This week's Buzz of Northwest Georgia (click)
Maybe 'Drama Drive' is a better name for Broad Street as changes swirl.
-Restaurants opening, closing, changing ownership.
-Another business on the move.
-Even storefront colors sparking debate.
Monday's Focus: Gift buying in a recessionary economy
-Natalie Simms checks to see if shoppers are looking for typical gifts or more practical ones this Christmas.
-Plus: Layaway is bigger this year than last year for one big retailer.
-What to expect from those Black Friday sales including longer hours.
John McClellan's picks for round two of the high school playoffs> Report
-Calhoun should continue to round three; Darlington to come up 7 points short?
NAIA playoffs set with final two winners due in Rome for national football championship game on Dec. 19> NAIA
New Miss Georgia USA, Miss Georgia Teen USA crowned> Click Details
Latest forecast, flooding updates:
-Monday: High of 73, low of 48; 30% chance of late-night showers.
-Tuesday: High of 62, 30% rain chance. Low of 43; 30% chance of rain.
-Extended forecast> Click Local radar / regional radar
John McClellan's picks for the Nov. 20 high school football games:
-Calhoun's run to continue; Darlington's run ends?> Football Report
Georgia High School Football Daily> Click
Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable>Arey
-It's finally all over for Southern Cal and Notre Dame; can Tech move up?
Upcoming events at Rome Braves/State Mutual Stadium> Sports
-First annual Wing Ding due Nov. 21.
-Links to winter baseball leagues.
Shorter Hawks end season 6-5 after 21-14 loss to Bethel at home> Details
Downtown Headlines> Click
-What's ahead in downtown Rome.
Maybe we should call it 'Drama Drive' rather than Broad Street
What a week on and off Broad Street! The big news was supposed to be the Christmas Open House on Friday and Saturday with Santa and Mrs. Claus. But the headlines shifted quickly, almost daily, and aren't done just yet. Consider:
-Opi's Waterfront (Buck & Duke's Country Saloon): Mel Funk says the business remains open for now although there's an escalating feud between Funk and his landlords at River Crossing.
-McCrobie's closes after state agents seize its alcohol license, citing unpaid taxes of nearly $50,000. Even before the Girls Gone Wild stunt, local merchants were aware of the unpaid state tax debt piling up at 325 Broad St. Some thought it was just a matter of time before the state came calling. And with annual city licenses due, one indicator always checked: whether all taxes are paid.
-Paula's Silver & Gold--and pink? This Friday at 8:30 a.m., Paula Conaway hosts the Downtown Development Authority's monthly coffee break. It might be an interesting gathering and we don't mean the first look for some inside her new location. Paula's on Broad has bright pink signage, something to match the "frou-frou" style of her business as Roger Wade says at Thursday's DDA meeting (Wade sold her the location as his Mattress Direct moved to Cotton Block). The new look (right) has ruffled aesthetic feathers of some downtown interests who cite the importance of maintaining the historic stylings of the neighborhoods. Keep an eye on this one.
-New owners for Crystal Thai: The e-mails came around 2 p.m. Friday about changes at the popular downtown Thai restaurant. New owners were on site and a new menu as well, one that had a few favorites missing. Crystal Thai had a lock on Asian cooking styles but has since been challenged a bit by Blue Fin, Ru San's and Amerpacific Rim Bistro at Midtown Crossing. The new owners want a few weeks to "warm up" before commenting on other changes coming to 526 Broad St.
-Johnny's on the way; Riverside Gourmet to ... ?: And the surprise of the week was the announcement that Johnny's New York Style Pizza is opening at 233 Broad St. come March. We'll have more details soon. The sidebar is what's next for Riverside Gourmet, Kevin Dillmon's wonderfully popular shop now in that spot after moving from River Crossing a few years ago. Riverside was to help anchor Rome City Market across the street but that project apparently remains on life support after failing to meet its Labor Day grand opening schedule.
-And then there's Greener Burger: The remodeling under way on Broad is an incredible vision from street level. Lots of work is under way to get the gourmet burger shop in service soon. The owner is a somewhat familiar name, Michael W. Landers. He was behind efforts to build the Integrity medical office building across from Fuddruckers and State Mutual Stadium several years ago. That project was scuttled. Landers already has appeared before the Historic Preservation Commission to discuss changes to the former Krystal site.
-And we can't close without a tease to the next turn of the wheel: Even with Johnny's coming to Broad and now talk of a Pizza Inn at Etowah Crossing (Home Depot/Kmart), we're still hearing interest of a Mellow Mushroom on Broad. Some cite similarities between Johnny's and Mellow Mushroom. There are no similarities.
-So what's next for Broad Street? Plenty. It remains the best business address in Rome/Floyd County, perhaps in need of more vision.
Economy has some Christmas shoppers thinking practical gifts
vs. traditional items; retailers see a mix of both so far this season.
By Natalie Simms
In just over a week, shoppers will be out in full-force for the annual "Black Friday" day of deals as the Christmas retail season gets under way. And with the economy still at lows, shoppers may be changing their buying habits in both spending and gift giving.
While shoppers will still buy those typical gifts that may cost more and get used only a handful of times, retailers are seeing more shoppers looking for practical gifts -- things people need but haven't been able to afford.
"People are still going out for gifts but they are definitely going to be using their money more wisely," says Elaine Abercrombie with Greene's Jewelers and a board member of the Rome Downtown Development Authority. "They want the best value for their money but they need to remember that value doesn't always mean cheap. Shoppers need to be careful not to fall into the traps with deals and sacrifice quality products."
The DDA hopes people will remember to shop in town for their gifts, thus giving our local economy a boost. Abercrombie says downtown merchants have something to offer every shopper looking for either practical or typical gifts.
"People may find a bargain out of town but by the time they add in the price of gas, their time and time it may take for returns and service to a product, it might not be a bargain anymore," she says.
Photo: Downtown Rome's Christmas Open House started the local shopping season Friday and Saturday. Among the visitors: Mr. and Mrs. Claus. (Facebook)
Mike Barger, manager of Rome's Kmart, says he sees shoppers buying both kinds of gifts. Those buying the higher-priced typical big toy gifts are able to do so through Kmart's layaway program.
"Because of our layaway service, we are seeing shoppers with both practical things like clothes and jackets, and still those typical gifts, too," he says. "People are really taking advantage of layaway and it is being used a lot more than it was last year."
Janet Paulson with Prime Outlets in Calhoun agrees that shoppers are still looking for typical gifts but also eyeing the practical as well.
"This year, items on our shoppers' gift lists are running the gamut from luxury items to everyday wardrobe pieces, to useful household items," she says. "What we are finding, however, is that shoppers are looking to save and they are looking for value. They want to make their money go farther as they maintain their lifestyle buying from the brand names they know and trust."
Chandra Hall, owner of Peacefrogs, a retailer at Prime Outlets Calhoun, says her customers are definitely seeking unique gifts at a good price.
"We have things that people don't typically need like jewelry, shirts and pocketbooks, but we have different, unique things that people are looking for," she says. "And everything, with the exception of a few pieces of jewelry, is priced under $30. And some of the proceeds of our products are donated to charities. We really think our uniqueness will be our biggest selling point."
For some retailers, economy's bust has been a boom: Joanne Stone, manager of Direct Tools, another outlet retailer, is seeing a lot of practical gift givers in her store. She believes the economy is having a positive impact on her sales.
"People are doing a lot of home repairs these days so they need tools to do them," she says. "We really haven't been slow all year. We sell reconditioned tools that come with warranties so they are just as good as new and that is what a lot of people are seeking for the value."
While value is important, some local shoppers say they will still be buying the typical Christmas gifts for their families with some practical items added in.
"We will be giving the typical gifts but on a smaller scale," says Hayley Carpenter, local mother of two. "However, we will be giving more practical gifts to teachers that they can use in the classroom. As always, I'm looking for sales. Good economy or bad, I try to never pay retail."
Cindy Gordon, another mother of two, says because of her children's ages, she will be buying both practical and typical items.
"Since my older son is now a teenager, we will be buying more practical gifts for him like clothes and shoes. We've also purchased a laptop for him, since he is going into high school, I'm sure he'll be able to use it," she says. "My younger son is only 6, so we'll still be buying the same thing…toys!"
Others have another battle plan.
"We will probably stick with typical gifts. We save all year to be able to give the kids the bigger things they want, so it's not really a big strain on the budget," says Kim Harrison, local mother of two.
"Fortunately, we have never spent a lot on Christmas. We try to remember what the season is really about. However, last year and this year, all our extended family members have agreed to only buy for our own children, so that helps," says Dana Holbrook, mother of twins. "Will we be buying practical or typical gifts? With two teenagers, who knows?"
What's ahead in the Christmas shopping season: No matter what type of gift you are looking for, all kinds of deals will be available on "Black Friday."
Mount Berry Square will open at 4 a.m. with goodie bags to the first 500 customers. The bags contain special savings coupons and 250 bags will have a $10 mall gift card inside. One lucky bag will have a voucher for a $200 mall gift card that is redeemable that day only.
Prime Outlets will be opening at midnight for its second annual Midnight Madness Pajama Jam. The first 500 shoppers to visit Guest Services wearing pajamas will receive a free goodie bag filled with coupons, great giveaways including Jockey brand pajamas (while supplies last) and even a chance to win one of twenty $50 Prime Outlets gift cards. Special savings will be available from midnight to 8 a.m. that morning as well. For more, please visit www.primeoutlets.com
And others, like downtown Rome and downtown Cartersville, didn't wait for the "traditional" start of the holiday shopping season, holding their respective open houses in recent days. Next up in downtown Cartersville: A 'Taste of Cartersville' set for 6:30 until 9:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, at the future home of the Bartow History Museum. Planned are sample foods from downtown restaurants and wines as well as gifts available at downtown shops. Tickets are $25 per person or $40 per couple. 21 and older, please. Lisa Poole will conduct the wine tasting; the Etowah Jazz Society will perform. Proceeds benefit the museum project and the Cartersville Downtown Development Authority. Click Facebook.
Three-Dot Buzz:
Good news for Gordon County: Bids sought for phase three work at GNTC:
State construction sites currently feature requests for bids for the next phase at Georgia Northwestern Technical College's Gordon County campus. Work is expected to begin soon on the 46,000-square-foot addition that will house classroom space for several programs including Dental Assisting, Cosmetology, Banking and Finance, Early Childhood Care and Education. Also planned: room for new health programs and a small conference center. A fall 2011 opening is expected.
More barbecue for Armuchee: Look for Julie Stansell and folks behind Ole Tymer Barbecue at Five Points to be cooking soon in the Armuchee area. The downtown location just celebrated 25 years in business.lease
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