Wikitravel Gives Bad Review of Little Rock (buy, bus)

[bchris02]

Originally Posted by DC at the Ridge

No, it doesn't. Little Rock shouldn't strive to be like Des Moines at all. Little Rock should strive to be the best that Little Rock can be. I'm sorry, but cookie-cutter cities, all with the same retailers, with similar entertainment venues, aren't any better than cookie-cutter neighborhoods with three floor-plans and five color schemes repeated ad nauseum.

It's the things that are unique about various cities that make them special. Not the similarities. Hip, urban vibe equals big yawn. I want Little Rock to build on what sets it apart from other cities. Is it rural, yes, it's rural. So build on that. More parks, more farmers' markets, more shops featuring local craftsmen. Why would I want Neiman Marcus to open a store, I can order from them on-line. Why would I want more TGIF's, I want more local cuisine using local ingredients. Nightclubs? meet Bible Belt. I want Arkansas writers and Arkansas artists and Arkansas musicians to have more venues. I certainly don't want the same urban scene that exists in Des Moines or Minneapolis or Louisville to become the norm in Little Rock. Celebrate who we are, not who we aren't.

Urban vibe may be a big yawn to you but small-town simplicity is a big yawn to many more. Why do you think so many of our young people leave? For one, they have to because there are no jobs here, and second, people want to get out and experience what they know is out there but is shunned or totally not available around here.

Don't want a Neiman Marcus? Excuse me but a town of almost 200,000 deserves more options than Wally World and Dillard's. I agree that we don't need more chain restaurants. We need more support for the local restaurants that we have. Its sad that TGI Friday's and Chilis are the most crowded places in town on weekend nights. Are they really that much better than the local venues, or are people just afraid to branch out? Nightclubs...there is a market for that. Nothing like you would find in Atlanta or Dallas, but there still could be more than there is. In addition, many of the attractions we have are very mediocre at best, the zoo being the first thing that comes to mind. Lets make them the best they can be, something we can be proud of. It seems like people around here are satisfied with mediocrity and don't want to strive for anything better. There is nothing wrong with progress!

[NYC1DAY]

of course it got a bad review. what is in little rock for it to get a good review?

the answer is nothing

[bchris02]

Originally Posted by NYC1DAY

of course it got a bad review. what is in little rock for it to get a good review?

the answer is nothing

[NYC1DAY]

Originally Posted by bchris02

when i think of little rock arkansas.....

i think of the university of arkansas. is it in little rock?

there is not one entertainment attraction that comes to mind

[North Pulaski Player]

Originally Posted by NYC1DAY

when i think of little rock arkansas.....

i think of the university of arkansas. is it in little rock?

there is not one entertainment attraction that comes to mind

No, that school is in Fayetteville, AR (about three hours northwest of LR). The University of Arkansas-Little Rock is in Little Rock though, but I don't think that you were referring to it.

[PurpleLove08]

Originally Posted by bchris02

Urban vibe may be a big yawn to you but small-town simplicity is a big yawn to many more. Why do you think so many of our young people leave? For one, they have to because there are no jobs here, and second, people want to get out and experience what they know is out there but is shunned or totally not available around here.

Don't want a Neiman Marcus? Excuse me but a town of almost 200,000 deserves more options than Wally World and Dillard's. I agree that we don't need more chain restaurants. We need more support for the local restaurants that we have. Its sad that TGI Friday's and Chilis are the most crowded places in town on weekend nights. Are they really that much better than the local venues, or are people just afraid to branch out? Nightclubs...there is a market for that. Nothing like you would find in Atlanta or Dallas, but there still could be more than there is. In addition, many of the attractions we have are very mediocre at best, the zoo being the first thing that comes to mind. Lets make them the best they can be, something we can be proud of. It seems like people around here are satisfied with mediocrity and don't want to strive for anything better. There is nothing wrong with progress!

But are big chains progress?
There are plenty of retail options for those who want it. Like you wanted your friends to do with restaurants, you need to branch out with retail.
If you aren't happy with the selection at a local business, make your voice heard. Let them know you'd happily spend more money but they don't have the brand or style you're looking for and happily point them in the right direction. If they don't respond to your request in say...three months time, why not look into starting your own retail establishment? You might be able to find other men who share your sense of style or want some other retail options. If you feel there is a market for it, DO IT! Don't just stand on the sidelines complaining, try to do something about it!

A lot of retail places are not doing well right now so I think we're barking up the wrong tree at this time.
How do we even know that the people of Little Rock want that? Have you looked at the average income of people and then look at how much we are taxed? A lot of people cannot AFFORD places like Neiman Marcus, Macy's, etc. They are too busy trying to pay off credit cards, pay their car payment, worried about their job (depending on their industry), etc.

If expensive clothes is what you're looking for, trust me you can find it at local boutiques. They are out there.
By spending money at local businesses you will do more for the Little Rock/Arkansas economy than you ever will by shopping at the likes of Neiman Marcus, Macy's, etc.



I agree with you about the zoo. A lot of people don't go because: 1) they've seen it all before
2)There are only so many times you can go to the zoo...
3) The exhibits are boring. I'd love to see pandas, giraffes, dolphins, hyenas, etc.
We can learn a lot from other successful zoos.
We're in a Catch 22, the city doesn't want to support the zoo because a lot of people don't frequent it and because the zoo is mediocre...a lot of people don't go.
I'd love to see more money put into the zoo. There are only so many times you can see the same thing over and over again.

I'd also like to see more exhibits come to the Art Museum.
Of course all those things take money but it would be nice if the stimulus money could be used for that.
You'd be putting zoo keepers to work, art historians, those who can do guides around the museum or zoo, etc.
You'd also be encouraging tourism to the state/city and who wouldn't want that?

[bchris02]

Originally Posted by LiveTodayLez08

How do we even know that the people of Little Rock want that? Have you looked at the average income of people and then look at how much we are taxed? A lot of people cannot AFFORD places like Neiman Marcus, Macy's, etc. They are too busy trying to pay off credit cards, pay their car payment, worried about their job (depending on their industry), etc.

I know now is not the best time for retail but I am talking more from a longer term broader perspective and why Little Rock hasn't been able to attract retailers that even smaller and lower-income markets have had no problem getting.

I agree with you about the zoo. A lot of people don't go because: 1) they've seen it all before
2)There are only so many times you can go to the zoo...
3) The exhibits are boring. I'd love to see pandas, giraffes, dolphins, hyenas, etc.
We can learn a lot from other successful zoos.
We're in a Catch 22, the city doesn't want to support the zoo because a lot of people don't frequent it and because the zoo is mediocre...a lot of people don't go.
I'd love to see more money put into the zoo. There are only so many times you can see the same thing over and over again.

I'd also like to see more exhibits come to the Art Museum.
Of course all those things take money but it would be nice if the stimulus money could be used for that.
You'd be putting zoo keepers to work, art historians, those who can do guides around the museum or zoo, etc.
You'd also be encouraging tourism to the state/city and who wouldn't want that?

I agree here, and its the same way with most Little Rock attractions. The Clinton Library is the only top-class attraction in this town that I can think of. LR could become more of a destination instead of a pass-through town if they could improve the existing attractions (zoo, art museum, museum of discovery, wild river country, etc) to this standard. I would like to see some of the stimulus money too go for improving some of these things that woulda actually matter to the state and city instead of rural broadband and road repairs in rural areas. If people want to live way out in the sticks, they should know they are going to have to accept dial-up internet and rough roads.

Sometimes I think the reason Little Rock is so neglected is because the state is dominated by rural politicians from rural areas who have it out for the capital city.

[North Pulaski Player]

Originally Posted by bchris02

Sometimes I think the reason Little Rock is so neglected is because the state is dominated by rural politicians from rural areas who have it out for the capital city.

You are exactly right with that assessment, and I think that even Northwest Arkansas is now feeling the pain from the politicians representing the rural areas. With this state being so rural, it forces resources to be thrown out in the middle of nowhere, where in many cases it will have little if any impact on the area because there are so few people there. A big example of this is the whole consolidation of school districts debate going on in the state - Pulaski County is the largest county in the state with a population of nearly 400,000 but has only three school districts, while Craighead County only has 70,000 people but has seven(7) school districts. I'm sure that the state could better utilize funds and services, but these rural politicians won't allow it to happen because they are trying to get reelected.

[jenni-b]

Did you see how many people went to the zoo on free day a few weeks ago? I think they see now that people WILL support the zoo. They need to expand it and make it more attractive. They've done a lot with the big cat exhibits and so on. They just need to keep it up!

Sometimes I wonder if Dillard's has a hand in keeping Macy's, Nordstrom and such out of Little Rock. It does seem strange that Dillard's has been the only big upscale department store here for years and years. (Besides M.M. Cohn's, and you see how they ended up.)

But LTL is right, there are plenty of small boutiques that carry most of the lines you would find in the national chains. AND you can support a local business as well.

[PurpleLove08]

Originally Posted by jenni-b

Did you see how many people went to the zoo on free day a few weeks ago? I think they see now that people WILL support the zoo. They need to expand it and make it more attractive. They've done a lot with the big cat exhibits and so on. They just need to keep it up!

Sometimes I wonder if Dillard's has a hand in keeping Macy's, Nordstrom and such out of Little Rock. It does seem strange that Dillard's has been the only big upscale department store here for years and years. (Besides M.M. Cohn's, and you see how they ended up.)

But LTL is right, there are plenty of small boutiques that carry most of the lines you would find in the national chains. AND you can support a local business as well.

Well it was FREE...that would be the only reason I'd go.
If people really thought it was worth it, they would go any other day and pay the prices.
I spoke to a woman today at work, she took her two kids to the zoo and she wound up spending around $50.
Now if we had a really good zoo...I wouldn't think that was such a big deal but quite frankly, our zoo sucks.
At the same time if people really want our zoo to improve, they will put their money where their mouth is.
People should write the planning commission of Little Rock, the mayor of Little Rock, etc and let them know that they want the zoo to expand. It will bring in tourism dollars and might even garner national recognition if we design it right.

Dillard's probably does play a role but I'm sure future retailers look at the success of other retail endeavors. I think if they feel their business will prosper, they'll come here. Right now, I certainly wouldn't bring in a Macy's, Nordstrom's, etc. They are struggling nationally (as are MOST retailers) and most people in the Little Rock metro wouldn't grace their store except to maybe window shop.