By MIKE GOODWIN, Staff writer Friday, August 29, 2008
Development officials in Schenectady have talked to Barnes & Noble Booksellers about possibly moving to downtown, officials confirmed today.
If Barnes & Noble were lured downtown, it would be the first major national chain to locate in an area where the city is trying to establish a dining and entertainment district built around an expanded Proctors Theater, a moviehouse, and several eateries and bars.
Metroplex Development Authority Chairman Ray Gillen downplayed talk of an effort to convince Barnes & Noble to move to Schenectady.
"I can't say we haven't talked to Barnes, but we're talking to a lot of people," said Gillen, chairman of the Metroplex Development Authority, the taxpayer-funded development agency.
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MobileTerminal
August 29, 2008, 1:44pm
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I wonder if they'll get a variance for a setback from the road like Walgreens asked for and didn't get?
When B&N comes to downtown, I'll believe pigs can fly ... this aint gonna happen
If Barnes & Noble happens to move to the downtown area, what would happen to the Open Door Book Store?
They care little for existing, long term business that have built their business in Schenectady through the tough years ... maybe they'll move to Latham - or become a home based internet business.
I think if B & N moved to down town Sch'dy there wouldn't be enough business to keep them there, I agree MT that pigs will fly first b4 they move downtown.
well this is truely a sign of a turnaround so maybe I have been to hard on these here demos that run things. getting the big store like this here will make a change indeed
well this is truely a sign of a turnaround so maybe I have been to hard on these here demos that run things. getting the big store like this here will make a change indeed
You're right - retail will indeed change downtown - B&N aint it tho - it'll never happen on that scale until there's more retail to bring people down there.
Metroplex Development Authority Chairman Ray Gillen downplayed talk of an effort to convince Barnes & Noble to move to Schenectady.
If Metroplex were such a success, then WHY is Ray Gillen still LURING or CONVINCING nationally recognized chain stores like Barnes & Nobel to do business in Downtown Schenectady?
After 10 years of this thing we call Metroplex. Why aren't larger companies like Barnes & Nobel approaching Schenectady and the Metroplex to put in a store front in what Ray and the rest of the Kool Aid drinkers call a thriving downtown?
I'll tell you why. Because large companies like a Barnes & Nobel do extensive research to see if the location is viable and profitable 5, 10 and 15 years down the road. Even profitable after all the grants and tax breaks expire. And they probably would have to explain to shareholders, as to why they would open a location in downtown Schenectady. These large companies see Schenectady for what it is, and over taxed, crime ridden, depressed city. And a few thousand dollars in grants and tax breaks isn't going to fool them into a bad decision.
That is why Schenectady Metroplex ends up with these fly by night entrepreneurs like Stephen Waite, who know how to take advantage of tax subsidies, skim some profits, and then close down shop. And in some cases like the Big House, not even open shop.
The only business Metroplex will ever lure are the ones that are friends of politicians lining there pockets off of the back to the taxpayer. Doing so while wooing the residents of Schenectady with new building, and no job creation.
If Metroplex were such a success, then WHY is Ray Gillen still LURING or CONVINCING nationally recognized chain stores like Barnes & Nobel to do business in Downtown Schenectady?
After 10 years of this thing we call Metroplex. Why aren't larger companies like Barnes & Nobel approaching Schenectady and the Metroplex to put in a store front in what Ray and the rest of the Kool Aid drinkers call a thriving downtown?
I'll tell you why. Because large companies like a Barnes & Nobel do extensive research to see if the location is viable and profitable 5, 10 and 15 years down the road. Even profitable after all the grants and tax breaks expire. And they probably would have to explain to shareholders, as to why they would open a location in downtown Schenectady. These large companies see Schenectady for what it is, and over taxed, crime ridden, depressed city. And a few thousand dollars in grants and tax breaks isn't going to fool them into a bad decision.
That is why Schenectady Metroplex ends up with these fly by night entrepreneurs like Stephen Waite, who know how to take advantage of tax subsidies, skim some profits, and then close down shop. And in some cases like the Big House, not even open shop.
The only business Metroplex will ever lure are the ones that are friends of politicians lining there pockets off of the back to the taxpayer. Doing so while wooing the residents of Schenectady with new building, and no job creation.
Cicero ... you've summed it up wonderfully .. thank you!
Cicero, Would you mind if I used your above comment on my blog? I think it sums things up quite well. Goes right with my comments that I made to the County Legislature back when they summarily dismissed the public's comments because they wanted to expand the size of the beast. Thanks.
Downtown is a dump and the rest of the city is being sucked right into it. And I don't give a rats a** how much money they throw at it. The plex conveniently used our tax dollars to give Mr. Phillip Morris his 'Proctors play ground'! The dems have even given Kosiur, with our tax dollars, a 'Central Park play ground'. The plex gave Steve Waite a 'vacant tax paid play ground'. Susan Savage/Ed Kosiur gave the sex offenders our towns for their playground. And due to the lack of leadership from the Mayor's office, criminals and drug dealers have the entire county as their playground. But it appears that Galesi has the largest playground of all.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
I think saying "Downtown is a dump" is a very strong statement...I agree with a lot of you other points. However, there are quite a few venues I enjoy spending time at Downtown (some of them weekly.)
Things are certainly being cleaned up. Are they spotless? Certainly not. Do I (or any any honest person) agree wholly with the matter in which it is being done? Certainly not. But "dump" is not the word I would use to describe it.
Oh, and regarding the Open Door Bookstore, they should stay open and ride out the storm...Barnes and Noble will close before they know what hit them. It just is not the right spot for that type of business.
Sidenote: Reading this thread, I can't help but think of that movie with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, with the bookstore...somebody help me with the title? haha
By MIKE GOODWIN, Staff writer First published: Saturday, August 30, 2008
SCHENECTADY -- Officials casting a wide net for possible development downtown have talked to Barnes & Noble about moving to the city.
If they were to lure the chain bookstore, it would be the first major national retailer to locate in an area where Schenectady is trying to establish a dining and entertainment district built around an expanded Proctors theater, a six-screen cinema, and several eateries and bars.
On Friday, Metroplex Development Authority Chairman Ray Gillen downplayed talk of trying to convince the company to move to Schenectady.
"I can't say we haven't talked to Barnes, but we're talking to a lot of people," said Gillen, chairman of the Metroplex Development Authority, the taxpayer-funded development agency.
The Business Review, a weekly newspaper in Latham, reported Friday that an effort is under way to convince Barnes & Noble College Booksellers Inc., a sister company, to move into the Center City Sportsplex, a one-time State Street ice rink and office complex that now houses businesses and an indoor soccer field.
Gillen said the owner of Center City, Rotterdam developer Galesi Group, is close to announcing new tenants to occupy offices in the building. But he said it was incorrect to say Barnes & Noble is being considered for any specific downtown building.
Some say a lot on Liberty Street and Nott Terrace, the former home of a Friendly's restaurant, has also been examined.
Galesi Group is renovating the Center City structure in anticipation of adding new tenants. The YMCA, which has conducted an on-again, off-again hunt for a place to build a new fitness center in Schenectady, has shown interest in the property but made no commitment.
Galesi Group Chief Operating Officer David Buicko dismissed the report the bookseller was being recruited for Center City.
"I don't even know where they (the Business Review) are coming from," Buicko said.
Downtown is abutted by two colleges, Schenectady County Community College to the west and Union College to the north.
Through campus spokeswoman Heather Meaney, SCCC President Gabe Basil said he was aware of discussions involving Barnes & Noble. But "nothing has been decided," he added. "There is no proposal. We have nothing to do with any initiative."
Barnes & Nobles College Bookstores has more than 600 locations around the country; a downtown Schenectady store would be within walking distance of both SCCC and Union. It is unlikely either school would drop their own bookstores in favor of the downtown store, though.
Union College spokesman Phil Wajda would not say whether the college had been approached by Barnes & Nobles.
"We've always been supportive of economic initiatives downtown, whether it is the movie theater, restaurants or other projects," he said. "If the city and Metroplex are interested in bringing Barnes & Noble to the area, we would support that as well."
Mike Goodwin can be reached at 454-5465 or by e-mail at mgoodwin@timesunion.com.
Sidenote: Reading this thread, I can't help but think of that movie with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, with the bookstore...somebody help me with the title? haha
The movie was one of my favorites, "You've Got Mail". I thought of this movie also when I read about B&N.
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