There's a theory that leasing to chain stores along the avenue will create synergy and balance with small businesses. But as people consider their position on the proposed Beverages & More, which will be located at 1133 Lincoln Ave., take a closer look at the long-term impacts. We might find that the synergy people are talking about is fleeting and false.

In the short term, there do appear to be some advantages. A small dress shop may indeed gain foot traffic with Starbucks or Beverages & More as its neighbor. And that's great, so long as their businesses are complementary. But when a Gap moves in across the street, suddenly things won't feel so synergistic.

Chain stores, with their pricing and brand power, often place small businesses at a competitive disadvantage. Just ask any local coffee shop owner who attempts to operate in the shadow of a Starbucks.

Moreover, many well-capitalized chains have the ability to pay higher initial rents, to operate at a short-term loss in order to gain traction and to absorb future rent hikes.

As our commercial property owners grow accustomed to this sort of tenant, the market will drive up rents and create an unspoken preference for chains, which all adds up to serious market barriers for starting and sustaining small businesses.

There are also some pretty pessimistic assumptions at the heart of the synergy and balance theory. To wit, it assumes local businesses cannot lure customers to the avenue on their own. It assumes a Starbucks or a Beverages & More will generate more additional foot traffic than a local alternative. And deep down, it assumes the avenue isn't thriving.

That's how these trends take hold. We begin to believe we need chain stores. We begin to believe we're missing out if we don't open our doors and invite them in. We begin to believe they're an inevitability. But courting chains in the name of short-term synergy and balance ultimately closes the door on small businesses. And in the end, it ensures an enduring imbalance--and an enduring sameness--for Willow Glen.

Steve Otto

Malone Road

Reuse strategy is not
a solution, misleading

As a nonprofit management consultant and a Willow Glen community leader, I disagree with city official Maria Hurtado's claim that the community center reuse strategy is "a creative and innovative way of dealing with this budgetary crisis." ("New community centers up, while status of old ones still remains in limbo," Feb. 15.)

In fact, I am disturbed that our city officials are misleading residents by implying that there could be scores of community-based organizations simply waiting to bail the city out of its budget mess.

What the city isn't telling the public is that very few nonprofit organizations have expressed any interest at all in taking over the operation of our city's community centers. Most nonprofit executives would never risk their agency's financial health by taking on this unfunded responsibility, without receiving any financial incentives from the city for their efforts.

What would be innovative is if our city officials simply told the truth.

Clark Williams

Spencer Avenue

Enough already with
all the liquor stores

That was an interesting letter from Marie Anderson of Meacham Oppenheimer ('Let's support merchants that serve Lincoln Ave.," Feb. 15). What I read between the lines is let any business that wants to spend money lease on Lincoln Avenue because it will make Marie Anderson's job easier to lease the vacant spaces, i.e., Beverages & More.

The letter is not without merit, but I disagree with having businesses close together that offer "crossover products." We have enough liquor stores in Willow Glen, namely on Lincoln Avenue, and especially ones that want to include wine and beer tasting. Enough with the booze already; it's killing people.

Aren't shoppers at a liquor store generally in and out, without spending money in other retail stores, anyway?

We need more businesses that will attract shoppers who will leisurely linger and browse.

Unfortunately, we also have enough coffee shops on Lincoln Avenue. I'm a big fan of Starbucks, but is it needed right by Peet's Coffee? And is the city willing to increase the garbage detail, which is barely making it now?

John Poyser

Settle Avenue