Rite-Aid chains are in Mira Monte.
And so I object to a franchise at the old "Brew Pub" location. My only reason is it WILL be the first in dozens of years and
with sucess or not, will open the door for more well known and equally undesireable chain outlets to cast their hats into the city council's cash deprived ring.
Does Ojai needs another sandwich shop? How about patronizing Georgio's, Howie's or Ojai Pizza? All of these shops and restaurants have great sub sandwiches. While I would like to see aonther downtown eyesore removed I think we should amend our city charter, rules, whatever by vote to reflect that the majority of citizens who vote do not want franchised chains within our city limits. Kind regards, Ratplanet
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
I agree with everone who sees little that's positive and a lot that's negative about the all-too-quiet entry on the scene of a Jersey Mike's in Ojai. Something is definitely wrong with this picture!
I and other folks I know who've been here since the '70s remember when this could no more have happened than the running of a freeway through the valley. I hope we'll all wake up about this issue before it's too late. Once the one-and-only Ojai is gone, we can never get it back.
Our increable town is going through changes that deelply sadden me. The development that is transpiring right before our blurry eyes is mind bending. It seems that our city fathers are allowing rampid development, and now this, Jersey Mike! I disagree and feel the town needs to come together like we did when we dumped WELDON.
I and others I know don't care for chain stores, and there are plenty down Miramonte way and beyond. However, there is a need for a drive-through food establishment only because there are a lot of families and older folks who could benefit from that convenience within the city limits.
But would the city council ever approve a "mom & pop" local eatery with a drive-through?
The City of Ojai is already has many franchises. Here is a quick, and I'm sure incomplete list:
VONS
Chevron
Bank of America
Wells Fargo
Napa Auto Parts
True Value Hardware
Valero
All State Insurance
Century 21
Coldwell Banker
Rexall Drugs
Mayflower Moving
Hallmark
How does selling sandwiches make a franchise unacceptable while most of these businesses are seen as assets to our community?
Well, the only place on this list that I use is Chevron; I'm not even sure if there are any independent gas stations left!
At least you can buy groceries, medicine, banking, hardware, real estate, auto parts, and moving services from non-chain business in Ojai.
I guess I'll need to wean myself off fuel to stop the Chevron usage.
Thirty years ago, the people of Ojai were in the midst of the same argument; to develop or not to. There was a building moratorium that CPO fought hard to win. It breaks my heart to see how our sleepy town has changed. What happened to that moratorium?
I realize we have numerous chain businesses, but why allow another?
It appears that the folks who are pro-development are newcomers to the valley. If they want chain stores, why did they come here?
I remember the day when the city council denied Wendy's a permit to open its doors within the city limits. The Board of Supervisors allowed it in Mira Monte, but Ojai's elected officials were determined to save the quaintness of the Village. What happened?
Think about that the next time you cast your ballot.
I reached the limit of my patience when the condos on S. Montgomery St. were approved. Sorry, Ojai citizens-- you don't need a community swimming pool; condos and their get=rich developers are now running the show. Disgusting!
Thirty years ago, the people of Ojai were in the midst of the same argument; to develop or not to. There was a building moratorium that CPO fought hard to win. It breaks my heart to see how our sleepy town has changed. What happened to that moratorium?
I realize we have numerous chain businesses, but why allow another?
It appears that the folks who are pro-development are newcomers to the valley. If they want chain stores, why did they come here?
I remember the day when the city council denied Wendy's a permit to open its doors within the city limits. The Board of Supervisors allowed it in Mira Monte, but Ojai's elected officials were determined to save the quaintness of the Village. What happened?
Think about that the next time you cast your ballot.
I reached the limit of my patience when the condos on S. Montgomery St. were approved. Sorry, Ojai citizens-- you don't need a community swimming pool; condos and their get=rich developers are now running the show. Disgusting!
I think it is a shame that the City is so fearful of a lawsuit for discriminating free commerce that they will bow down to let this chain show up on our main downtown street. Do what Santa Barabara did and just make the permitting process so difficult they will not want to open here this is a way around saying no.
The paper stated that the owner is local and supports may fundraising efforts be weary of this. This is one of the major strategies of this chain on winning local support yes they may give money to pony baseball etc but it is under the guise of marketing they know if they support the sports team they will gain customers it is about increasing business not being good local citizens. Why give your money to a chain, support the true locally owned and operated sub shops in town or encourage this guy to make great subs without the Jersey Mikes name and image. Say no before it is too late and if it truely is too late than let your dollars do the talking and do not give New Jersey any of Ojais money.Thank you
Im not in favor of this sub francise in ojai proper. It would not bother me if it was on the fastfood highway out there,but please not in my backyard. Why all of a sudden is this allowable?I absoultly will not frequent the unwanted unneeded place.
All you sanctimonious people on your high horse, admit it:
You never even heard of Jersey Mike's before, let alone know it was a chain.
Typical Ojai gadflys trying to tell everybody else what to do...
keep the lease - dump the franchise agreement.
I too remember this day:
"I remember the day when the city council denied Wendy's a permit to open its doors within the city limits. The Board of Supervisors allowed it in Mira Monte, but Ojai's elected officials were determined to save the quaintness of the Village." - posted by anonymous
When I patronize chain stores I'm happy to do so in Ventura or other larger towns and cities. I'd be happy to try a Jersy Mike's sub sandwich in Thousand Oaks or Ventura. I just don't want to see chain food stores in downtown Ojai. I don't even care if they're in Mira Monte. I'm concerned with preservign our unique downtown.
I don't want to see downtown Ojai turn into a strip of corproate America as has occured in so many downtowns that were once quaint and unique. There are too many towns where all you get is: Starbucks, Jamba Juice, Gap, California Pizza Litchen, Cold Stone Creamery, etc. Where do you think our artist colony culture comes from? Artists aren't inspired or enthused by sterile corporate environments. Let's not let downtown Ojai become a strip mall.
Why can't the wonder of this franchise just open a sandwich sop if that's what he wants to do? Why does it have to be a Jersey Mike's national chain? I'd support it if he lost the franchise agreement.
I don't see anything wrong with opening a franchise restaurant in Ojai. Yes, the profit from food sales goes to Corporate Headquarters but the City of Ojai gets their fees out of it. It willopen up employment opportunities for local Ojaians and fill up a building that is an empty eyesore. That is money that stays in the community. Mom and pop shops have a hard time making it in this town because most residence go to Ventura to meet their needs as I do. Make it more convenient for people to get what they need and people will stay in Ojai.
Remember, if you let one, you let them all...Subway, Taco Bell, McDonald's Wendy's Quizno's, Blockbuster, Rite Aid, Vons...Starbucks?
I love Jersey Mike's. The bbq beef is the bomb. Haven't eaten at the one in Ojai, is it open? Makes me want to drive past the fast foods in Mira Monte to get to the fresh stuff.
Please som't let Ojai turn into another town that looks just like every other town. NO MORE FRANCHISES!
You're all loser hippies. The people that go there aren't the type to sit around and fight against franchises on blogs. The food is dank, and most people hadn't even heard of the franchise. Get over yourselves, losers...Your "mom & pop" fascination only brings more LA trash, and crap like $100,000 crosswalks.
I love shopping in Ojai....the shop owners are nice and helpful and thier products are very unique. My only complaint is that they're more expensive. However this is the same in Santa Barbara. It seems that the "Mom and Pop" shops cater to the tourist who will pay the high prices. Us middle class "Ojains" can't afford our local "Mom & Pop" stores and have to travel out of town............Hey, Jersy Mikes does make great tasting sandwiches.......I hope they stay. I also hope we don't see a "Star Bucks" "Jamba Juice" or another "Cookie Cutter" chain make it into Ojai......for the most part, Ojai is a quaint and charming town.....
While it would take time and money, it would be nice to be able to vote on every franchice that would like to do business in the Ojai city limits.
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