LAWRENCE RETAIL
| 2013 Winter | story by EMILY MULLIGAN | photos by STEVEN HERTZOG |

 untitled

Plenty of big issues and changes face local residents these days. From higher education funding in the state to new developments to the east (VenturePark), west (Rock Chalk Park) and downtown (9th and New Hampshire), why should anyone care about retail in Lawrence?

“Retail is one of the pieces of the puzzle that makes a community,” Ernie Cummings, owner of Kizer Cummings Jewelers, said. “People have needs, and retail gives them. The sales tax helps make the government work, and retail adds to the quality of life. If you have retail that is good, with competitively priced merchandise, and people can make the best decisions for their money, then you have a better life in your community.”

Allison Moore, Senior Vice President for Collier’s International, a commercial real estate firm, says that economic developers in Lawrence in particular have learned from the turbulent economy and are working to improve the community in many ways.

“The city recognized, from the downturn we recently had, that revenue comes in all shapes, sizes and forms,” Moore said. “They had been focusing on primary jobs, and now the city is realizing that income tax drivers that provide a sales tax base are just as important to economic development.”

Retail challenges in Lawrence
Now that the economy possibly has turned for the better, local retail experts agree that there are two challenges facing Lawrence retailers. One challenge is universal: the internet; and the other is unique to Lawrence: keeping shoppers in town instead of Kansas City or Topeka.

It has been more than a decade since it became evident that the internet would forever change shopping and retail. Internet behemoth general merchandiser Amazon.com is but one website that competes with all of the local brick-and mortar options. Local retailers and experts are continually developing strategies to keep purchases local – after all, online purchases do not generate sales tax revenue.

“Many local retailers have found a way to make the Internet work for them, such as Jim Bateman at Yarn Barn, who does a large mail-order business in the back half of his store,” Sally Zogry, director of Downtown Lawrence, Inc., said.

Francis Sporting Goods has just begun to develop its online business in the past 2 years, said owner John Francis, and “people all across the U.S. are ordering from us.”

Although online shopping has its advantages, local retailers say that time already has shown us that it will not supplant brick-and-mortar stores altogether.

 untitled “If you can’t pick it up, touch it, see it and see what size it is, it’s just not the same. People will go online and look, then go to the store to compare,” said Doug Brown, commercial realtor with McGrew Real Estate.
Cummings said that his customers often rely on the Kizer Cummings staff to help them sift through all of their options.

“The internet drives an amazing amount of information, and customers are so informed anymore. We have to distill it and work through it and personalize it for them,” Cummings said.
Many local retailers have chosen to fight fire with fire – or technology with technology.

“We use Twitter, Facebook and e-mail, and it’s big for us; we get results,” said Sue Shea of the Phoenix Gallery.

Downtown clothing store Fortuity recently revamped its website and offered online-only promotions to its Facebook friends, Twitter followers and even in-store shoppers, with the goal of directing more traffic to both Fortuity’s expanded web presence and its brick-and-mortar store.

Leaving Lawrence to Shop
While the online shoppers continue to pose a threat to local stores, there is one other technology that Lawrence retailers must compete with: the car.

With the continued development of newer retail locations such as the Legends in Kansas City, Ks, more and more residents are hopping on the turnpike and heading to Kansas City and Topeka to do their shopping. And since many residents work out of town to begin with, it is difficult to keep people shopping where they live.

“I think we’ve lost so much to the Legends over the last six to eight years. You don’t have to go to Overland Park anymore – they can drive 15 minutes and have all this retail at their feet. If we can grab some of that back, it would be tremendous,” Brown said.

Many residents have raised an outcry about the “big box” development on South Iowa Street in the past decade hurting local retail, but, on the contrary, those stores are as vital – if not more so – to keeping shopping dollars local. If Lawrence didn’t have big box stores like Best Buy, Home Depot and Kohl’s, local residents would drive elsewhere to find them.

“We need to have those opportunities here so our residents are spending their money in our marketplace instead of somewhere else,” Moore said. “I maintain that keeping every dollar spent here that we can is a good thing.”

The Chamber of Commerce and the city have been tracking Lawrence’s retail “leakage” for decades, and local experts say it comes back to giving residents the options they want – from the big box to the specialty retailer.

“The reason people are going other places to shop: first, it’s natural to think other places are better, and second, they think they’ll have more selection,” Cummings said. “To compete, you just have to do the best job you can and be really aware of what your customers want.”

Brown closed the deal that brought Target to Lawrence in 1994. At the time, he said, many in town were asking why Lawrence needed the store. It was a “category killer,” meaning that it had merchandise that competed with many categories of stores Lawrence already had, such as clothing and hardware.

“It happened, Target came here, and the sky didn’t fall. We survived,” Brown said. “From that, now you have a whole area south of 31st Street that has become attractive to retailers.”

Downtown
Although the shopping on South Iowa Street appeals to residents and retailers alike, all the local retail experts agree that downtown is what makes Lawrence, well, Lawrence.

“I don’t believe downtown draws only from Lawrence, but it draws people from everywhere,” Shea said. “Wherever they go in Lawrence, they end up downtown. There are vibrant downtowns in other places, but you won’t find a better mix than here.”

Zogry said that downtown business owners are plugged in to events happening in town year-round, noting that even if people aren’t shopping that day, the event brings valuable feet and eyes to their stores.

untitled
“Downtown is a constant evolution,” Cummings said. “It creates businesses that you can’t really duplicate anywhere else. We need to also find retail that is interesting enough that we can draw people here to shop.”

Downtown will be changing even more in the next couple of years, with the new hotel development being built at 9th and New Hampshire, in addition to the new housing and retail space that opened at the same intersection in 2011. Other potential plans call for redevelopment at 11th and Mass.

“The city is walking the walk of maintaining downtown, making large commitments to downtown’s success, with the library upgrade, and new hotel and multiuse space,” Moore said. “It has increased to a 24/7 place down there. Let’s don’t be afraid that we’re going to become a bar district – that always balances itself out. If you make it a good place to do business, that will lead to diversity.”

However, the appeal of downtown can be a double-edged sword to regional and national retailers looking to locate in Lawrence.

“I recently made a deal on space in downtown Lawrence. The tenant was surprised to find this nice of space available in downtown, so they felt lucky,” Brown said. “On the flip side, if there hadn’t been space, that tenant may have gotten frustrated and given up on Lawrence.”

Retail Development From Here on Out
Brown said that there wasn’t a way to create the Mass. Street. corridor in any other place in town. So that is why retailers have looked to South Iowa Street – and to other locations that planners had not previously considered for retail.

“It has been a perception that if we say ‘no’ to one retailer in one area, they will naturally want to be somewhere else in town. You don’t tell retailers where they want to go: retailers tell you,” Brown said.

Moore agrees that retail development from now on may not be able to be as closely controlled by city planners as the Horizon 2020 has dictated up to now. She says that Lawrence needs more highly visible retail sites in a prime retail corridor. There are no spaces available on South Iowa Street – the only spaces are the buildings in front of Best Buy and Home Depot that lack visibility and, hence, traffic.

“Retailers only want to be in a proven viable location,” Moore said. “That could mean an infill project, looking at sites that could be developed, or zoned industrial that’s vacant. We need to listen to the possibilities. We’re the experts of Lawrence, but the retailers are the experts of how developments become successful.”

Moore and Brown both point to the recent Menards controversy as an illustration of a retailer wanting to be in a certain location where the city had not planned to develop retail. The Menards will be built on 31st Street, near Home Depot, on a site that was previously a mobile home park.

“We need to have community leaders be more open-minded on the front end of the conversation [with developers]to see if those things are a good fit for us,” Moore said. “We have to be nimble enough to change based on demand and the culture, and keep the big picture of what’s good for the community.”

Brown said that just because the city is developing places like Rock Chalk Park and VenturePark, which have main uses other than retail, doesn’t mean that retailers will be lining up at the opportunity to be near those locations.

“National retailers don’t like to be pioneers,” Moore said. “If it’s their first time in Lawrence, they like to know several people coming with them, other retailers. That’s why South Iowa is so popular: You don’t want to go to a party and nobody’s there; you want to have a good time with people like you.”

Coming Soon?
Why does Lawrence need even more retail space? The city does not yet have every category of retail that it could, Brown said. Beginning with Dick’s Sporting Goods, which will be the first big box in its category when it comes next year, Brown sees the potential for some new types of retailers on the horizon.

“Lawrence will probably see a club membership store, like Sam’s or Costco, in the future. We have been a target for that for a while, but it hasn’t been the right time,” he said.

Lawrence also will see the continued expansion of discount stores of certain categories – such as Ross Dress for Less for clothing, which opened last year near another discount store, Famous Footwear.

“Because of the economic downturn, those discount players thrived with their reputation for providing value. We now are going to see more of those players here, possibly coming together all at once,” he said.

Brown thinks there will be more national retailers of all kinds, including expanding some of the categories Lawrence does have. The Merc and Natural Grocers are both considered health food stores, but Brown says they might not be enough to keep others from entering the market.
“That health-food store trend is going to continue – I don’t see that going away anytime soon,” he said.

If all retailers – local, national and regional – in Lawrence can begin find answers to the challenges of the internet and the out-of-town shoppers, which many feel like they have begun to do, then the future of retail of Lawrence has no limits. ■

Share.

339 Comments

  1. I have been exploring for a little for any high-quality articles or weblog posts on this sort of area . Exploring in Yahoo I finally stumbled upon this site. Reading this information So i am happy to convey that I have a very excellent uncanny feeling I found out exactly what I needed. I most certainly will make certain to do not overlook this web site and provides it a look regularly.|

  2. I’ve been browsing on-line more than three hours lately, yet I by no means discovered any fascinating article like yours. It is lovely value sufficient for me. Personally, if all website owners and bloggers made good content as you probably did, the web might be much more useful than ever before.

  3. The following time I read a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as a lot as this one. I imply, I do know it was my option to read, however I really thought youd have something interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about one thing that you can fix if you werent too busy looking for attention.

  4. Aw, this was a very good post. Taking the time and actual effort to produce a superb article… but what can I say… I hesitate a whole lot and never manage to get anything done.|

  5. Howdy! Would you mind if I share your blog with my facebook group? There’s a lot of people that I think would really appreciate your content. Please let me know. Thanks|

  6. David and Jonathon are depicted saying their final goodbyes on earth, and above them there is a sower in a field, a sheepfold with 2 shepherds, and within the small home windows there’s a tree with an inscription in Latin that means- after winter flows summer season.

  7. Yesterday, while I was at work, my cousin stole my iPad and tested to see if it can survive a thirty foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My iPad is now broken and she has 83 views. I know this is entirely off topic but I had to share it with someone!

  8. Fantastic goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous to and you are just extremely excellent. I really like what you’ve acquired here, certainly like what you’re saying and the way in which you say it. You make it enjoyable and you still take care of to keep it smart. I can not wait to read far more from you. This is really a terrific site.|

  9. I’m impressed, I must say. Seldom do I encounter a blog that’s both equally educative and interesting, and without a doubt, you’ve hit the nail on the head. The issue is something too few men and women are speaking intelligently about. Now i’m very happy I came across this during my hunt for something relating to this.

  10. Thanks for your short article. I would love to say that your health insurance brokerage also works for the benefit of the actual coordinators of the group insurance coverage. The health insurance professional is given a summary of benefits needed by an individual or a group coordinator. What any broker can is search for individuals or even coordinators which will best fit those requirements. Then he offers his advice and if each party agree, the broker formulates a binding agreement between the two parties.

  11. Thanks for your post made here. One thing I would really like to say is that often most professional areas consider the Bachelors Degree just as the entry level standard for an online course. Whilst Associate Certifications are a great way to start, completing your own Bachelors opens up many good opportunities to various professions, there are numerous online Bachelor Course Programs available coming from institutions like The University of Phoenix, Intercontinental University Online and Kaplan. Another issue is that many brick and mortar institutions give Online editions of their certifications but often for a extensively higher charge than the organizations that specialize in online degree plans.

  12. I just couldn’t leave your site before suggesting that I really loved the standard information an individual provide for your visitors? Is gonna be back steadily to inspect new posts|

  13. We’ve the marriage decorator who patiently listens to your wants and even give strategies; they’re highly professional and skilled with the intention to take pleasure in your wedding trouble-free.

  14. Aw, this was an incredibly good post. Taking a few minutes and actual effort to create a great article… but what can I say… I put things off a lot and don’t manage to get anything done.

  15. After I initially left a comment I seem to have clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and from now on whenever a comment is added I receive 4 emails with the exact same comment. Perhaps there is a means you are able to remove me from that service? Appreciate it!

  16. Heya just wanted to give you a brief heads up and let you know a few of the images aren’t loading properly. I’m not sure why but I think its a linking issue. I’ve tried it in two different internet browsers and both show the same results.|

  17. Howdy outstanding website! Does running a blog similar to this take a lot of work? I have absolutely no understanding of coding however I had been hoping to start my own blog soon. Anyway, should you have any ideas or tips for new blog owners please share. I know this is off topic however I simply had to ask. Appreciate it!|

  18. I am curious to find out what blog platform you’re using? I’m having some small security problems with my latest website and I’d like to find something more secure. Do you have any solutions?|

  19. Have you ever considered publishing an e-book or guest authoring on other blogs? I have a blog based upon on the same topics you discuss and would love to have you share some stories/information. I know my visitors would value your work. If you are even remotely interested, feel free to shoot me an e-mail.

  20. If your home is where the pleasures of the erotic massage will be enjoyed then the person giving you the massage should make the decision where
    they can insure you are totally relaxed and also choose a place where no one can interrupt either
    one of.

  21. Hello exceptional website! Does running a blog like this require a massive amount work? I’ve absolutely no knowledge of programming however I had been hoping to start my own blog in the near future. Anyways, should you have any ideas or tips for new blog owners please share. I understand this is off topic but I simply had to ask. Kudos!|

  22. Thanks a lot for sharing this with all folks you really know what you’re speaking approximately! Bookmarked. Please also visit my web site =). We could have a hyperlink change arrangement among us|

  23. I’ve been exploring for a bit for any high quality articles or blog posts on this kind of area . Exploring in Yahoo I eventually stumbled upon this website. Reading this information So i am satisfied to express that I have an incredibly good uncanny feeling I came upon exactly what I needed. I most no doubt will make sure to don?t fail to remember this website and provides it a glance regularly.|

  24. The very next time I read a blog, Hopefully it doesn’t disappoint me as much as this particular one. I mean, Yes, it was my choice to read, but I genuinely believed you’d have something helpful to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you can fix if you were not too busy looking for attention.

  25. With havin so much written content do you ever run into any problems of plagorism or copyright violation? My blog has a lot of unique content I’ve either authored myself or outsourced but it appears a lot of it is popping it up all over the internet without my authorization. Do you know any techniques to help protect against content from being ripped off? I’d certainly appreciate it.

  26. Fantastic website you have here but I was curious if you knew of any user discussion forums that cover the same topics discussed here? I’d really love to be a part of online community where I can get responses from other experienced individuals that share the same interest. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Bless you!

  27. Usually I do not read article on blogs, however I would like to say that this write-up very compelled me to take a look at and do so! Your writing taste has been surprised me. Thanks, quite nice article.

  28. Today, I went to the beach with my children. I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She put the shell to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear. She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is entirely off topic but I had to tell someone!|

  29. Great goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous to and you’re just too fantastic. I actually like what you have acquired here, really like what you’re saying and the way in which you say it. You make it enjoyable and you still care for to keep it wise. I can’t wait to read much more from you. This is actually a terrific site.

  30. Hi there! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any issues with hackers? My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing many months of hard work due to no backup. Do you have any solutions to stop hackers?

  31. After study a few of the weblog posts in your web site now, and I really like your manner of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark web site listing and will probably be checking back soon. Pls take a look at my site as nicely and let me know what you think.

  32. I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you make this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you? Plz answer back as I’m looking to construct my own blog and would like to find out where u got this from. appreciate it|

  33. Hey very cool blog!! Man .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your website and take the feeds additionally? I’m glad to find so many helpful info right here in the publish, we’d like work out extra techniques in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .|

  34. Hi there, this weekend is good for me, because this occasion i am reading this enormous informative piece of writing here at my residence.|

  35. Howdy! This article could not be written much better! Reading through this article reminds me of my previous roommate! He continually kept preaching about this. I am going to forward this information to him. Fairly certain he’s going to have a very good read. Thanks for sharing!

  36. Greetings! Very useful advice in this particular article! It is the little changes that will make the greatest changes. Thanks a lot for sharing!

  37. One other issue is that if you are in a situation where you do not have a co-signer then you may really need to try to make use of all of your money for college options. You can find many grants and other grants that will provide you with funding to assist with classes expenses. Thx for the post.

  38. Therefore it is value dwelling on for just a few moments to achieve a perspective on the reductionist methodology which is implicated in both determinism and the brain-as-laptop suggestion.

  39. Good post. I learn something totally new and challenging on blogs I stumbleupon everyday. It will always be exciting to read content from other writers and practice something from their web sites.

  40. I think this is among the most significant info for me. And i am glad reading your article. But wanna remark on few general things, The site style is ideal, the articles is really great : D. Good job, cheers

  41. The following time I learn a weblog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as a lot as this one. I mean, I do know it was my option to learn, but I actually thought youd have something interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about one thing that you could fix for those who werent too busy on the lookout for attention.

  42. In January 2014, previous to the conclusion of his contract with Barcelona, Valdés signed a pre-contract settlement to hitch Ligue 1 side Monaco at the tip of the season; nonetheless, Valdés’ harm led to Monaco pulling out of the agreement.

  43. The surprise of the tournament was the untitled Brazilian Jaime Sunye Neto, who was among the many leaders throughout the mid-stage of the tournament earlier than three consecutive losses wrecked his possibilities of qualifying.

  44. Hi, I do think this is a great website. I stumbledupon it 😉 I’m going to revisit yet again since i have saved as a favorite it. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and continue to help others.

  45. After exploring a handful of the blog articles on your site, I truly appreciate your way of writing a blog. I book marked it to my bookmark site list and will be checking back in the near future. Please visit my web site too and tell me how you feel.

  46. One thing is that one of the most typical incentives for applying your credit cards is a cash-back and also rebate supply. Generally, you’ll have access to 1-5 back upon various acquisitions. Depending on the cards, you may get 1 in return on most expenses, and 5 back on purchases made going to convenience stores, gas stations, grocery stores and ‘member merchants’.

  47. Typically this was because finding individuals who have been there was sophisticated for each architectural and UI design causes; generally it was because the people they wanted to cling out with simply weren’t on Mastodon, and weren’t going to be.

  48. Pretty section of content. I just stumbled upon your blog and in accession capital to assert that I acquire actually enjoyed account your blog posts. Anyway I?ll be subscribing to your feeds and even I achievement you access consistently fast.

  49. When I initially commented I appear to have clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now each time a comment is added I receive 4 emails with the same comment. There has to be an easy method you can remove me from that service? Thank you.

  50. I seriously love your blog.. Very nice colors & theme. Did you make this site yourself? Please reply back as I’m planning to create my very own website and would love to know where you got this from or exactly what the theme is named. Thank you.

  51. Many thanks to you for sharing these wonderful articles. In addition, the best travel along with medical insurance approach can often eradicate those considerations that come with journeying abroad. A medical crisis can in the near future become costly and that’s absolute to quickly impose a financial problem on the family’s finances. Putting in place the ideal travel insurance offer prior to leaving is definitely worth the time and effort. Cheers

  52. It’s my opinion that a foreclosed can have a major effect on the applicant’s life. Home foreclosures can have a 8 to decade negative influence on a client’s credit report. Any borrower who may have applied for a mortgage or virtually any loans for instance, knows that the actual worse credit rating is usually, the more hard it is to get a decent mortgage. In addition, it could possibly affect any borrower’s ability to find a respectable place to lease or hire, if that gets the alternative property solution. Good blog post.

  53. Thanks for the tips on credit repair on this particular web-site. The thing I would advice people is to give up the particular mentality that they can buy right now and pay back later. As being a society we tend to do that for many things. This includes getaways, furniture, in addition to items we wish. However, you’ll want to separate your current wants from all the needs. If you are working to improve your credit rating score actually you need some sacrifices. For example you may shop online to save money or you can click on second hand outlets instead of high priced department stores to get clothing.

  54. Greetings, I do think your website may be having internet browser compatibility problems. Whenever I take a look at your web site in Safari, it looks fine however when opening in Internet Explorer, it’s got some overlapping issues. I just wanted to provide you with a quick heads up! Other than that, excellent blog!

  55. After looking at a number of the blog posts on your site, I seriously appreciate your technique of blogging. I saved as a favorite it to my bookmark website list and will be checking back in the near future. Please check out my website as well and let me know your opinion.|

  56. Wow, this article is mind-blowing! The author has done a phenomenal job of conveying the information in an captivating and educational manner. I can’t thank her enough for sharing such priceless insights that have undoubtedly enlightened my knowledge in this topic. Kudos to him for creating such a masterpiece!

  57. Hey there! This is kind of off topic but I need some help from an established blog. Is it tough to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty fast. I’m thinking about creating my own but I’m not sure where to begin. Do you have any tips or suggestions? With thanks|

  58. Thanks for the suggestions shared on the blog. Something also important I would like to express is that weight reduction is not about going on a dietary fad and trying to shed as much weight as possible in a few months. The most effective way to shed pounds is by acquiring it slowly but surely and right after some basic recommendations which can assist you to make the most from a attempt to drop some weight. You may know and already be following some tips, however reinforcing information never affects.

  59. I’m amazed, I must say. Rarely do I encounter a blog that’s both equally educative and interesting, and without a doubt, you’ve hit the nail on the head. The issue is something that not enough folks are speaking intelligently about. Now i’m very happy I found this in my hunt for something regarding this.

  60. You’ve made some good points there. I checked on the net for more info about the issue and found most individuals will go along with your views on this website.

  61. I just could not depart your web site before suggesting that I actually enjoyed the standard information a person provide for your visitors? Is gonna be back often to check up on new posts

  62. The Trailer Tow Group package deal consists of some helpful features such as a category IV hitch, a trailer brake controller, a trailer light examine feature, and trailer reverse steering management, as well as trailer TPMS.

  63. Hello There. I found your blog using msn. This is an extremely well written article. I?ll make sure to bookmark it and return to read more of your useful info. Thanks for the post. I?ll certainly comeback.

  64. Great ? I should definitely pronounce, impressed with your site. I had no trouble navigating through all tabs as well as related info ended up being truly simple to do to access. I recently found what I hoped for before you know it in the least. Reasonably unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for those who add forums or something, site theme . a tones way for your customer to communicate. Excellent task..

  65. I must applaud your talent for simplifying complex topics. Your ability to convey intricate ideas in such a relatable manner is admirable. You’ve made learning enjoyable and accessible for many, and I deeply appreciate that.

  66. Very interesting topic, appreciate it for putting up. “Integrate what you believe into every single area of your life.” by Meryl Streep.

  67. He can merely scale off as many contracts as he must lock in profit, while sustaining his worthwhile position, however what can the small managed futures account do for scaling out if he only has on one contract in the primary place!

  68. you are in point of fact a good webmaster. The website loading velocity is incredible. It kind of feels that you’re doing any unique trick. Furthermore, The contents are masterwork. you’ve done a wonderful job on this matter!

  69. An impressive share! I have just forwarded this onto a co-worker who has been conducting a little homework on this. And he in fact bought me lunch simply because I found it for him… lol. So let me reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!! But yeah, thanx for spending the time to discuss this matter here on your blog.

Leave A Reply

Contact to Listing Owner

Captcha Code