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Special report: Downtown Longview merchants speak out about problems, opportunities

Friday, April 11, 2008 3:13 PM PDT

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A report presented at Thursday night’s Longview City Council meeting by business builder Hank Sowerwine reveals that most of downtown businesses last year met or exceeded 2006’s sales, and expect to do at least as well this year. However, most merchants also said they don’t plan to hire any new employees.

These findings were part of a “business sentiment and opinions survey” of 33 downtown merchants that ended Feb. 29. The survey generated comments ranging from minor gripes to what most business owners saw as the major problems facing downtown.

What follows is the entire report Sowerwine presented to the council.

Updated on April 10, 2008

Downtown Longview, 2008 Business Sentiment and Opinions survey, which ended on February 29th.

In order to measure the pulse and tenor of our downtown’s businesses, the following survey developed and solicited by direct physical delivery, as well as via an Internet ‘monkey survey’ to all of the businesses in the Downtown Longview D.C. zone.

There were 11 questions, 7 multiple choice and 4 for written responses. Each is completely tabulated below and not edited except for spelling. A total of 33 businesses responded (surprisingly high number perhaps?) of which, 21 were from the Internet link and 12 hard copies collected from drop boxes at 10 various business locations. A few respondents skipped some answers, so not all questions have 33 data points.

The Results:

Question #1: How did your sales for 2007 compare to 2006?

A. exceeded - 17 - 58%

B. same as - 6 - 21%

C. fell short - 6 - 21%

Question #2: How do you expect 2008’s sales will compare to 2007?

A. exceed - 15 - 54%

B. same as - 11 - 39%

C. fall shor - 2 - 7%

Question #3: Do you anticipate hiring any additional employees during 2008?

A. yes - 8 - 28%

B. no - 20 - 72%

Question #4: How do you feel about the level of crime and safety in the downtown area?

A. safer - 6 - 19%

B. less safe - 6 - 19%

C. the same - 20 - 62%

Question #5: If you were to receive an unexpected financial windfall of $50,000, what would you do with the money?

A. Spend it - 1 - 3%

B. Save or invest - 12 - 38%

C. Invest in business - 1 - 53%

D. Othe - 2 - 6% Invest in beautification / streetscape.

Question #6: How do you feel about the following statement? ‘Downtowns are the heart and soul of the community and reflect how people feel about the place in which they live.’

A. agree - 23 - 72%

B. disagree - 9 - 28%

Question #7: ‘Economic Leakage’ is defined as consumer spending made outside of the community in which they live. This leakage causes loss of employment opportunities and reduced overall economic diversity. What suggestion(s) would you make to encourage more of those dollars to be spent locally?

1. We need more advertisement for downtown shopping and encourage this city to help keep downtown more clean like it used to be. Maybe some businesses can do like the Father’s House did and do a face lift to the downtown community. I remember when I was young how fun it was to come downtown with my mother while she got her hair done. I got to go to the movies and shop at Sears. We need more safety and family fun down here and a clean environment like it used to be.

2. Some of the items we need are not available here, i.e. professional clothing.

3. Unique buying experiences not generally available in malls, etc.

4. To a degree ... any non-locally owned business is economic leakage unless it draws spenders from other areas. Any help the locals can get to; reduce operating costs, eliminate taxes that contribute to discontent (even if they increase in legitimate areas), do improvements, train ourselves and employees, keep the streets and sidewalks clean, eliminating a particular drug house ... all contribute to improved customer experiences.

5.Be open later. People can’t shop when they are working. Be open when working people are off work. Don’t demand that people buy locally, but as them to give you a chance and then act like you want their business.

6. Determine what products are being purchased and then determine how to make local purchases more attractive. I am not sure what you can do about Internet sales and purchases ‘across the river’. But I understand Elams’ will take the sales tax off the purchase price on some of all items. Why don’t they advertise this fact? I understand they have more latitude to do this since they have high ticket and higher markup merchandise — but can other merchants do the same thing?

7. To make our businesses in Longview more appealing and want to make the consumer feel that they are more important to us than if they were to leave town to spend their money.

8. The downtown Longview parking problem is one of the biggest drawbacks to shopping downtown. Maybe a large multi story-parking garage with a reasonable parking rate with inside advertisement (so it’s not visible from street) at a not so reasonable rate might help this problem.

9. From a practical perspective, there is no good answer to this question. Consumers’ want: variety and selection, competitive pricing, and convenience. Retail business is brutal, and most downtown businesses are much too small to offer a wide variety of goods because the cost of holding inventory is so high. A local business also cannot compete in regard to price with a large retailer or ‘big box’ store in the long-term — that is not to say the larger retailer won’t under price themselves into bankruptcy, but they will still offer considerably lower prices to the consumer than a local business ‘running on a shoestring’. Last, and perhaps most importantly, convenience: most downtown retail businesses are NOT open after 5–6 p.m. In our society, who (.. with disposable income) really has the time to do ‘significant’ shopping before 6 p.m.? Nobody does, because everyone is working. When they do shop, they will go somewhere that they can accomplish most or all of their shopping needs (e.g. large malls or retailers that offer ‘all-in-one’ shopping such as Fred Meyer or Target).

10. Improve/invest in the downtown area. Lots of people go out of the area because non-profit organizations, dollar stores, pawnshops, casinos and buildings with a significant amount of deferred maintenance dominate our downtown. Lots of people are going to the Pearl District in Portland because of the investment that has been made there and the variety of shops, restaurant and entertainment that is available.

11. Don’t know enough about economics to comment. I think we need to define Longview as a community. Is it artsy? Is it family oriented? I’ve learned through my own business that it is difficult to be all things to all people. The business ‘look’ becomes diluted. Maybe if we focused on one thing and only that one thing, the other businesses will benefit. So far, the car shows have been a huge draw. I would really like to see weekly evening car events (the same one ... all specialty cars are invited). Block off streets at NIGHT. Street Fair booths, the whole nine yards. This will not interfere with other markets. It will not interfere with daytime business (no one will be upset about any streets being blocked off). Parking will be easier because many businesses (banks, etc) will not be open.

12. Many local businesses seem to be blind to the fact that consumers are willing to drive to Portland to safe money. Not only are prices better, there is also the sales tax savings. Local businesses need to compete with that as well as the BIG BOX stores in town. If the business can’t beat the prices then they need to provide better service. As business people, we need to go above and beyond to please our customers… otherwise they will go elsewhere.

13. In my opinion, we’re missing on the major retailers (Old Navy, GAP just to name a few. In my opinion, I believe that if they were encouraged to open up shop in Longview/Kelso area, it would help keep more people locally. I realize those major retailers take their money outside of our local economy, but keeping the shoppers in our area instead of traveling to Vancouver or Portland is a good thing because they will inherently spend money on local business too because they are here and not there.

14. Better marketing of local community assets and benefits of buying local. 2. Good News and Pride promotion to improve local commitment to the local economy that can lead to more reinvestment. 3. Enhance pedestrian access and traffic flow and/or enhance public transportation to move the young people and students as well as the community at large around the community for entertainment and shopping.

15. We need some diversity ... Shopping, dining, lunching, services… sot so much repetition of already present businesses.

16. Major store downtown or known small business.

17. Oregon sales tax or No Washington sales tax

18. Encourage efforts to buy local in Longview/Kelso. Cannot compete with Oregon where there is no sales tax. People have the Costco mentality and want to buy in bulk to acquire a good price. Compounding the issue is the proximity of Longview to Vancouver/Portland where people will shop. The distance is not a price-determining factor. The shopping experience provides variety.

19. People don’t shop locally because the shops they ‘do’ shop at are not local ... (not speaking just about downtown). If store such as IKEA, Borders, Old Navy were here, people would shop here. They aren’t and so people shop elsewhere.

20. More unrestricted parking (no hourly checks & fines) — only removal of vehicles left overnight after all day notice. The current policy drives away business & amplifies ill will towards Longview.

21. Clean up front of buildings downtown. Remodel front & insides of buildings downtown. Upgrade storefronts & signage. Cleaner, trendier look.

22. Spiff up storefronts, and offer better customer service.

23. Tough question. We are a unique area with tax-free shopping down the road. Very hard to compete with that. People are willing to take the drive to save the money.

24. Find ways to make the ‘downtown area’ more attractive for a diverse range of businesses. Clean up the alleys and parking lots. Have more parking available for owners & employees / get out of the ‘2 hour tag’ games.

25. Make the community more desirable to work and shop in.

26. Try to develop community pride & advantage of ‘shopping locally’. Diversify shopping opportunities. Make parking more shopping friendly, such as changing 12th and 14th from 2 hours to 4 hours.

Question #8: What comments (constructive or otherwise) and suggestions do you hear from your customers and neighbors about their experiences doing business in downtown Longview?

1. More police presence would be appreciated.

2. They’re scared … there’s too much crime down here. It pushes them to shop in Oregon. Also the prices the shops put on their items… we need to remember these are hard times, lets help the consumers

3. Poor service, too many thrift stores and pawnshops.

4. Residents are not familiar with what is available downtown. I often hear, ‘I did not know… was downtown!’

5. Most people avoid ‘this par of town’ after dark. Parking is an issue. Any construction permit vehicle parked all day in a vital spot can cost us up to 20% of our normal daily revenue. Panhandlers are an issue, which contributes to the lack of traffic after dark. Overall people new to the area like our downtown.

6. I run into people all the time who live here and never visit downtown. I am not sure what it will take to be interested.

7. They sometimes forget to shop downtown Longview ..., once they are there, they have a really good time.

8. I haven’t heard from others about their experiences.

9. Poor parking, poorly maintained buildings, everything feels cheap.

10. The people complain about the street people and limited parking. So, get rid of the low rent apartments and the ‘Community House’. Build a parking structure.

11. Parking problem. We can tell them all day long that they only have to walk 50 yards ... the perception is still that parking is a problem. It seems the average shopper is looking for a bargain downtown because of all the thrift shops and discount stores. That is what our clientele is now.

12. My Academy brings hundreds of potential customers to downtown every week. The sad thing is that many of them don’t spend their money downtown while they’re there. Why not? Are there any family restaurants downtown? Is there anything FUN to do downtown? Is the atmosphere at night welcoming to families or is it too dark, too quiet, and kind of spooky?

13. Sidewalks roll up after 5 p.m.

14. I believe the larger mills in town that are laying off help are the biggest challenge. They are having tough times of their own, and as a result it impacts a small community like ours more significantly than a larger city. In other words, the bigger businesses lead the curve for smaller businesses in the area. If they suffer, we all do.

15. ‘I didn’t know this was here! I didn’t know Longview had such a nice store. You belong in Portland or Seattle.’ ‘I haven’t been to downtown Longview in ages.’ ‘If you don’t have it, I’ll be going to Portland.’ ‘Who makes that?’ ‘I’ve driven by for ages, I finally decided to come in.’

16. Parking is terrible! People are getting services and trying to fit in a meal but seem to overstay the 3-hour limit and end up with a parking ticket. There ‘has to be’ a solution… age-old problem ... historic to downtown (any one in any city!)

17. Parking — ugly car lots.

18. Not safe. Bad neighborhood. No parking.

19. Parking is a limiting factor! People who live here locally will not walk the 1-3 blocks. Therefore, they will go to lunch at McDonald’s rive through or Burger King. Why we are in love with our cars and care very little about walking short distances is quite silly. This is a real issue and this affects foot traffic. Stores are not open after 5 p.m. or on Sundays.

20. That its not a parking, lighting or theme issue ... They would come down & shop here if bigger name stores were here.

21. Many agree that they avoid coming downtown at all costs due to the militant policing & fines associated with parking too long in a space. We are essentially saying now ‘Get out of town’.

22. Parking, parking, parking. Customers need to be able to park in the very little parking there is for more than 2 hours. Plus, we need a downtown parking garage, with tickets that can be stamped by Downtown businesses for parking fee discounts like downtown Portland

23. Old buildings. They like new.

24. Too many drug dealers around. Visible drug activity. Loitering in front of businesses, particularly those that share buildings with apartments. Garbage, household appliances and furniture being left in alleys by apartment tenants.

25. Don’t like street people — look of the downtown. Say they don’t feel safe after dark & nothing to bring them downtown.

Question # 9: What can the Downtowners do (and what can the City do) to help improve the economic vitality of downtown? Can you suggest services we might provide, policies we might adopt, activities we might sponsor / promote, and capital improvements we might put in place?

1. I like the proposal of the downtown patrols that were proposed a few years ago.

2. Finish the lighting and crosswalks, for that was one thing they were doing for a face-lift. How about a walking stations or dog stations for doo-doo (sorry), or family station where they can answer questions on history of Longview etc.

3. Businesses that attract the shopping public to downtown. Art Walk held annually. Other activities that draw people downtown, like First Thursday.

4. Events such as Saturday Market, beautification projects, more public art.

5. Keeping the streets and sidewalks clean and well lit, vegetation maintained, along with businesses improving the customer experience all help to improve repeat visits.

6. The businesses downtown need to decide what they want and need to do as a group, and then get going. The past history has been to expect the Chamber or City to fix everything for them. I believe that the Downtowners need to get a plan and implement it. The City can help in a limited capacity. This may only start with a block or two, but with success it will grow if there is the desire. If there is no support from the people who will benefit, things will continue as in the past.

7. Cleaner sidewalks and parking lots would help as well as getting rid of the horrible tattoo parlor front window sign. Hopefully moving the Saturday Market to Commerce this summer will help as well.

8. I feel the downtowners should come together and hold sidewalk sales, open houses, ‘first Thursdays, and actually ADVERTISE that we are doing this. Downtown Longview is a very well kept secret.

9. The Saturday Market is a wonderful thing. Car shows open for different age groups, teens one week, twenty through thirty etc. Ids under driving age might have model or radio controlled cars. Bikes from BMX to Harley Davidson’s. Tractor shows from new to old, also might get scholarships for the best in class to get more kids interested. Parents from low-income households will love that.

10. First of all, the City (i.e. the taxpaying citizens) is not responsible to ‘prop up’ the downtown if it cannot succeed on its own. The downtown community must first address IN A MEANINGFUL WAY how they will deal with the problems addressed in the “... encourage more of those dollars to be spent locally” section. Capital improvements may or may not help to fix the problem, but if I HAD to make changes, I would permanently close Broadway (or maybe Hudson) to car traffic between 14th and Commerce, and make it a pedestrian area, partially covered to minimize the impact of rain and with installed propane heaters to kill the winter chill (i.e. from October to April, give or take). Go to Olympia or other communities and learn what it takes to make a semi-permanent and successful ‘weekend market’.

11. Build a parking garage or two; invite retail and specialty shops to invest through grants.

12. Limit nonprofit church fronts downtown. No tattoo/piercing parlors, homeless shelters, 2nd hand stores, used clothing stores, palm readers or car sales. Promote a ‘Canopy Contest’. Colorful canopies at each business would be fun for all and serve as a shelter during ‘Washington sunshine’.

13. Go to Ashland, Oregon and look a their downtown. What about downtown Olympia? What about Bend, Oregon? These are just 3 examples that I can think of where I’ve been and enjoyed my time.

14. Nothing that isn’t already known or under consideration. Consistency in signage, lighting, landscaping, seating are important. Avoid the hodge podge look.

15. I think part of our problem is a lack of activities for the 20-somethings. In this town, about all there is to do for them is drink. That is a bad thing. I’d love it if they’d open up a huge ‘go-kart track’. Just an idea ...

16. Finish the new Streetlight project ASAP. Keep downtown looking clean and neat and welcoming, like a park. (Like Lake Sacajawea) The lake is Longview’s back yard, downtown is it’s living room. Increase incentives for redevelopment of existing Downtown buildings instead of encouraging more and more sprawl. Celebrate Independent business as an American Home Town Tradition!

17. Friendly clerks / sidewalk sales.

18. Parking Garage. There is underutilized parking above the police station and Merk Renters & Section 8 subsidized housing folks all park behind the Merk. People in Longview have to walk distances.. This is an issue.

19. I feel like the main problem with downtown is the lack of anchor stores that draw customers downtown, that then help the novelty shops.

20. We need to create angle parking, alternating sides of the street, with benches, flowers, etc. We need to fire the traffic meter maids & guys — we should only police derelict vehicles. The Downtowners will not think forward & creatively — just sticks to the old ‘drive them away’ mentality.

21. Provide incentives for owners to actually rent out their buildings.

22. Take down old buildings & put up new ones. I know, very expensive, but people like ‘new’.

23. Clean up the streets and alleys. Have foot patrols for undercover police on Commerce and in the alleys.

24. More interaction and caring for each other between the businesses and the mutual efforts.

25. Make buildings more attractive. Better lighting. Fill up vacancies. Increase retail instead of services and non-profits.

Question # 10: Would you be willing to get involved and help with downtown activities and projects?

A. Yes - 9 - 27%

B. No - 7 - 21%

C. Possibly - 17 - 52%

Question #11: Please add anything else you would like to share and suggest.

1. I think things are looking up. The City Council is more responsive. Maybe a segment of each city council meeting (5-10 minutes) should be devoted to the individual business owners invited to discuss their issues.

2. I know you don’t see much of me, but I’ve been under the weather lately with surgery and all so I’m doing my best. Hopefully after surgery I can start attending the downtowners and get more involved.

3. Downtown Longview is going to have to truly CHANGE if it is to survive. Old downtowns die every day because they don’t have anything to offer the consumers of today. Look at the demographics, look at who sends the real money, look at who your real customers are (or who they should be), and look at who the Downtowners really want to be (Overall, and there are notable exceptions, they look like a mess of unorganized people to me) Quit ‘grasping at straws’ and find your strength – then MAKE it happen – don’t just hope for the best.

4. Require the City and the ‘Old Money’ to invest or sell their property to someone that will.

5. I have a hard enough time just managing my own business, let alone getting involved in helping downtown. I do have some ideas and input but I’m not willing to volunteer my time to help. I know that’s selfish. On the other hand, scores of businesses have folded in the time I’ve been downtown. I’m still here and I’m not going anywhere. Single-minded approach I know, but I stay in business if I stay focused. Thank you for the opportunity to vent.

6. Daily News give a break on small business for ads.

7. Get rid of parking limits (except for abandoned and derelict vehicles). Add some angle parking — alternative sides of the street — and make walkways more inviting with benches, flowers etc.

Business owners’ verbal comments during walk-about with Ken Botero, morning of April 10th (Sources were all long-established businesses on Commerce):

• Number one issue is the presence and behavior of drug dealers, users, prostitutes and certain slum-lord residents. These issues are far more vivid and negatively impact our downtown community’s ability to move forward than you can possibly imagine.

The consensus regarding the ‘street-life’ issue is that this is an absolute ‘non-starter’ and MUST be resolved if we are to attract the family-friendly storefronts and meaningfully change the public’s perception and participation in any effort to economic redevelopment and renovation of the downtown.

Suggestions for making specific improvements are:

1. To creatively combine financial resources and purchase particular buildings for renovation by a redevelopment core of supportive interests. Use the proceeds of resale of such projects to fund further redevelopment.

2. Bring the full force of regulation, both local and state, to insist on compliance or condemnation.

3. Encourage certain tenants to move, as suggested by Roger Brook’s approach of ‘rearranging the furniture’.

• Number two issue is visual. A meaningful number of storefronts (basically the same ones that harbor the upstairs negatives referred to above) are in very bad need of renovation and or repair. Solutions are the same.

• Number three issue is to improve the attractiveness of the downtown to new entrepreneurs to open ‘boutique’ businesses as well as retaining the solid existing gems which make our downtown such a diverse collection of special attractions. This can only be accomplished by getting serious about solving the issues already mentioned. There is a 100% agreement that indeed, if the downtown doesn’t ‘feel’ like a place you’d like to spend time yourself, then good luck expecting anyone else to act differently, whether local residents or visitors. An attractive streetscape is only a part, but an essential part, of that transformation to conveying a welcoming and inviting message.

• Business owners are fed up and frustrated, but at the same time are expressing a willingness to cooperate with efforts to improve the status quo. For instance, on the question of staying open later in the evening, most agree that they would be willing to do so, if the client traffic could be improved to make it worthwhile.

• Creative and positive ideas to help enhance the ‘product’ of the downtown experience are certainly not lacking. Positive marketing ideas, branding oriented ideas and ‘theme’ oriented concepts are plentiful. What ‘is’ lacking is action and a commitment to the essential steps we absolutely must make in order to have any hope at all of achieving the kind of lasting progress we all seek.

Respectfully submitted,

Hank Sowerwine / Downtown business-builder

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