Empty in Glen Cove: Former Blockbuster Video

Marc Rosen March 26, 2012 at 03:46 pm

Given that it was asking for opinion, I don't think there's any need for qualifications to give one. Therefore, there's no need to attempt to disqualify anyone's commentary either.

Marc Rosen March 26, 2012 at 03:50 pm

I'm not dictating how anyone uses their money, nor do I want to. I was merely stating that certain investments for that property would be less desirable than others. As many have previously stated, that property lacks sufficient parking to maintain a restaurant or even a chain.
Even if it did have the parking, Glen Cove already has a number of excellent dining options, and gets new ones often enough as-is, and has little to no need for additional fast food. If we were that interested in it, Pollo Campero would've stuck around. There are far more effective ways to use that space, and if someone's going to build a fast food chain there, I'm not giving them what little money I do have.

Marc Rosen March 26, 2012 at 03:54 pm

Please note that a lot of the restaurants in the area can be more affordable, but yes, you're likely to pay at least $15-20 per person. I'm not going to criticize people's eating habits, whatever else I may critique (your money). However, I will gladly give my opinion on what kinds of business I feel would be most likely to benefit us all.

Marc Rosen March 26, 2012 at 03:55 pm

Overall, if they were so great, they wouldn't have been in Chapter 11, would they?

John Cocchiola March 26, 2012 at 04:07 pm

So we just give our opinions, no discussion? Oh, okay, I've got it now. I understand, but I won't play by that rule, so please forgive me. Personally, I don't particularly want a White Castle there, I live about a block away, but if one opens, I won't complain. It's not up to me, it shouldn't be up to me. Within reason, it should be up to the investor and the landlord. It's the right of the investor to invest, and it's up to the investor to succeed or to fail. It's our right to patronize and it's our right to stay away. Someone offers a value, and we can voluntarily choose to exchange our value for theirs, through a business transaction. A business provides jobs and revenue for the city, we obviously need both. Economic freedom and lower taxes is what fertilizes economic growth, not more top down government planning, mandates and micro management. People that never ran a lemonade stand are making the rules and calling the shots. No wonder our country's economy is in shambles.

Marc Rosen March 26, 2012 at 05:30 pm

Contrary to what you believe, I actually have attempted to go into business for myself before. That's why I'm not doing it now.

John Cocchiola March 26, 2012 at 06:24 pm

Something I think a lot of people are missing is, a lot of our actions are making it tougher on the small businessperson and a lot easier on the huge chains. The collective concern for everything and everyone usually means government goes to business for the money (government doesn't produce anything, they just take from those that do produce and use that). Over the years, it's gotten to be more and more, a little at a time. A little more (and more and more and more) for the schools, take a little for the MTA, take a little for this, a little more for that, and pretty soon it's death from a million small cuts. Large chains can either absorb it, or hire people to get help them avoid it. Small, Mom and Pop places have no such luxury. We need to stop looting profits, we need to allow business to thrive. NY is bleeding people, at one time we had almost fifty congressmen, next year we'll be down to only twenty-seven. The reason, in my opinion is (outside of the city) there is a lack of opportunity. The reason there is a lack of opportunity is, government taxes, controls and regulates too much in this area. Take a good look at the foreign auto companies that are setting up factories in the US. They're staying away from NY, New Jersey, Michigan, Illinois and California. They're going to Southern States where their overhead will be a small fraction of what it is here. They're opting for economic freedom. Who can blame them?

John Cocchiola March 26, 2012 at 06:40 pm

My Grandparents (on my Mother's side) came here in the late 1800s. They lived in a deplorable little tenement down on the lower east side of Manhattan, my Grandfather had a job doing something or other but eventually got sick and couldn't work anymore, there were no government programs at the time, no "safety nets". The doctors said he wasn't well enough to stay in the city, they had to move to "the country" (they came to Glen Cove, which was "country" then). They spoke very little English, my Grandmother was stuck with a sick husband, four kids and (almost) no skills. What could she do? She could cook. She set up a small restaurant in Glen Cove to feed immigrant men, who's wives were still on the other side waiting for a ticket over. There were no huge bonds to post, there were no expensive permits, there were no multi layers of taxes for state, federal, county, city and school, there were fewer bureaucracies, so she had the opportunity to provide for herself, her husband, her four children and other kids that she (voluntarily) took in. I'm not saying we don't need any of the government programs we've been adding over the years, but I think we'd be a lot better off if we had a lot less of it all. People like my Grandmother had a much better chance at independence then than they do now. "Between the millstones of taxation and inflation" (Vladamir Lenin), we're destroying the middle class, taking the opportunities away and replacing them with entitlements.

LouisK March 26, 2012 at 10:22 pm

what does any of the above have to do with an empty retail store on Forest Ave? You should all start your own blog because all of this demagoguery has finally convinced me that the Patch is not worth clicking on to if the same few people hijack the conversation. Good night and good luck.

Erik March 26, 2012 at 10:40 pm

I'd love to see a nudey bar in this spot.

Marc Rosen March 26, 2012 at 11:53 pm

Brian, where do you see a "You must have money or be prepared to start up your proposal to suggest an idea" sign?

Marc Rosen March 26, 2012 at 11:57 pm

Hey, at least it's one we haven't heard before, but I don't think that'd get approval. Even if it did, and even if people wouldn't come out in droves to fight the construction of a strip club so close to an elementary school (less than five blocks away from one), you'd still have to deal with the major parking shortage.

Pam Robinson (Editor) March 27, 2012 at 01:09 am

Stay on topic, please.

Tom Terrific March 27, 2012 at 12:02 pm

An animal psychiatric hospital and wellness spa.

John Cocchiola March 27, 2012 at 04:39 pm

The "Gold Coast" might be a little too uptight for a nudey bar. The closest we had, to my recollection was "The Salem Inn", in Port Washington, back in the 1970's I guess. Unconfirmed rumor that Adrienne Barbeau danced there.

beth March 27, 2012 at 04:46 pm

a bigger Rising Tide. I can never get a parking spot.

j March 27, 2012 at 07:00 pm

WOW,finally someone with a real idea!if i see 1 more pizza,chinese,or sushi place im gonna lose my mind.Bodegas too.we need something for the kids.not clothes though.more of an activity place for them.

Tess March 27, 2012 at 07:35 pm

Out of all the suggestions, I think the one with the kids clothings, specialty toys and the little gym ---- is the best........In addition to that - why not in a big room or something have some type of babysitting services that allow the kids ONLY 1-3 hours while their mom or dad go food shopping, dentist or get a haircut, etc........ the parent can have a safe place where they can leave their child for an hour or so .....so they can get things done with their shopping alot faster.........and the kids can get their fun exercise in - while having them watched by professionals .... a spot where parents can buy their children their clothes from birth to around 6 years old (or so)...and a small babysitting type of little gym all connected into one establishment..... I think that would be a perfect spot - it surely is big enough!!

Vin NY March 27, 2012 at 09:59 pm

Anybody who brings their pet to a psychiatrist should see one themselves.

katie baiata March 29, 2012 at 09:03 pm

i also think a very speciality business or 'top' whatever will be great to have to bring people and attention to glen cove. would hate to see another restaurant here, as a human i would feel kind of ashamed to have another eating establishment in our community. we need something here that fills our other needs, and i dont mean stuff that clutters our shelves and closets, more like a place that offers nothing tangible for us to leave with.

cc March 30, 2012 at 10:54 am

Dream on people no sane retailer is going to coming to town. We are at a dead and and to say sadly decaying. Has anyone ever done a count on the number of empty stores? Let's build another Avalon, or better yet a ferry terminal. There is no way out of this mess.

Amy April 4, 2012 at 03:52 pm

From what I understand, that particular Blockbuster closed because the landlord wanted to raised the rent to renew the lease. That Blockbuster happened to be one of the more successful ones on Long Island, but they could not afford the rent increase. So, they left and now the landlord has collected ZERO rent for over two years. What is better? To have a successful business in your store that is paying a certain rent or an empty store for years, and will probably not fetch an equal amount now anyway? The same thing happened in Sea Cliff with the well-loved restaurant Tupelo Honey. That space was vacant for over two years after they left as well. And the new tenants are now paying a lower rent. The commercial landlords should figure out that EVERY business' profit margins are diminishing. Theirs must too. That is something everyone must accept until the economy recovers. Landlords should try to work with their tenants.

John Cocchiola April 4, 2012 at 04:07 pm

Amy, one of the things that helps to drive the rents up is the very high commercial property taxes. The reason there may be a disproportionate number of vacant stores on the North Shore might be, our taxes (and in some cases, rents) are as high as other places with more population and more traffic. We don't really have enough of either here to support the costs. The owners of Tupelo are very old friends of mine, I'm sure rent was a factor, but Restaurants are difficult enough to run successfully in the best circumstances. They're labor intensive, the insurance they need to carry is expensive (especially if they serve liquor), the food costs are very high, and every level of Government loots a big chunk of what is earned. A small garage with three bays in a decent location can probably do the same gross numbers that a place like Tupelo can do, with only three employees (my hunch is, Tupelo would need at least ten or twelve, on any given night). I don't think the real question is 'what business would go best here?' I think the real question is 'why are there so many vacant commercial properties?' I doubt any restaurant (or business) on the North Shore is doing as well as they did five years ago, or ten years ago for that matter, but all of the costs keep rising.

Tess April 4, 2012 at 04:42 pm

After reading John C's post..........I agree. One day I was at one of the restuarants in town and the owner was very upset how much he has to pay in taxes alone to the city of GC........I couldnt believe what the city was asking him (demanding him) to pay......... Dont they realize how they are putting these business's out of business?.........Stupid city gives places like avalon tax breaks (for 10 or more years, at least) and then they have the nerve to tax homeowners ridiculous amounts and the business's that should keep the city thriving!

Tess April 4, 2012 at 04:45 pm

I have tenants - I'd rather keep my tenants who are great tenants than raise them $200 a year...........

John Cocchiola April 4, 2012 at 04:54 pm

Here's a blog I did last June that I think relates. http://glencove.patch.com/blog_posts/adapt-to-overcome

Matt Grabowski April 22, 2012 at 11:17 pm

@Tess, anyone who owns property pays taxes. Don't be a political hack!

Matt Grabowski April 22, 2012 at 11:18 pm

I agree with Rob Germino. Teatro Zinzanni or something similar to Birdland Jazz Club in the city. Something with small entertainment and dinner. Could be nice.

Tess April 23, 2012 at 04:19 am

Yooooooooooooooooooooooooo Matt......... the mayor doesnt own property -- he rents.........hahahaha........ get the facts straight before you try to mock me......

cc April 23, 2012 at 11:24 am

Matt,
Dream on. I doubt you can find any insane investor wanting to come to GC unless the city gives gives away everything to attract them.