What small businesses is Pittsburgh missing? (Liberty: car rental, rental, buy)

[Hopes]

Have you ever thought to yourself, "I wish Pittsburgh had......."

I'm thinking of starting a new business. I'm in the brainstorming phase.

[TheYO]

I'm moving to Pittsburgh in a couple weeks, and there seems to be a lack of authentic Mexican food. All I want is a little hole-in-the-wall place on the Southside that's open til 3am and serves cheap, authentic tacos. I spent some time in Chicago, and one of the best things there was this tiny place that was open until 5am and served some of the best tacos al pastor I've ever had. It was the perfect way to end a long night of bar hopping. Nothing fancy, white walls, brightly lit, but amazing tacos and horchata.

[sskink]

I don't know what's missing in the city proper. I seem to find whatever I need.

However, the South Hills could use a couple of things:
a) a shop that fixes Macs that's not an Apple store or part of an electronics chain.
b) a fish market
c) a licensed commercial kitchen for rent (for small scale caterers, start-up bakers/cooks).

[ForYourLungsOnly]

the entire city needs...

more preferably independent bookstores (i know.. a crazy thing to ask for in this day and age)
more MUSIC STORES (and no, not 'The Exchange')

[AnneWest]

Originally Posted by ForYourLungsOnly

the entire city needs...

more preferably independent bookstores (i know.. a crazy thing to ask for in this day and age)
more MUSIC STORES (and no, not 'The Exchange')

Yes! Bookstore! Please!
I worked at Borders until it died. I worked in 2 small used bookstores until they died.
All that's left really is Barnes&Noble, Half-Price Books, and Bradley's in my traveling area. (I won't go into the reasons why I dislike each of those stores.)
If you open one, I'll come work for you!

PS: Don't say it! I refuse to believe I was the common factor in each of those stores eventually closing.

[stevo6]

Originally Posted by AnneWest

Yes! Bookstore! Please!
I worked at Borders until it died. I worked in 2 small used bookstores until they died.
All that's left really is Barnes&Noble, Half-Price Books, and Bradley's in my traveling area. (I won't go into the reasons why I dislike each of those stores.)
If you open one, I'll come work for you!

PS: Don't say it! I refuse to believe I was the common factor in each of those stores eventually closing.

Probably the common factor is Amazon!

[ForYourLungsOnly]

Originally Posted by AnneWest

Yes! Bookstore! Please!
I worked at Borders until it died. I worked in 2 small used bookstores until they died.
All that's left really is Barnes&Noble, Half-Price Books, and Bradley's in my traveling area. (I won't go into the reasons why I dislike each of those stores.)
If you open one, I'll come work for you!

PS: Don't say it! I refuse to believe I was the common factor in each of those stores eventually closing.

haha my dream is actually to own a coffee shop that also sells alcohol (c'mon people...Bailey's and Kaluha based coffee drinks!?) and used/new records (add a small stage for local musicians to perform on). you're free to work there for me! I now live in Chicago though, so it would most likely be there. but alas...anesthesia school is a stressful and busy distraction

back to reality though... in Pittsburgh, I do know that the bookstore on Craig St. near CMU is still open (forget the name) and there is an ok music store nearby that as well. Neither type of place is common enough in the city though. With the East End continuing to gentrify, I think East Liberty would be a nice place for a few more book/music stores.

[ForYourLungsOnly]

Originally Posted by stevo6

Probably the common factor is Amazon!

lol you got it...that is why we need more local book stores that also sell used books, which can be priced competitively with Amazon. I am blown away by the prices of some books in the few existing chain bookstores. Why buy a book for 22 bucks when i can buy one in like new condition on Amazon for 3.50?

[Love2Golf09]

A few things I'd like to see more of 'round here.
1) more private bus shuttles from the suburbs to downtown
2) mexican restaurants
3) peruvian restaurants. Their food is actually better than mexico's.
4) some salsa/merengue dance clubs. We probably don't have the hispanic population to support them.
5) a nice country western bar on the south side.
6) A good electronics store. HH Gregg sucks and Best Buy might not be around much longer.
7) hourly car rental place for folks in the city
8) better options for hair cuts for men.
9) better business clothing stores for men. We have a Brooks Brothers downtown and at Tanger Outlets. We need more high class options.

[AnneWest]

Originally Posted by stevo6

Probably the common factor is Amazon!

Ha...Amazon was indeed part of Borders downfall. I mean, the numbskulls at HQ gave Amazon our internet business!
The other two, don't think so. The first store was sold when the owner and her husband moved south, and the new owner was...shall we say...in love with the idea of being a Bookstore Owner. Had no clue about the business itself.
The second store did well for 6.5 years, very tiny though and in a bad location. A large retail/commercial boom in the area drew most traffic away from it.

So my recommendation to Hopes is location..location..location for any sort of retail business.
Beyond that, advertising and excellent customer service with a smiling face at the counter is paramount.