Columbia or Greenville? (Charleston, Irmo, Forest Acres: purchasing, Whole Foods, wealthy)

[g-man430]

Originally Posted by Columbiadata

Wow, Columbia sucks. We're stuck with Earth Fare, Rosewood Market and 14 Carrot.

I knew you'd figure it out one day.

[Greenville]

Originally Posted by gsupstate

Well said. Anyone that doesn't understand this thread title is "Columbia or Greenville" needs to read more closely. Why would Charleston, or Atlanta, or Charlotte be discussed in this thread??? That would be about as pertinent as discussing Spokane, Boise or Kansas City in a thread titled "Columbia or Greenville".

Or Rochester, NY.

[redcliffe]

Originally Posted by Akhenaton06

I'm not trying to intimidate you whatsoever nor did I say I was the "perfect message board poster." I'm just trying to figure out why you seem to feel threatened whenever something positive is mentioned about Columbia and then you throw up stores that Columbia doesn't have when that wasn't even the topic of discussion. It's predictable to the point of being silly now, and it's very telling that you can't even give a rationale for it. You do it here and you do it on the Augusta forum (which isn't in SC). If Columbia is so inferior to Greenville as you seem to believe, I just wonder why you and certain others give it so much attention and energy; it's borderline, if not full-fledged, OCD. Just continue to let Columbia be a hellhole; it doesn't need any help from you. Or at the least be constructive, but I'm not sure if you know how to do that or even want to do that.

Listen brother. I'll admit to you and all of the other Cola posters that this may have gotten out of hand. I have a competitive spirit and I guess this went from light hearted fun to out of control. I'll start by asking you and others I may have offended forgiveness. If you don't accept at least I reached out. We have something in common in that we are all somewhat urban enthusiast. I love progress and growth as it is good for my business. I will tune it down as this is actually kind of tiresome. If I do give a light hearted jab, please don't take it personal. I'm just having fun. Peace!

[davey123]

Originally Posted by Columbiadata

Wow, Columbia sucks. We're stuck with Earth Fare, Rosewood Market and 14 Carrot.

Originally Posted by waccamatt

...and for prepared foods, the Gourmet Shop, DiPrato's and Cloud Nine.

I find this thread to be quite fascinating. I'm a sucker for well-reasoned arguments. And, I think that there have been "some" made in this thread. That's always a good thing, even when everyone may not agree on the points being made. We should always encourage such lively debates.

I've never been to Greenville. This thread, however, has definitely piqued my interest. Thus, I will be making a trip to see the highly touted Greenville downtown in the next few weeks. Of course, I will make a trip to Whole Foods Market when I'm there.

I have said this in other threads, but it is worth noting here. There is a lot of potential in Columbia's downtown area. I personally think that a lot more needs to be done. However, the potential, at least, seems quite vast. When I hear that there is a possibility that Greenville could get a Trader Joes, I cannot help but wonder why Columbia does not have a Whole Foods Market or a Trader Joes. Earth Fare is NOT the equivalent to Whole Foods Market, nor is the combination of Earth Fare and the Gourmet Shop the equivalent. In stating this, I am not suggesting that the city of Columbia sucks. There is room to make this constructive argument without it automatically being categorized that way. Isn't there?

[Akhenaton06]

Originally Posted by Greenville

Or Rochester, NY.

Or pretending to be from Columbia in order to trash it elsewhere online when you're really from Greenville. You probably didn't know about that though.

Originally Posted by motonenterprises

Listen brother. I'll admit to you and all of the other Cola posters that this may have gotten out of hand. I have a competitive spirit and I guess this went from light hearted fun to out of control. I'll start by asking you and others I may have offended forgiveness. If you don't accept at least I reached out. We have something in common in that we are all somewhat urban enthusiast. I love progress and growth as it is good for my business. I will tune it down as this is actually kind of tiresome. If I do give a light hearted jab, please don't take it personal. I'm just having fun. Peace!

Everything has its place, but not every thread where positives about Columbia (and they do exist) are being discussed and other cities aren't being trashed in the process. I just hope that from this point on, the discussions can be more civil overall and less on the childish side. Just don't follow g-man430 down the trails he blazes that can often turn an otherwise civil discussion into sh-t.

Originally Posted by davey123

I've never been to Greenville. This thread, however, has definitely piqued my interest. Thus, I will be making a trip to see the highly touted Greenville downtown in the next few weeks. Of course, I will make a trip to Whole Foods Market when I'm there.

It's most certainly worth a visit, and take your camera with you if you have one.

I have said this in other threads, but it is worth noting here. There is a lot of potential in Columbia's downtown area. I personally think that a lot more needs to be done. However, the potential, at least, seems quite vast. When I hear that there is a possibility that Greenville could get a Trader Joes, I cannot help but wonder why Columbia does not have a Whole Foods Market or a Trader Joes. Earth Fare is NOT the equivalent to Whole Foods Market, nor is the combination of Earth Fare and the Gourmet Shop the equivalent. In stating this, I am not suggesting that the city of Columbia sucks. There is room to make this constructive argument without it automatically being categorized that way. Isn't there?

Yes there is. This recent article (http://www.thestate.com/2010/03/14/1200076/economic-recovery-could-lure-high.html - broken link) from The State pretty much answers the question.

[davey123]

Originally Posted by Akhenaton06

Yes there is. This recent article (http://www.thestate.com/2010/03/14/1200076/economic-recovery-could-lure-high.html - broken link) from The State pretty much answers the question.

Thanks. I read that article several weeks ago. However, I just do not buy that argument. I think the answer lies much deeper than that article would suggest.

[g-man430]

Originally Posted by akhenaton06

or pretending to be from columbia in order to trash it elsewhere online when you're really from greenville. You probably didn't know about that though.



everything has its place, but not every thread where positives about columbia (and they do exist) are being discussed and other cities aren't being trashed in the process. I just hope that from this point on, the discussions can be more civil overall and less on the childish side. just don't follow g-man430 down the trails he blazes that can often turn an otherwise civil discussion into sh-t.


it's most certainly worth a visit, and take your camera with you if you have one.


Yes there is. This recent article (http://www.thestate.com/2010/03/14/1200076/economic-recovery-could-lure-high.html - broken link) from the state pretty much answers the question.

Oh, you mean that guy who posts on thestate.com? No, it's not me either. I don't post on that newspaper website.

What can I say? I have to leave my legacy. Did you pass the popcorn this way yet?

[g-man430]

Originally Posted by davey123

Thanks. I read that article several weeks ago. However, I just do not buy that argument. I think the answer lies much deeper than that article would suggest.

[Akhenaton06]

Originally Posted by davey123

Thanks. I read that article several weeks ago. However, I just do not buy that argument. I think the answer lies much deeper than that article would suggest.

Why don't you buy it? It makes sense to me. Columbia has a bunch of malls scattered throughout the area that dilutes purchasing power metrowide. What are you thinking? I'm curious to get your thoughts on the matter.

Originally Posted by g-man430

Oh, you mean that guy who posts on thestate.com? No, it's not me either. I don't post on that newspaper website.

I know it's not you.

[g-man430]

Originally Posted by Akhenaton06

Why don't you buy it? It makes sense to me. Columbia has a bunch of malls scattered throughout the area that dilutes purchasing power metrowide. What are you thinking? I'm curious to get your thoughts on the matter.

Agreed. Haywood Mall might be the largest and highest-end mall in the state but it's the only one in all of Greenville County and it's centrally located. That's why it's able to attract tenants Columbia hasn't been able to do so like Apple and Pottery Barn. Columbia has several malls scattered throughout the metro area which makes it harder to attract these retailers due to less poulation demographics to draw from per mall than Haywood. However, i'm still not sure how Columbia hasn't been able to land things like Costco though. Seeing how Spartanburg and Myrtle Beach both have one, Columbia should too in my opinion. There is no way the Westgate Mall area of Spartanburg has a higher population demographic range than the Harbison Blvd. or Village at Sandhill areas in Columbia. At least I don't think it does.