I missed out on this one
One of the last single-screen theatres in the Bay Area has closed.
http://www.renaissancerialto.com/current/PARK.htm
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/09/19/BAG8REPTJ21.DTL&type=movies
One of the things I really love to do is visit the smaller and single-screen theatres in the area. It gives me a lot of pleasure and there’s always something about the theatres – some have extravagant decorations, some have dedicated and knowledgable staff, some simply have small-town charm and not much else to offer. But it’s always a fun trip to get out and see a theatre that’s not the same as the rest.
I never got to the Park Theatre. I don’t know why; Lafayette isn’t that far away. And I just now discovered that it’s closed. It’s one fewer single-screen theatre for me to discover.
Goodbye, Park. I never got to know you.
That’s a shame. A real big
That’s a shame. A real big shame.
You probably know about this web site- http://www.mistersf.com/
I, and many people that you know had to stop reading it a long time ago. Far too many places that were near and dear to me had fallen to “progress”- or so it’s called.
Don’t think for a moment that this is SF bashing (get over your defensive stance allready, willya!!!!). Sadly, this is going on all over the United States, and parts of Canadia (the parts I’ve travelled anyway).
I believe that the correct and more accurate term to use is “generification”
The best example I can offer is Route 66. Start in victorville and ride to Santa Monica. Not less than 10 years ago (perhaps even 5), the entire ride would take you, say, four hours. Now, you’re lucky to make it in eight (or more on the weekends). you will pass one after another of shopping centers that all hold the same businesses (Lowes, Walmart, ect). some only a few blocks within each other. This is not counting the hundreds of ‚uh, “condo” communities (i.e. renamed apartment complexes).
More northern in places like Idaho, Montana & Washington, it’s common to hear phrases like ‘It’s so beautiful and peaceful here- let’s develop here’. I wish I was kidding about that.
In Montana, it was so bad, that a local county issued a guide for new “residents”. This guide included things like, and this is no joke, you are responsible for clearing the snow off of your driveway, not the city, and calling 911 because someone is fishing a mile upstream on the creek that runs through your property is not considered theft.
So what does all of this have to do with the closing of a movie theater in SF? A lot actually.
First, you have the developers- the people with the cash and power to buy up the commercial properties when they become available, or a a CCIM makes the owners the right offer.
Secondly, the above are supported by people with the mindset that they want everything framiliar, safe, and predictable. Take note of all the people who are trying to get SoMa and it’s clubs closed down & converted.
So what can be done about it? Not a lot. so-called “direct action” no longer works. Pulling up survey stakes, as an example will delay the construction, but will never halt it. Myself and another person pulled up the stakes on a development project for two years. In the end, the mall and condo development were built.
How about harrassment of the people? doesn’t work either. Been going on in SF & Seattle for years and years. But nothing much has changed.
So, again, what can be done?
You know the answer, let us all know- because no one I know has the answer.
Some refer to this as “Gentrification”. Not me. I feel
Actually, this time I didn’t
Actually, this time I didn’t take it as SF bashing at all. You can’t grieve the loss of parts of a place you don’t like to begin with.
Thank you for this.
I know the answer.
First,
I know the answer.
First, you have to understand the reason why little movie theaters go out of business, as well as why they build Lowes, Staples, etc, everywhere. That reason is that people are voting for them with their wallets. Not enough people care enough about the interesting little theaters to pay the increased price necessary to cover the extra overhead the single theater owner has. And from what I have seen, people flock to the the big chain stores you deplore. I, too, admit to buying more than a few computer parts at our local Staples and BestBuy instead of hunting out some little ma-and-pa computer store.
Your attempt to halt construction by pulling up survey markers is both childish and selfish, in addition to being futile. Why should a handful of people such as yourself feel compelled to perform criminal acts to prevent some businessman from providing a service that the vast majority of the people apparently crave? You are simply frustrated because most people DO support these strip malls and buy those condos.
Your mission should be to convince the rest of the people why they should support these little theaters, avoid the strip malls, and live somewhere else. Do that and these developers will wither away.
Dad
“Your attempt to halt
“Your attempt to halt construction by pulling up survey markers is both childish and selfish, in addition to being futile.”
Futile? Yes. I mentioned that. Childish and selfish? Hardly. See the reason below.
“Why should a handful of people such as yourself feel compelled to perform criminal acts to prevent some businessman from providing a service that the vast majority of the people apparently crave?”
If you ever come out to California, take a drive along the formerly scenic Pacific coast highway. Out here, we call the craving “sprawl”. And frankly, we do not need a shopping mall every mile that sells exactly the same things (McDonalds, Walmart, Petco, etc).
“You are simply frustrated because most people DO support these strip malls and buy those condos.”
No, I am frustrated because these strip malls and condo project ruin the areas they are built in. They are built for quick cash. If you drive through Huntington Beach, or even in some of the smaller towns east of SF, you will see many of these malls boarded up, and falling apart. Once the money dries up, the shops close up and move on.
“Your mission should be to convince the rest of the people why they should support these little theaters, avoid the strip malls, and live somewhere else. Do that and these developers will wither away.” O
Doesn’t work. I used to do that years ago, but burnt out. I’m happier writing & photographing far-away destinations, people and events.
And just FYI, I worked for a CCIM for two years.
“You can’t grieve the loss
“You can’t grieve the loss of parts of a place you don’t like to begin with.”
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It doesn’t suck to see a
It doesn’t suck to see a place you don’t like go to the dogs. It only hurts to see the degradation of a place you do like. Hence I did not see your post as SF-bashing.
Randy does have a point
Randy does have a point there. The developers will do their damage whether or not there’s any demand – or whether or not there’s enough long-term demand to prevent what they do from being a blight.
But to your point, you’re absolutely right, and that’s what makes me sad. I hate to think that we live in a country full of people who only care about getting the cheapest products with no regard to quality or service. Especially as we move towards a service-based economy, to think that Americans crave stores full of minimum-wage workers who have no knowledge of the products they sell and who have no authority to take responsibility for customer service deeply disappoints me. If we live in a country with the philosophy that our values are reflected in the market, the desire for nothing but surface flash and instant gratification are the true values of America. That’s a pretty sad indictment that you’ve made.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to run out and get dinner before McDonalds closes.
Sadly, these low-priced
Sadly, these low-priced stores like Walmart have better customer service policies than most of the high-end or mom-and-pop stores. They offer no-question money back refunds, while the expensive stores grudgingly give you store credit, and that only for a plainly defective product.
Very few developers built malls or condos without first determining that there is a demand. And they generally seem to be be correct. All these malls are always packed with customers, even if, as Anonymous says, there is another one just down the street. That one is packed, too. We have two Shaws Supermarkets within a quarter mile of each other, and both appear to do well.
I would be happier if this wasn’t true. I think the country would be a lot better off with less of a spending habit and a more rural, small town environment. However, I don’t think that enough people agree with me to change things back.
Dad
Ah, ok. Thanks for the
Ah, ok. Thanks for the clarification.
” Sadly, these low-priced
” Sadly, these low-priced stores like Walmart have better customer service policies than most of the high-end or mom-and-pop stores. They offer no-question money back refunds, while the expensive stores grudgingly give you store credit, and that only for a plainly defective product.”
That’s not true, for a number of reasons. Buying from a smaller store means that the goods will probably be in higher quality, and probably not some cheap piece of crap from Walmart. So the chances of a product breaking down or needing replacement. What you are doing, is quoting, almost word-for-word, the propoganda issued by WalMart.
Now, let’s talk about their treatment of their employees, and the wages they’re paid for such abuse.
“Very few developers built malls or condos without first determining that there is a demand.”
While research is done, most are built, because a demand can be made, not because one exists. There was no demand for a condo complex/shopping mall in Christal Cove along PCH, and yet, there it is.
“Buying from a smaller store
“Buying from a smaller store means that the goods will probably be in higher quality, and probably not some cheap piece of crap from Walmart. So the chances of a product breaking down or needing replacement. What you are doing, is quoting, almost word-for-word, the propoganda issued by WalMart.”
As for quoting propoganda, I think Steve will vouch for the fact that I do my own thinking, right or wrong.
The only thing you can be sure of is that the smaller store will charge you more and give you a hassle if you decide to return it. Walmart sells a lot of brand-name goods that are priced lower than identical goods at most smaller stores.
Yes, you can buy higher quality merchandise at other stores, but most of us don’t need it. I know a lady who only buys expensive cooking pans. She says they’ll last her forever. Probably true, but her fry pan cost over $500. I won’t spend that much on pans in my lifetime. Rolls-Royce vs. Toyota issue.
If I want better quality I go somewhere else. For example, I wouldn’t buy a suit there, but certainly do buy Fruit-of-the-Loom.
As for how Walmart treats their employees, that’s a separate issue. But they always seem to be able to find help willing to take the “abuse.”
“While research is done, most are built, because a demand can be made, not because one exists. There was no demand for a condo complex/shopping mall in Christal Cove along PCH, and yet, there it is.”
And do the people flock to it? That is the common indicator of demand for a condo complex/shopping mall.
You talk like you think malls, box stores, and apartment buildings shouldn’t exist. In my rural environment I could be happy without them. But where would Steve sleep in SF without large apartment buildings?
Dad
Why, I’d sleep on the train,
Why, I’d sleep on the train, of course.
Actually, I’ve only lived in a building taller than three stories once since I moved back. There is, however, an argument to be made that SF should have more big apartment buildings.
It looks as though the two of you are working with different definitions (or at least different usage) of the word “demand.” Randy seems to be looking for an existing conscious desire in the people in the area. Your definition is more the common market definition, that demand can be created after the fact. Randy’s definition says that if demand didn’t exist prior to construction, that it’s artificial and not real demand. You seem to be saying that if people buy it, they must have always wanted it. Energy versus potential energy.
It’s largely irrelevant though. I think the real problem that Randy was talking about is when developers determine that there is enough demand to support construction, go in and build something, sell their lots and get out, having made their money. Ten years down the line, you have abandoned shells of businesses that are a blight on the landscape. The developer made their money, which is society’s way of saying “good job.” The rest of us have to look at the turd they left on our dining room table, with no recourse to force them to tear down the abandoned, boarded-up suburban blight they created.
That’s totally different from the question of whether Wal-Mart is a better store than Ye Olde General Shoppe.
My experience is that yes, bigger chains will have return policies in place, and thoughtless employees whose only concern is getting you out the door with your refund as long as you haven’t kept the merchandise more than 29 days. I’m counting on this policy with a phone I just bought, in fact. What bigger stores will not usually have is dedicated, knowledgable staff.
When I go into a retail experience, I hope for a salesperson that can educate me enough to know whether I should spend $5, $50, or $500 for a frying pan based on my needs and the features of the pan. I hope for a salesperson that can tell me that if I like Klaus Schulze’s electronic music that I should really check out Conrad Schnitzler. I hope for a salesperson that can tell me whether Raymond Chandler’s novels are kept in the literature section or with the mysteries.
My experience is that large corporate stores almost never see the value in hiring good people. It’s easier and more reliable to install self-service kiosks. it’s a new form of “let the buyer beware” because they won’t even take the time to try to sell me something.… creation of demand is left up to the marketing department who would never be caught dead actually inside a store.
The more people buy things without knowing what they are buying, the more unused stuff they will throw away. I’m experiencing that now with a phone I bought three months ago and am already replacing. Perhaps I could have done more research, but there was a time when I could have asked someone at the phone store and gotten some guidance. That’s what I think is missing from the big-box stores.
“Actually, I’ve only lived
“Actually, I’ve only lived in a building taller than three stories”
I call that a large apartment building, and yet another blight on the landscape.
“Ten years down the line, you have abandoned shells of businesses that are a blight on the landscape.”
I guess that’s an issue we really don’t have too much of here. When Ames went out of business, Kohl’s moved in. We certainly don’t have empty malls or apartment buildings.
“When I go into a retail experience, I hope for a salesperson that can educate me enough to know whether I should spend $5, $50, or $500 for a frying pan based on my needs and the features of the pan. I hope for a salesperson that can tell me that if I like Klaus Schulze’s electronic music that I should really check out Conrad Schnitzler. I hope for a salesperson that can tell me whether Raymond Chandler’s novels are kept in the literature section or with the mysteries.”
I still like to decide for myself. You really should do at least some research beforehand. Most salespeople push what they have in stock, even in the most customer-oriented stores. If you are looking for a Raymond chandler book, you surely know that it belongs in the mysteries.
“My experience is that large corporate stores almost never see the value in hiring good people.”
Sadly, very few stores can afford to pay the salaries to keep competent help. I rarely find competent salespeople in even the best of stores. That’s why I do my own research and favor stores with no-question return policies in case I screw up.
Dad
You know what movie theater
You know what movie theater you’re going to on Thursday, right? Not a single screen sadly. But we already have a ticket for you.
“I call that a large
“I call that a large apartment building, and yet another blight on the landscape.”
I’d rather see condos/apartment complexes than ruins of a previous empty shell. Case in point- in both The Tenderloin & in North Beach there are now places to live, wher before there was the burnt-out and torn-down shells of buldings that were previously there. Better to build up than out. Always.
“I guess that’s an issue we really don’t have too much of here. When Ames went out of business, Kohl’s moved in. We certainly don’t have empty malls or apartment buildings.”
Sadly, this is the west coast, where sprawl is a big issue. However, I would urge you to go to Concord, and see what the #1 businesses are. Ask the locals where you can buy groceries. Don’t be too suprised what they tell you.
” still like to decide for myself. You really should do at least some research beforehand.”
What do you do when you no longer have a choice. See above comment.