Potential businesses (Atlanta, Alpharetta, Mitchell: salons, neighborhood, buy)

[AtlMuslimah]

What potential business between Broad St and Mitchell St would others like to see open in this area of downtown Atlanta? I'm conducting business research to see what needs or niches are not being met in Atlanta's downtown business corridor. I appreciate everyone's insight. Thanks.

[Caltovegas]

A fresh fruit stand.

[JPD]

Eats should open another location on Broad. Guaranteed money maker.

[JPD]

Originally Posted by Caltovegas

A fresh fruit stand.

There is one.

Downtown Atlanta

[BroadStJudge]

My wish list is long. First, start with some stores and restaurants that cater to the demographic of people that actually live and work downtown, not the addicts and dealers that take MARTA in every day to get drunk and high on Broad Street.

I think there are enough nail salons, weave shops, gold teeth makers, chicken wing shops, check cash/money order places, counterfeit clothing stores, scented oil shops, stores selling Wild Irish Rose and tall boys, and white sock selling shops in the area; so we probably can do without anymore of those.

I'd like an actual Cafe on Broad that serves food instead of a 24 hour nightclub operating on a restaurant license.

I'd like an actual Market on Broad instead of a "convenience" store that allows drug dealers and drunks hang out all day and accepts EBT cards for beer.

I'd like an actual grocery store where I could buy and save instead of the one that sold spoiled milk and rotten meat to the elderly pensioners living on the Westside.

[downtownresident]

No businesses are going to thrive in the area until quality of life issues are addressed and while illegal behavior (prostitution, drug dealing, public drunkenness, loitering, panhandling) are allowed to flourish at all hours of the day and night.

Enforce the laws, then the businesses will come without us begging for them.

[cittic10]

A medical marijuana dispensary.











Sorry. I couldn't help myself.

[RZaakir]

Originally Posted by downtownresident

No businesses are going to thrive in the area until quality of life issues are addressed and while illegal behavior (prostitution, drug dealing, public drunkenness, loitering, panhandling) are allowed to flourish at all hours of the day and night.

Enforce the laws, then the businesses will come without us begging for them.

I strongly disagree. Back in 2007 where the first big wave of nightlife places on Edgewood Ave. were coming online (Corner Tavern, Cafe Circa, Noni's, The Bureau) there were drug dealers, pandhandlers, and prostitutes all over. I used to watch with amazement as cadres of small white girls would push through a corner full of saggy jeaned, white t-shirt wearing drug dealers to come to these places.

Once these businesses took hold, the problem elements in the neighborhood slowly faded away. There are still a couple, but Edgewood Ave. is a far cry from what it used to be. I feel like the same thing could happen on Broad - particularly since Broad has more adjacent parking and better infrastructure.

What would I like to see? Broad is blessed with really wide sidewalks so I would be partial to the types of businesses that could take advantage of that: Restaurants / Cafes / Pubs with sidewalk seating, Food Markets, Fashion Boutiques. I think the key is to start with multiple quality eating and drinking establishments that can do good business at night. As they prosper, the block will gain value and clean up. Once it is reliably cleared then perhaps that's where a wave of daytime businesses like sandwich shops, boutiques, and markets can start attracting the less adventurous government employees in the area.

[SW30303]

I would talk to some of the people who run businesses in that area. I think you will get a valuable earful of experience; particularly with the locally-owned restaurant owners. I think there is potential, particularly catering to the college students and daytime office workers, but what type of business, don't really know as the 2 target customers I mention are somewhat divergent. Probably a restaurant that caters to the lunch crowd. The Broad street area is much cleaner and somewhat improved than it was a decade ago, but I think opening any business there is still quite risky overall.

[tonygeorgia]

I don't think Amy from Alpharetta feels safe going to that area at night