Mariott buying Firestone property on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd (pharmacy, closing)

[WanderingImport]

Originally Posted by CoastalGAGuy

Well, lessee.... We're down to just one grocery store. Zero hardware stores, One car repair place, One barber shop (I know there are more expensive luxury hair salons), one drug store, the list goes on. If you don't own a car, you are riding a bus to find any semblance of variety in such things. In previous years, there were multiple options for each of these services.

We only really had one good grocery store downtown for years anyway (Kroger). Okay, Firestone is closing. Good. That property is much better suited for better things. I never took my car there anyway. There's the Acura shop that I actually took my car to a decent amount when I lived in Savannah. You said yourself there are many more salons around...so that takes care of the hair cut. I don't remember downtown having a drug store for years. Unless you're a builder nut, I don't think a hardware store is a necessity. Most people drive to those anyway.

So downtown doesn't have everything. Most of the necessities are covered though. IMO they are at least. Anyone else want to chime in on this?

[pink caddy]

Originally Posted by WanderingImport

We only really had one good grocery store downtown for years anyway (Kroger). Okay, Firestone is closing. Good. That property is much better suited for better things. I never took my car there anyway. There's the Acura shop that I actually took my car to a decent amount when I lived in Savannah. You said yourself there are many more salons around...so that takes care of the hair cut. I don't remember downtown having a drug store for years. Unless you're a builder nut, I don't think a hardware store is a necessity. Most people drive to those anyway.

So downtown doesn't have everything. Most of the necessities are covered though. IMO they are at least. Anyone else want to chime in on this?

Yep, where am I going to buy my high button shoes?? I need a new pair for Christmas.

[Newsboy]

M

Originally Posted by WanderingImport

We only really had one good grocery store downtown for years anyway (Kroger). Okay, Firestone is closing. Good. That property is much better suited for better things. I never took my car there anyway. There's the Acura shop that I actually took my car to a decent amount when I lived in Savannah. You said yourself there are many more salons around...so that takes care of the hair cut. I don't remember downtown having a drug store for years. Unless you're a builder nut, I don't think a hardware store is a necessity. Most people drive to those anyway.

So downtown doesn't have everything. Most of the necessities are covered though. IMO they are at least. Anyone else want to chime in on this?

There's been a drug store at the corner of Bull and State streets for decades -- maybe a 100 years even. For most of the early part of the last century, it was a Walgreens. This is very prominent in the opening scene of the original 1962 version of "Cape Fear." Later it became Revco. Today it is a CVS with a full-service pharmacy. It is the highest-grossing CVS in the entire Savannah region.

Directly across the street is a full service barber shop. There is another on Bryan Street near City Market. I'm certain there are others.

There are plenty of services still left downtown -- lawyers, doctors, dentists, loan companies, Bradley Lock & Key.

All the banks are headquartered downtown. All the local governments are based downtown. The courts are all downtown. The federal government has a huge presence downtown. The FBI, the Army Corp of Engineers, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Savannah Region -- all downtown.

Downtown Savannah has the largest residential population, concentration of local and national retailers, and bars and restaurants of any downtown in Georgia -- including Atlanta. Think about it.

Downtown Savannah is far more than just SCAD kids and tourists.

[WanderingImport]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

M

There's been a drug store at the corner of Bull and State streets for decades -- maybe a 100 years even. For most of the early part of the last century, it was a Walgreens. This is very prominent in the opening scene of the original 1962 version of "Cape Fear." Later it became Revco. Today it is a CVS with a full-service pharmacy. It is the highest-grossing CVS in the entire Savannah region.

Oops! I don't know how I could've possibly forgotten that CVS! The one that never stays open late. Never understood that.

[CoastalGAGuy]

Yes, yes... Savannah's not lacking in ALL services. But, the trend is in the tourist direction. That is, unless you live in a hotel, or don't need to park on the street, or if you eat out all the time, and have no desire to shop anywhere other than Kroger for your stuff (personally, not my favorite grocery chain by a long shot).

There's a reason that's the highest grossing pharmacy in the Savannah region - it's the only one in the densest part of town, and yes, that's true even though it's closed part of the night, so that should tell you something. On every other street corner from midtown to the southside to the islands, there are many more choices.

Yeah, lawyers. The only time we've had a shortage of those downtown was when Oglethorpe originally outlawed them. Ever since, we have had a bumper crop.

[J2rescue]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

M


Downtown Savannah has the largest residential population, concentration of local and national retailers, and bars and restaurants of any downtown in Georgia -- including Atlanta. Think about it.

Downtown Savannah is far more than just SCAD kids and tourists.

Ummm no it does not. There are more national retailers in downtown Savannah, but Atlanta's downtown population is much larger.

Originally Posted by CoastalGAGuy

Yes, yes... Savannah's not lacking in ALL services. But, the trend is in the tourist direction. That is, unless you live in a hotel, or don't need to park on the street, or if you eat out all the time, and have no desire to shop anywhere other than Kroger for your stuff (personally, not my favorite grocery chain by a long shot).

Its seems to me that the presence of all the tourists has created more retail and service options than would otherwise exist based on the population.

[CoastalGAGuy]

It just turns out that the needs of tourists don't align all that closely with the needs of permanent residents. When people are on holiday in given place, they are just more likely to be shopping for a Michael Kors dress than they are a jar of peanut butter.

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by WanderingImport

Oops! I don't know how I could've possibly forgotten that CVS! The one that never stays open late. Never understood that.

They're open until 9 pm or so. I don't think it's a wise idea having a 24 hour (or late-night) drugstore in downtown Savannah, considering the drunks factor. That just wouldn't be safe or smart IMO.

[WanderingImport]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

They're open until 9 pm or so. I don't think it's a wise idea having a 24 hour (or late-night) drugstore in downtown Savannah, considering the drunks factor. That just wouldn't be safe or smart IMO.

I could be wrong, but didn't it used to be open until 6 or 7pm?

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by WanderingImport

I could be wrong, but didn't it used to be open until 6 or 7pm?

Uh ... you didn't even remember it was there at all, so ... yeah ... maybe ... whatever ...