For what it's worth: Royal Oak comes in at #8 (Detroit: 2015, lease)

[adams_aj]

The 10 Most Exciting Small Cities In America - Business Insider

You be the judge.

[belleislerunner]

Was that list compiled from data in 2007? The picture of the the Fifth on Washington was funny.

Still good to have MI representation.

Sadly with the Caribou Coffee closed, downtown Barnes & Noble set to close and Coldstone closed - Royal Oak is starting to lose its reason to go there outside of 10PM-2AM. It used to be fun on a lazy Saturday/Sunday to grab a coffee/stroll around to Barnes and Noble/grab a paper etc - now all those options are gone.

[DTWflyer]

Royal Oak is really going through an identify crisis.

One one hand they still are a large draw for the nightime bar/restaurant scene for the twentysomething crowd. However, they are now competing against a resurging downtown/midtown Detroit.

On the other hand, they are desperately trying to preserve a family-friend appeal for the city. Most of the neighborhoods away from downtown are great for raising children - walkable streets with sidewalks, neighborhood schools, and neighborhood parks. However, the downtown area doesn't have much for families ahd children. They keep talking about trying to change this but there isn't much to show. They are talking about building a park in the downtown area (on the sorts of Shain Park in Birmingham) but location and funding are TBD. They do not have much in the way of retail and restaurants in the downtown area that are family-friendly. Losing Barnes and Noble in 2014/2015 will be a huge blow to downtown as the can't agree on lower lease rates and it looks like another high energy bar/club is going to go into that building.

[Tekkie]

Originally Posted by belleislerunner

Was that list compiled from data in 2007? The picture of the the Fifth on Washington was funny.

Still good to have MI representation.

Sadly with the Caribou Coffee closed, downtown Barnes & Noble set to close and Coldstone closed - Royal Oak is starting to lose its reason to go there outside of 10PM-2AM. It used to be fun on a lazy Saturday/Sunday to grab a coffee/stroll around to Barnes and Noble/grab a paper etc - now all those options are gone.

I knew Caribou closed. It's supposed to turn into a Peet's Coffee and Tea though.

B&N and Coldstone are closing?

I love that B&N. I used to ride my bike during the summer down there on my lunch break to grab a coffee and read a book. That's terrible news for Downtown RO.

[Tekkie]

Originally Posted by DTWflyer

Losing Barnes and Noble in 2014/2015 will be a huge blow to downtown as the can't agree on lower lease rates and it looks like another high energy bar/club is going to go into that building.

I couldn't agree more. The last thing "the Joke" needs is another club. I can't help to think of Downtown Pontiac when I read this.

[adams_aj]

Originally Posted by Tekkie

I knew Caribou closed. It's supposed to turn into a Peet's Coffee and Tea though.

B&N and Coldstone are closing?

I love that B&N. I used to ride my bike during the summer down there on my lunch break to grab a coffee and read a book. That's terrible news for Downtown RO.

Maybe that's part of the problem, Tekkie: you rode your bike down there to "read a book". You (and probably others who "Loved that B&N") should have BOUGHT a book or two. It's not a library. Unless you mis-phrased your post.

[Tekkie]

Originally Posted by adams_aj

Maybe that's part of the problem, Tekkie: you rode your bike down there to "read a book". You (and probably others who "Loved that B&N") should have BOUGHT a book or two. It's not a library. Unless you mis-phrased your post.

Uh, they have a Starbucks on the 2nd floor. What else would I do at a coffee shop? And I have bought plenty of items from B&N including magazines, reference books, and a Nook. Maybe you shouldn't be so pre-judgmental.

[adams_aj]

Duly noted. Thanks for trying to support the bookstore through your patronage. It's a shame others don't. That place is always filled with people reading rather than buying.

I have heard that with the closing of a lot of "big box" bookstores that there is now a resurgence of the independents. Might be a good time for one of us to open an independent bookstore in Royal Oak?

[Tekkie]

Originally Posted by adams_aj

Duly noted. Thanks for trying to support the bookstore through your patronage. It's a shame others don't. That place is always filled with people reading rather than buying.

I have heard that with the closing of a lot of "big box" bookstores that there is now a resurgence of the independents. Might be a good time for one of us to open an independent bookstore in Royal Oak?

Trust me, I feel that RO needs B&N there more than they need another fratboy-luring club.

[Arthur Digby Sellers]

Originally Posted by adams_aj

Duly noted. Thanks for trying to support the bookstore through your patronage. It's a shame others don't. That place is always filled with people reading rather than buying.

I have heard that with the closing of a lot of "big box" bookstores that there is now a resurgence of the independents. Might be a good time for one of us to open an independent bookstore in Royal Oak?

A used bookstore would be the way to go. Those can still be successful because the prices are lower than Amazon and the trade in aspect is something that the online retailers can't (yet) match.

B&N will soon be following Borders and Blockbuster into the brick and mortar scrap heap. They just don't offer enough value to justify how much more you pay over Amazon.