May 7, 2008

Toss Da Bums Out...

It never seems to amaze me how some people that have the stage to write their opinions without regards to the other folks in town really have no business expressing their views on subjects they have no real knowledge about.

In the latest issue of the Breeze, (May 7, 2008) Mr Sheldon Brown, owner, publisher, and wanna-be writer, let loose with his ill thought out views on the fact that he had noticed "another thrift shop has opened on Main Street. Treasure Chest" he says that in his wizened opinion these people have no business opening a "thrift store" in the "Downtown" area of Ventura. He goes on to say that the "Downtown" area is really not helped with yet another "Thrift Shop."

His elitist contention is that the "low class" folks that shop at the thrift shops do not spend their money by frequenting the restaurants or other shops in the downtown area and worse of all they take up valuable parking space. His brainstorm of an idea is for the folks that own these buildings, spend hundreds of thousands of dollars by cutting off the rear third of their buildings and putting in parking space so that "more desirable" tenants will move in. Mr Brown doesnt seem to take into consideration that when the folks that own these buildings spend hundreds of thousands of dollars revamping the spaces to suit his idea of "more conducive areas" they will of course have to raise the cost of renting these newly renovated buildings in order to recoup their cost. Probably somewhere around the area of $10.00/sq ft or more. So a newly shrunk building would cost the new "conducive" business about $10,000 per month for a 1000 sq ft store. Now I really dont think that the business people of the city of Ventura are ready for rents at $10,000 per month, but then what the hell do I know?

Mr Brown being a recently "new" inhabitant of our city wasnt around when the downtown area was kept vibrant by a plethora of "Thrift Shops". I know for a fact that people would come from Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, and other distant locations just to shop in those "Thrift Shops". They would also spend money on eating, and shopping in other stores in the area. It is really a shame that Mr Brown has such an elitist attitude, It makes me wonder if the folks that advertise in his rag expect only the "well to do" folks will read their ads and frequent their businesss.

Mr Brown would do his self and his rag a real favor if he would restrain from interjecting his truly elitist opinions.

Rellis Smith

rellis39@sbcglobal.net

www.venturastuff.com