Open Thread #61
In the words of our dear friend Marilyn Hagerty, "wazzup?"
Monday, January 21, 2008
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Wednesday, January 16, 2008
We need a new bookstore
We're always talking about how we wish Grand Forks had a particular store or restaurant that we're currently lacking. Although a lion's share of the discussion seem to be centered around pining for an Olive Garden or wishing we had a grocery store that stocked high-end or hard to find foods, I see another area where this city is currently lacking. Grand Forks needs a new, big, "real" bookstore.
Yes, I know that we have that great big Barnes & Noble store at University Village. It's a very nice bookstore...a very nice college bookstore. You see, it is actually a Barnes & Noble College Booksellers store, not a real Barnes and Noble location. That's why the store has such limited hours and doesn't stock some of the merchandise that a regular Barnes & Noble would usually stock. So, while a very nice UND bookstore, this is not really the kind of bookstore that adequately serves a community of this size.
There are other bookstore in Grand Forks too. Columbia Mall has two - Walden Books and B. Dalton - however, they are both quite small and only carry a limited selection of books. They also aren't conducive to customers who like to leisurely peruse books and carry on a conversation over lattes. They are both decent "mall bookstores." However, once again, they are not what a community like Grand Forks truly needs.
So, while the UND bookstore and the mall bookstores are all fine stores which serve particular purposes, they are not fulfilling all of this community's needs when it comes to booksellers. That's why I think Grand Forks desperately needs a big, new bookstore to set up shop somewhere in town. This bookstore should have long hours, carry a wide assortment of titles, possibly include a music department, and offer amenities such as a cafe. A logical spot for such a bookstore would be on the south side of town...that way, the store would be all but guaranteed a steady flow of business.
Exactly what store do I have in mind for expansion into Grand Forks? Well, since the current Barnes & Noble in town isn't a "real" Barnes & Noble...would it be out of the question for that chain to open a new bookstore in Grand Forks? If not them, how about a Borders?
Fargo and Bismarck both currently have large Barnes & Noble stores and now Minot is about to get a brand new Barnes & Noble. Why should Grand Forks be left out of the plans? Grand Forks needs a big, new, "real" bookstore that can function as both a place to buy books and as a place to simply spend the evening perusing titles and sipping coffee.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Bob Brooks passes away
Many if you have probably already heard the news. Grand Forks City Council member and East Grand Forks City Administrator Bob Brooks has died unexpectedly. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Sunday, January 13, 2008
The big winners of 2007
The year 2007 was a good year for the Greater Grand Forks business scene. The swarms of Canadians that have routinely been swamping Grand Forks' commercial districts each weekend have pumped new money into the community. On top of this, several new businesses opened their doors this past year.
Interestingly enough, the big success stories in the 2007 Grand Forks business community were not those of corporate giants like Wal-Mart. That having been said, of course the big-box retailers in town not only held their own, but flourished during the past year. However, I would argue that the big success stories of the year came in the form of a long awaited project that has been viewed as an integral part of this city's economic success and in the form of a homegrown entertainment venue that is giving the "big boys" some serious competition and pumping new life into a part of the community that needed it.
Of the new business in town, the Canad Inn certainly is the hardest to ignore. The 13-story tower on 42nd Street has become a visible landmark for the community and the big parking lots surrounding the complex are routinely near capacity. Discussion went on for years concerning whether or not such a complex would be a success. In the end, the Canad Inn has become a huge success story - not only for the company but for the community as well. The flocks of Canadian shoppers that have been coming to Grand Forks have been helping to fill the hotel's rooms. A drive through the parking lot on any given weekend will show that more than half of the cars bear Canadian license plates. So far, the success of the Canad Inn has not spelled doom for existing hotels in town. In fact, a new 100-room hotel is currently being built not very far south of the Canad complex and Canad itself has apparently not even ruled out a second hotel complex in the metropolitan area.
The state of Greater Grand Forks' movie theaters has been a common complaint on this blog. Many readers have complained about what they see as dirty theaters, poor management, and high prices coupled with Carmike Cinema's local monopoly. For those disgruntled moviegoers, their "savior" arrived this year in the form of local businessman Bob Moore and his new River Cinema 12 located in East Grand Forks' Riverwalk Centre. According to virtually anyone you ask the new movie theater has been a resounding success in its first month of operation. Not only is this theater giving new options to residents; it is also pumping money and vibrancy into our metropolitan area's central business district.
In 2007, the "winners" were not the Holiday Inns or Carmike Cinemas of this community. Instead, the real winners were the homegrown businesses such as the Canad Inn and the River Cinema. Many readers of this blog routinely chastise some of us for focusing too much attention on national chains. I'm happy to say that 2007 saw successes in both chains and locally-owned ventures. Let's hope that healthy mix continues in 2008.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
BEST OF GF: Pizza
"BEST OF GF" is returning after being on hiatus. I know you guys love sharing your opinions on things like area restaurants so I think this is a good feature to have on GFL.
I'm asking you, my loyal readers, what Grand Forks establishment serves the best pizza? Vote below and then discuss in the comment section. Have fun!
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
The Current Apartments
Downtown Grand Forks' newest housing project, The Current Apartments, has a new website.
Monday, January 07, 2008
No horseshoe stadium for UND
Forget all of those pretty pictures. Apparently, UND isn't considering building an outdoor, horseshoe-shaped football stadium after all. When I asked JLG Architects - the firm working on the UND athletics master plan - about a specific feature of such a stadium, I was informed that the plan shown above is "an earlier concept that is no longer a part of the plan." So it sounds more like we're talking about a new retractable roof football stadium in UND's future.
I was personally rather fond of the horseshoe plan. I really like the idea of utilizing the existing facade of Memorial Stadium. I'm not sure if the facade would be retained as a part of the indoor plan.
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Say goodbye to Krispy Kreme
The failure of the Fargo Krispy Kreme location now makes it all but certain that we probably won't be seeing a Grand Forks Krispy Kreme. Also, say goodbye to buying Krispy Kreme doughnuts at local gas stations.
Are you sad to see this company pull out of North Dakota? Had you been hoping for a Grand Forks location? Why do you think the Fargo Krispy Kreme couldn't make it work?
For the last couple of years now, the Fargo Krispy Kreme seemed almost deserted when I went to it. There were very few customers inside the building and even fewer in the drive-thru. I wonder if Tim Hortons would consider opening a location in Grand Forks? I would think that there are certainly enough Canadian shoppers in town that would patronize a Tim Hortons.
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