tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post2368370167674955765..comments2023-10-17T22:56:42.784-04:00Comments on Only in The Republic of Amherst: Can You Hear Us Now?Larry Kelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-27897318635432905122013-11-11T09:58:27.770-05:002013-11-11T09:58:27.770-05:00Anon 7:03 is correct. Unless they think the Retrea...Anon 7:03 is correct. Unless they think the Retreat traffic will support the location. <br />Maybe a new Bar, Dunkin Donuts and 7-11 will pop up as well. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-12950601092345132032013-11-11T09:53:50.152-05:002013-11-11T09:53:50.152-05:00That's funny, because I think Atkins should st...That's funny, because I think Atkins should start a petition for Cinda to building a housing development for students in S. Amherst.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-20952404243522757262013-11-11T08:02:33.117-05:002013-11-11T08:02:33.117-05:00I remember Atkins ill-fated store in Belchertown. ...I remember Atkins ill-fated store in Belchertown. 'Nuff said.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-39926513722243579752013-11-11T07:03:21.294-05:002013-11-11T07:03:21.294-05:00Yep, let's encourage Atkins to make the same m...Yep, let's encourage Atkins to make the same mistake Louis' Fine Foods did because Louis' is doing ever so nicely right now...,.<br /><br />What people need to realize is that Atkin's has a niche market -- think in terms of "carrying capacity of the ecosystem." There is a finite amount of business for them as their market is quite narrow with places like Whole Foods & Trader Joe's on one side and the budget-conscious consumer on the other and the reality is that this market demographic is <b><i>shrinking</i></b>.<br /><br />It ain't the '80's anymore...<br /><br />UM Professors don't live in Amherst anymore - they live in places like Conway, Colrain & Concord. Amherst is no longer a community with a high discretionary income -- the cost to live in Amherst has gone way up from what it was in the '80s while the the number of people moving up the income ladder has dramatically declined.<br /><br />Assuming for the sake of argument that there are 10,000 UM students living in North Amherst, it isn't like it was 30 years ago -- three dramatic differences. First, as both UM & housing costs have dramatically outpaced inflation over the three decades, most can't afford Atkins. Of those who can, most will go with Whole Foods because they aren't psychologically tied to the local area. <br /><br />And this goes to the third thing that Atkins -- or any local merchant -- has to deal with: UM students no longer are no longer psychologically living in Amherst. In part it is the internet, in part it is that they now drive home more often, and in part it is that the townies mske them feel unwelcome -- but it isn't like it was in the '70's & '80's.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-12695750222448003512013-11-11T06:41:21.845-05:002013-11-11T06:41:21.845-05:00Dunkin Donuts and Subway do not have anything near...Dunkin Donuts and Subway do not have anything near the overhead of an Atkins. An Atkins must stock many hundreds of fresh perishable items. If they were similar we would see Atkins popping up all over. Why doesn't Watroba's just follow the Atkin's model if it is so perfect?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-49863360700035491032013-11-10T15:22:09.180-05:002013-11-10T15:22:09.180-05:00Feel free to found one. I'm sure Cinda would ...Feel free to found one. I'm sure Cinda would be happy to rent to you.Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-29505213346900876902013-11-10T15:03:02.801-05:002013-11-10T15:03:02.801-05:00wish instead a co-op like the one in Brattleboro c...wish instead a co-op like the one in Brattleboro could happen. A model for mixed use building.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-45465592760702899442013-11-10T14:38:49.270-05:002013-11-10T14:38:49.270-05:0025,000 commuters drive through North Amherst from ...25,000 commuters drive through North Amherst from the hill towns every day and have no place to stop for diverse fine groceries. 10,000 plus UMass kids live north of town. These people don't often, or ever, get to Atkins south. This is a great opportunity for Atkins and North Amherst. Thanks for considering it , Pauline!Cindanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-36050934313028805192013-11-10T14:14:35.260-05:002013-11-10T14:14:35.260-05:00You couldn't get any farther away without leav...You couldn't get any farther away without leaving Amherst. I would guess a minimum of 15 minutes from their store in South Amherst out to North Amherst. <br /><br />Look how many Dunkin Donuts and Subways there are within 15 minutes drive of each other.Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-6057282884176225342013-11-10T14:06:15.982-05:002013-11-10T14:06:15.982-05:00Wouldn't a new location so close to the existi...Wouldn't a new location so close to the existing store just take customers away from the S. Amherst location? Honestly I saw the petition and thought that people will just sign anything. I mean to actually attract customers they would have to stock the same quality and variety as their other location, and in a town of this size, where would all the new customers come from? Especially considering all the dough they have just put into expanding their store, I do not see this happening.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-39816139103595530092013-11-10T12:08:48.893-05:002013-11-10T12:08:48.893-05:00Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-10195407485666890082013-11-10T12:05:28.476-05:002013-11-10T12:05:28.476-05:00Please distinguish:
1) a person
2) a person'...Please distinguish:<br /><br />1) a person<br /><br />2) a person's ideas<br /><br />I tend to believe all people, like Cinda (and even Larry!) are good. <br /><br />And sometimes their ideas are good (like Cinda's for Atkins' North). <br /><br />But sometimes their ideas are not so good - i.e. bad - like The Retreat (at least in its current form).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com