Thursday, February 26, 2009

New Business Alert: Cricket Mobile

A reader sends us this photo showing a new business in the strip mall at Sheridan and Lawrence. Cricket Mobile specializes in low-cost mobile phone service. We just wish they would have taken a bit more time to completely remove the "Beauty Supply" signage that is easily visible. This strip mall could make many low-cost improvements to improve its appearance. Grass or bushes along its fencing and a fresh coat of paint would do a world of wonder.

14 comments:

  1. I agree with you, UU. That whole strip mall could use a little sprucing up.

    I understand the lack of foliage during the winter, but some trees planted during the spring would be beautiful.

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  2. Geez, guys, two words: POWER WASH.

    That bright new Cricket logo looks horrible on top of the grit from the old sign. Ugh.

    It looks from the photo like the store's still under construction, with a building permit in the window. Anyone know when it's set to open?

    And for dog's sake -- POWER WASH the marquee. It looks disgusting.

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  3. Oh good, the dealers can get their "burner" phones easier now.

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  4. Hey, its a new business in an otherwise vacant store... i wish them luck

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  5. Couldn't TIF funds be used to help the store owners freshen up the facade?

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  6. Yo, although you are probably being facetious I think that this strip mall is gerrymandered into Helen's ward but it lies between MA Smith's Lawrence Avenue TIF and the Hollywood TIF that was instituted for the Hellenic seniors home. So, no TIF funds possible for this property! Maybe I am wrong? Anyone else have better info?

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  7. UU, what a great idea to help small businesses and strip malls in the area make some inexpensive improvements to better our 'hood!

    I think schools, nonprofits and neighborhood associations would be a fantastic volunteer base for projects such as this! Planting trees, removing litter and showing all those shoppers and pedestrians that we are serious about eliminating blight and "broken windows" around here!

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  8. Forgive me if I find it a bit comical that everyone is quick to criticize how this property looks when most people don't shovel or pick up the garbage in front of their house. A six unit condo with able bodied people and no one can shovel a 40ft section of sidewalk, c'mon. Maybe it was going to cost an arm and a leg to get the facade repaired, maybe the landlord didn't want them to do it. Some of you are to quick with your criticism.

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  9. Apples and oranges, ihatemondays.

    The facade looks like crap. Whether or not the sidewalks in front our homes are cleared (and I make sure ours are, as well as the next-door neighbors'), it doesn't disguise the fact that the Cricket sign looks like garbage in its present state.

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  10. Who cares what the sign looks like? It seems to be in working condition and poses no safety threat. I'm glad you shovel the snow along with your neighbors, if we had more residents like you the neighborhood would be much cleaner.

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  11. Commercial property managers typically install new signs and will later clean and/or repaint the facade of the building to cover the unsightly "ghosting" effect from the old signs.

    Hopefully they will do that soon at this mall.

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  12. Oh please, you think that in this economic climate the only people ripe for "affordable" mobile phone service are the bad guys? How about cash-strapped students/workers, high-schoolers whose parents would like to purchase a phone for them that won't break the bank, even thrifty career people a/k/a evil condo owners? (That's a JOKE, folks!) Cricket has done a very clever ad campaign on billboards all over the city including the "affluent" neighborhoods. Give 'em a chance!!!

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  13. Gayle is on to something... Cricket really has a great idea. How many times have you heard others - or even yourself - state: "I can't wait until my contract is up so I can ditch my phone and finally dump [insert wretched wireless carrier of choice here]"

    No contracts or cancellation fees with Cricket. They seem to be the most transparent cell phone provider out there right now. Props to them.

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  14. Nothing like buying a cheap ass phone along with a couple of rocks.

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