Potranco & 1604 Part II (San Antonio, Mart: salary, suburbia, campus)

[jules07]

Originally Posted by Dwangle

Ok this is one of my crazy ideas. I am sure it is impossible but what if the pawn shops could somehow connect to EBAY? Amazon does it with independ retailers, why not Bay? I don't mind buying used if the price is right. I go to San Antonio pawn shops all the time. I just think they charge too much

They already do. And have been for years. Truth is, my "little" brother manages a very high-end pawn store in Scottsdale, Az and has been in the pawn biz on & off most of his life. Probably about 15 years ago he started doing that at a different store he was managing. They had some of their better things on eBay. A LOT of the stuff was sold that way. It was highly successful. Many of the bigger pawn stores' websites have links to their eBay stores and even have an employee (or more) who does nothing but handle their eBay biz.

And yeah, having heard many of my brother's pawn biz stories, *most* pawn stores are VERY ethical. They get a bad name, but they strive to practice good business principles.

[The Black Irish]

One more thing the world does not need. Pawn shops....who needs those!?!?! I am still waiting for this side of town to get something original. Not a brand new Wendy's, pawn shop, etc. A record/book store would be nice. No, not a Barnes and Noble. A locally run operation with a coffee shop would be an awesome place. This city is slowly turning into one big strip center with the same stores everywhere.

[burgrat]

Originally Posted by The Black Irish

One more thing the world does not need. Pawn shops....who needs those!?!?! I am still waiting for this side of town to get something original. Not a brand new Wendy's, pawn shop, etc. A record/book store would be nice. No, not a Barnes and Noble. A locally run operation with a coffee shop would be an awesome place. This city is slowly turning into one big strip center with the same stores everywhere.

I agree, but it is increasingly difficult for independent places to survive. Even Borders Books could not make it, so imagine how a 'Mom and Pop' bookstore would struggle to compete with B&N, Amazon, etc. Same goes for coffee places. You have to really do it right (excellent quality) and be unique to do well. Places like Olmos Perk coffee and Magnolia Pancake Haus come to mind, but I don't think 1604/Potranco will see anything like that for a LONG time.
So for now, it's more franchises and people selling puppies on the corner.

[gwrober]

I don't see what's wrong with having a pawn shop nearby. They get a bad rap.

Bookstores are failing - we had a cool coffee shop on Potranco (Sips!) but their landlord was difficult so they moved, and the move killed the shop. Would love someplace besides $tarbuck$ to hang out, especially a mom and pop place. Right now our corner of SA just isn't 'trendy' enough, I think, for a M&P place to survive well.

Originally Posted by The Black Irish

One more thing the world does not need. Pawn shops....who needs those!?!?! I am still waiting for this side of town to get something original. Not a brand new Wendy's, pawn shop, etc. A record/book store would be nice. No, not a Barnes and Noble. A locally run operation with a coffee shop would be an awesome place. This city is slowly turning into one big strip center with the same stores everywhere.

[The Black Irish]

It honestly could have been any chain or business. This area just seems to lack any business with any substance. I mean look at 1604/Culebra. Nothing original about that area at all. Look around 1604/Potranco and it is the same situation. The same thing all the time in every part of time is very bland. Keeping my fingers crossed for a solid hole in the wall bar as well. Just sayin'.

[teenwolf80]

Originally Posted by The Black Irish

One more thing the world does not need. Pawn shops....who needs those!?!?! I am still waiting for this side of town to get something original. Not a brand new Wendy's, pawn shop, etc. A record/book store would be nice. No, not a Barnes and Noble. A locally run operation with a coffee shop would be an awesome place. This city is slowly turning into one big strip center with the same stores everywhere.

Why would anyone invest money in a dying/pretty much dead business model? Book stores and record stores in the suburbs are about as profitable as a pay phone nowadays.

[The Black Irish]

Your mindset proves my point. You probably shop at Wal-Mart as well.

[teenwolf80]

Originally Posted by The Black Irish

Your mindset proves my point. You probably shop at Wal-Mart as well.

My mindset? You mean my business mindset? Yeah, because unlike me everyone who's ever opened a small independent business did it out of a pure passion and love with no intent to make a profit/living or survive.

If you're so confident an independent record shop or book store will work then why aren't you breaking ground?

I'm all for independently owned businesses. The more mom and pop start ups the better. But that's not going to happen with regards to record stores and books when those already small niche concepts are even smaller now. The margins in something like that is pennies.

The fact that you live in suburbia yet rile against everything that defines suburbia is comical and sad at the same time.

As for your "astute" judgement of me, no I don't shop at Walmart, but what if I did? Would that define who I was outside of someone needing to shop for something that Walmart might have?

But aside from all that, I could see a combination coffee shop/bookstore/music store working in the suburbs, if done right. But stand alone book or record store. No.

[The Black Irish]

Originally Posted by teenwolf80

My mindset? You mean my business mindset? Yeah, because unlike me everyone who's ever opened a small independent business did it out of a pure passion and love with no intent to make a profit/living or survive.

If you're so confident an independent record shop or book store will work then why aren't you breaking ground?

I'm all for independently owned businesses. The more mom and pop start ups the better. But that's not going to happen with regards to record stores and books when those already small niche concepts are even smaller now. The margins in something like that is pennies.

The fact that you live in suburbia yet rile against everything that defines suburbia is comical and sad at the same time.

As for your "astute" judgement of me, no I don't shop at Walmart, but what if I did? Would that define who I was outside of someone needing to shop for something that Walmart might have?

But aside from all that, I could see a combination coffee shop/bookstore/music store working in the suburbs, if done right. But stand alone book or record store. No.

Do you live in this area? I am not breaking ground in this area because I am busy teaching the children in my community. Who knows, maybe I am your child's teacher??? Secondly, if you do shop at Wal Mart that tells me everything I need to know about you. And what makes you think I live in the suburbs?

[teenwolf80]

Originally Posted by The Black Irish

Do you live in this area? I am not breaking ground in this area because I am busy teaching the children in my community. Who knows, maybe I am your child's teacher??? Secondly, if you do shop at Wal Mart that tells me everything I need to know about you. And what makes you think I live in the suburbs?

It says NW San Antonio as your location and your in a Potranco/1604 thread talking about wanting this or that in that area. Do you not live in the suburbia?

I guess you missed the part where I said I don't shop at Walmart. Have I ever gone in and bought something from them? Yes. So what? Who hasn't? It's a store, are you that much of an elitist?

Btw, I have no children so no you're not and I don't live in the 1604/Potranco area which is why I hardly if ever post in this thread.