I'd like to get some input from everyone out there to see if we have a need for more retail stores in Fairmount. I see this area as definetely moving forward, i.e with great restaurants, museums, etc. but we have very little in the way of retail stores....except if you consider CVS as a great place to shop. I have a concept that I am trying to develop, but don't know if people would be interested in it. Without giving too much away it basically is a home store with a twist. I'd love to hear all the feedback good or bad.

Thanks in advance.

Go for it! I think Alie's Wagon is doing well, and another retail type shop looks to be opening next door to it. I would concentrate on the blocks between Jacks and Rite Aid on Fairmount Ave, good foot and car traffic.

If there were more Retail stores in Fairmount my wife and I would definetly go there first before heading into Center City to shop.

I would spend some serious time talking to current merchants of all types - the new and the established. I would also touch base with the Fairmount Area Business association (FAB) and the Fairmount CDC, if you haven't already.

While I would love to see Fairmount Avenue gain some new businesses, and there are indeed some promising developments (the storefront being renovated across from Corinthian, the pending opening of Bread* next to L'Oca)...I think there are some big obstacles as well.

The bottom line for me is this. We know a lot of people in the neighborhood. We also shop as often as we can along Fairmount Ave. And I must say that it is quite rare for us to see our neighbors at Fairmount stores. I suspect that a pretty good number of Fairmounters have gotten used to getting in their car and leaving the area for their shopping needs. Now perhaps with a certain critical mass of places you can start to reverse that trend, but if you open up a new place and expect the neighborhood to beat a path to your door, you *might* be disappointed. Then again you might not - as Mugshots proved, which has been packed since day one.

Fairmount is great for the essentials like dry cleaning, CVS, bars/restaraunts, and getting groceries in a pinch.

It would be great to have some clothing stores and a bakery. (I mean full service, Bread* has limited hours and seems to focus on sweets, but how about baguettes, bagels and loaves of bread? I am hoping they expand to Fairmount Ave.) Also, we have the antique store next to Mugshots, but another shop that sells art/paintings would be great too.

I think the neighborhood could support 3-4 more shops in total (to start up in 2008-09).

I do agree with niel that we "try" to shop as often as possible along Fairmount Ave. I try and will support neighborhood shops first and will pay extra (a little) to stay local.

You asked about more retail opportunities in Fairmount, but most respondents referred specifically to Fairmount Avenue. Are you asking about retail in the general Fairmount area or just on Fairmount Avenue? Either way, the ENTIRE area (Spring Garden/Art Museum/Fairmount/Brewerytown/Francisville) needs more small retail shops. And we certainly could use a good/tasteful home furnishings store in this area. There is talk of possibly putting a Rite AID in the empty lot at 27th Street and Girard Avenue...if that happens, I would love to see it surrounded by other more appealing businesses, such as a home furnishings store. As distasteful as another Rite AID is, as an anchor store, it may help other businesses survive by bringing in customers who may not have otherwise shopped in that area.
Do not give up on your idea, however, temper it with current economic realities..make sure your business (and your wallet/purse) can withstand the downturn we're currently experiencing.

I think Fairmount definitely needs some better retail options; places that fit the neighborhood, i.e. non-corporate, chain-like stores. In order of my personal preference:

1. Book store -- the used bookstore on fairmount doesn't suit my needs
2. Music store -- something along the lines of Main Street Music in Manayunk
3. Florist shop -- the Plants, etc. place on Fairmount is a mess, let's be honest
4. Liquor store with better wine selection

I rarely shop for clothes, but I guess my wife would appreciate something closer, so that would be a distant fifth.

Anyway, that's just my two cents. I think all of the above would make the area a better place to live without destroying its identity.

Chico:

A new florist is due to open shortly at 25th & Aspen, in the former dry cleaner's space. I'll post here when it's open.

God, yes, we need a better wine store. I wonder if we could convince the PLCB to open one of their "superstores" up here. Especially since we have the Wine School a few steps away.

I'd like to see a newsstand like the wonderful Avril 50 over by Penn - maybe combined coffee/newsstand/bakery.

BTW, I think Bread* will be a very good source for actual bread, though they have to start small and I imagine they're doing a lot of pastries because that's what brings in the customers. Let's give them a chance before we start pining for *another* bakery.

Are you talking about the northeast corner? There's a dry cleaner place there right now called "Take it to the Cleaners", and I see no signs of them going out of business. They just opened a few months ago.

I am all for more stuff in the area but any home store would need to compete with Foster's; and that would be tough. I do not buy "home store" stuff often so when I do I would not have a problem jumping in the car or bus to do it.

To beat the deadest of horses, food/grocery would be at the top of my list.

I beleive there is a place in CC called "Grocery" that is a mix of prepared food as well as some fresh groceries. I would consistnetly support that (take home meals and a few groceries 1-2 a week).

Fairmount is a long way from being a shopping destination (few from CC come to shop here; and if you are coming from the burbs you would drive the extra 1 mile and go to CC).

Just me 2 cents

I think there needs to be more retail in Spring Garden, too, not just fairmount. The 1500 block of Spring Garden needs a serious overhaul...there are three pizza joints on that block and two barbers...what's up with that?