Monday, February 11, 2013

Family Dollar Now Open


The long-empty medical clinic in Weiss Plaza at Lawrence and Sheridan is now a Family Dollar, and it opened this past weekend.  Here's hoping they are better neighbors than the Family Dollar at 4613 N Broadway has been.

25 comments:

  1. Great. Just want this neighborhood needs. Another Dollar Store.

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  2. At least their not a "chain". ;/

    I would think there would be plenty of opportunities for single proprietor second hand stores in the area.

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  3. Hopefully there will be enough of the citizenry of Uptown that will support new businesses that are willing to invest in our community.

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  4. Hooray! Now I don't have to go all the way up to Foster or down to Montrose for basic supplies. If you haven't been in the store, this is less like a "dollar store" and more of a "mini-Target." Stores like this make the neighborhood more livable, and I'm glad to support them.

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  5. A KFC and a dollar store, where's the chintzy pay-per-minute cell phone store to top it all off?!

    This is just becoming embarrassing, Uptown. You deserve better.

    NEXT!

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  6. Jesus, Joseph and Mary- Brian. A storefront that has been vacant for years and years finally gets filled, and there is a complaint? It brings jobs, tax revenue and more eyes on a plaza that has been a safety issue forever... If you can talk Nordstroms or Tiffany's into opening a store on that corner, God Bless. But assuming you cant, just be greatful these empty storefronts are finally filling up...

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  7. SuperHero - Have you seen the people that loiter in front of these stores. I would rather see an empty store front than have a business that doesn't add value to this neighborhood. We need business that will draw people to the Uptown area for the right reasons.

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  8. Sadly, I think I'm on board with some of the other nay-sayers. Just because "a" storefront is filled, doesn't mean "a good" storefront has been filled. I gather then Uptown SuperHero! you would be just as supportive of more liquor stores, nail salons, check cashings, etc filling empty storefronts as community improvements? Didn't think so.

    Not that some of these/those stores are not alright, I just don't generally lump dollar stores into the category of neighborhood improvement development. Regardless, I'm happy to welcome a new neighbor and hope to be out-rightly wrong in my statements!

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  9. Alexander, The Tribune reports today that four in 10 Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, and nearly one in ten say they don't earn enough to pay for essentials.

    The economy is not going so great for 41% of Americans.

    I'm thrilled to see that vacant storefront lit up again - it's been YEARS - and I welcome Family Dollar to the neighborhood, because it's a good store, with good prices.

    And by the way, just because it's called "Family Dollar Store" doesn't mean everything there costs a dollar. You should really check it out. Wear a trench coat and a fedora if you're worried about being spotted there.

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  10. I just noticed there's a Cricket Wireless... I mean all it really needs to be the tackiest strip mall on the North Side is a Currency Exchange. Oh wait, it has that too.

    Congratulations Weiss Plaza!!


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  11. Toucan, I made no qualm with unemployment statistics, nor denied the state of the economy. My statement is the same to you as it was to Uptown SuperHero! If we are talking about positive neighborhood development, this may not be the best.

    I'm actually quite aware that some things there don't cost a dollar, either. I've been there. I've also gone past many neighborhoods which have these stores and unfortunately, the results too often speak for themselves. I suppose because you're in favor of just hiring anyone who is in need of a job, we mine as well lobby for a local strip club and handful of additional liquor stores too, right?

    Again, my statements were made in the interest of what positively contributes to forward Uptown development...not the jobless, can barely afford to get by agenda you somehow plucked out of there. I also welcomed the opportunity to be proven wrong and expressed 'welcome' to a new neighbor, despite some potential misgivings.

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  12. Alexander, a quick economics lesson. If Uptown could and would support more upscale stores, they would build here. It is simple economics. We are not there yet. Until then, I welcome a business that is contributing to the community in both jobs and taxes vs. a vacant store that does more to bring down a neighborhoods intrinsic property values than one that is filled. This aint Lincoln Park...

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  13. Agreed, Uptown SuperHero! Economics lesson not needed though. Clearly the community is able to support some "more ideal" business like Spoil Me Hair Salon, The Reservoir, Shake Rattle & Read, Uptown Bikes, Magnolia Cafe....just to name a few great places which I feel contribute to the community a bit more than a dollar store. So despite the economics, they can build it here...it may be a bigger risk and take more effort than such a store or a KFC or a check cashing place.

    Again, I do welcome our neighbors and once more, hope to be proved wrong.

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  14. After reading this blog for the past few years I've come to the conclusion that many people in this neighborhood will never ever be satisfied.

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  15. @melvin

    Sooo, you're content with a dollar store? a KFC? and Check-into-Cash? a Cricket Wireless?

    This is Chicago, not the South. We deserve a better urban landscape.

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  16. @ Wang Chung

    No I don't mind at all. What exactly is the problem with family dollar? Like a poster previously commented we have 40% of Americans living paycheck to paycheck. And from what I've heard the KFC business is doing rather well. If I expected Christian Louboutin and Barney's around the corner I would move to the gold coast. Period.

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  17. @melvin

    In reference to Alexander's posting Feb, 13 @ 8:36 we need a variety of unique, affordable, yet classy (not klassy)establishments. I’m not going from one extreme to the next here (e.g. Dollar Store --> Louboutin). When I see more of these exceptional businesses open up in the neighborhood I can say I’m proud to live here.

    I’d also like to add DIB to the list.

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  18. I went in this Family Dollar Store the other day and it's awesome. I'm glad to have it in the neighborhood.

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  19. What's wrong with a wide range of retails? There can be upscale places and and then places that are not so pricey. People hanging around certain retail places have nothing to do with the "type" of place, it has everything to do with the owners and managers. Perhaps they don't care about the community, so they don't care about how this looks and how it affects us who lives here. Why would they?when we gripe at each other and not at them. Meanwhile they rake in the money and go home

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  20. The more spaces that are filled, the more profitable the strip mall. Hopefully the added revenue will provide funds for a security guard, an idea which has been floated in the past months by the community and police commander.

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  21. Is there NOTHING people can agree on?

    Look, whether any of you choose to frequent these establishments or not, their success or failure will ultimately be up to the community members who DO shop there.

    I'm just glad to get a KFC back in the area... I wish they had a drive-thru though.

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  22. @wang chung - thank you. Couldn't have said it better myself.

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  23. It seems to me, some people just hate uptown and everything and everyone that's here. It seems uptown has been this way for a very long time. What way? Not lincoln park but not cabrini green. Why come here if you didn't like it and why stay if you don't like it. I'm starting to think people just like to complain on both sides. If something comes here and its not high end one side cries "concentrated poverty". If something comes here and low income is not included in the package one side cries "they are trying to push out the poor". Its quite tiresome. Safe to say, it doesn't matter what happens SOMEBODY will cry foul. Sheesh

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  24. "...but there are always in every community evil-minded persons, to whom nothing seems right except when they can have all their whims and caprices satisfied. There I find are always ready to misrepresent and exaggerate every event, however trifling, that does not in some manner benefit them."

    That little piece of writing is from a telegram sent on September 13, 1865-10 a. m between Major General George Thomas and Andrew Johnson, President of the United States. General Thomas was explaining the state of "reconstruction" in his area of command to the President.

    The context is irrelevant for this discussion, but the sentiment is spot on. There are people out there who don't give a rat's ass about anything, but themselves and their own selfish needs.

    I recall a discussion here years ago regarding the then being built Target. The commenter didn't mind any potential traffic problems caused by the Target because he planned to shop there. He did mind the traffic problems caused on summer weekends by the outside the ward folks who utilized the lakefront parks. He basically wanted to keep them out of the parks because the traffic inconvenienced him.

    Another mope wanted to ban buses parking on Irving Park during Cubs games and suggested we keep those buses out of "our" ward.

    Some people need to focus less on the "me" and more on the greater good. There are plenty of good restaurants around here that I won't frequent because I don't like their cuisine. That doesn't mean I think they should be prohibited from operating.

    I think the whole "tattoo" thang is silly. Tattoos actually offend me, but I don't think the tattoo shop should be closed down because of my own personal bias.

    Oh well back to my caffeine.

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