Grocery Outlet’s Post

"Why [Invest] in Chicago's Far South!" Tuesday's Edition: Local Business Community I believe we as a city need to have serious conversations regarding this city's business community. This is not about passing the blame again but recognizing our business environment in the city changed drastically post-COVID 19. Go to any number of communities from Rogers Park to Morgan Park to Garfield Park and the commonalities are the same with persistent vacant storefronts. There are various components as to the challenges facing commercial landlords/owners and business tenants, such as the lack of employee attraction and retention, workforce and skills development, depopulation, high cost of operations in supplies and labor, costly and untimely regulations and fees, public safety, online market, over saturation, inequitable incentive structure for certain types of businesses (small businesses vs large national business incentive structure), inaccessible financial resources to remodel or expand operations depending on your business location. It may be advantageous for the city to host four to six business forums this year led by local Chambers of Commerce and/or Community Development Corporations (Forums: Southside, Far Southside, Near Westside, Far Westside, Northside, and Downtown). We need to re-examine our approach before throwing money in a wet paper bag by funding the same programs that are outdated and no longer impactful in this post-COVID and slightly post-inflation economy. Chicago's far south side has experienced successes and disappointments. We celebrate the successes of Blue Cross Blue Shield in Morgan Park, Pullman Redevelopment and National Park, and Discover in Chatham. But we also are concerned and disappointed with the closing of the Chatham Cinema, KFC closings, and the decades of neglect along Halsted and Michigan Avenue. Even nonprofits are getting crushed with financial burdens of doing way more and receiving way less as the demands are far exceeding the supply. Nonprofits are the last defense before an under-served community completely submerge. Our city's business community successes cannot be judged by Downtown's success alone. We must learn and understand the challenges within each side of town. Commercial vacancy is a virus that does not permeate in only one area but spreads eventually to every area of the city and it must be stopped. This virus exploits the weaknesses in every area. We cannot ignore it, neglect it, or hope it will get better. Our actions must be intentional, inclusive, unbiased, data driven, and sufficiently funded. https://lnkd.in/gXjsFxPg

Main Street America is alive and well here in coastal Virginia. There is a unique warm charm to these areas. I am blessed to be able to visit, shop, and, dine at all the locally owned small businesses. Check out this fantastic article from Coastal Virginia Magazine. Do you have a Main Street in your community? #shoplocal #eatlocal #mainstreet #community #smallbusiness #enterpreneurship #business

📚 Let Me Tell You A Story 📚 30 years ago, I moved to a small town in central Massachusetts called Holden. Not too long after we moved into town, this #smallbusiness called The Bagel Inn opened its doors. If you know anything about living in New England, people are diehard about their morning stop at Dunkin Donuts… and we had one of their locations right down the street. These business owners that opened The Bagel Inn simply didn’t care about that. Their price point was higher and their location didn’t allow drive-thru service but more importantly, they did not have the marketing budget to compete with a large national chain. It was destined to fail. But that did not happen… this is why. People do not go to The Bagel Inn to save a few dollars and to have a transactional experience, they go there for the best quality bagels and coffee in the area… but more importantly they go for the amazing customer service and human interaction as they kickstart their day. I had the chance to stop by this summer and glad to see not much has changed with their model. In fact, I’m glad to see that they have not rapidly grown and forgot the roots of their success. The biggest change is they now own the entire shopping plaza instead of just leasing their single unit space. #smartgrowth BIGGER is not always BETTER in business my friends. It’s about the products and services received and delivered that will make you successful. #smallbusinessowner #smallbusinessowners #customerservice #customerexperience #thrive #rooted #business

We were faced with a difficult decision  And lost a beloved restaurant  But found comfort in community    My recent posts have focused on navigating the pandemic. Along with so many other businesses, some Union Square Hospitality Group restaurants fell victim to the health and economic crisis. Our flagship Blue Smoke & Jazz Standard was one of them.  In December 2020, we made the agonizing decision to close for good. Our lease was ending in two years, and we couldn’t see eye to eye with our landlord. We had lost heaps of money, and there was no way to recoup our losses.  Since we had laid off our entire staff nine months prior, it was impossible and unsafe to get together to mourn and celebrate our work. We decided to have a Zoom call to share stories and provide an opportunity for closure. We emailed our most recent employees and asked them to spread the word.  Hundreds of former employees attended. For 90 minutes, employees from the previous 18 years gave tributes to their time at Blue Smoke. People who had never worked together connected in a deep way, and we all shared what Blue Smoke meant to us. Here we were one last time, saying farewell, mourning our collective loss, and celebrating our unique community. That call was one of the most moving experiences of my career and was a reminder that it’s never too late to build community. Have an experience that made an impact on you? Share it below. 👇 #bars #purpose #community #culture  #business #hospitality #hospitalityindustry #leadership #management #restaurants #restaurantbusiness 

The team behind Three Spirit are a lovely bunch. And their non-alcoholic spirits are lovely too – whether you need an invigorating upper, a dreamy downer or a leisurely leveller. Last year, I worked with Adam on simplifying Three Spirit's brand strategy – before passing the baton to team Pentagram to create this beautiful bottle and fresh new look. My friends in Berlin will tell you Three Spirit always makes it to the table at any dinner parties I host. And now you can get them in John Lewis & Partners, so give 'em a shot... or a mix or a spritz. #brandstrategy

The revitalization of the Michigan Theatre in Jackson is a testament to the power of community support, having successfully raised over $6.2 million. It's inspiring to see a once-dilapidated building being transformed into a modern entertainment hub. The theater's restoration, with phase two kicking off in January 2024, not only preserves its historical essence but also signifies the growth and cultural enrichment of Jackson. Local businesses are aligning with this resurgence. Tim Hortons' expansion and the opening of Stirling Books & Brew, alongside Murphy's Bistro, reflect an economic optimism that is contagious. These establishments aren't just businesses; they're the building blocks of a thriving community, each adding a unique flavor to the local scene. As a professional, I see this as more than a renovation—it's a reinvention of downtown Jackson. The anticipation surrounding the theater's grand reopening underscores the potential of urban renewal, creating a ripple effect that attracts both commerce and culture. It's a blueprint for how historic landmarks can become the heartbeats of tomorrow's cities. I'm eager to hear your thoughts on the impact of such restorations. Have you witnessed similar transformations in your community? What do you think these developments mean for local economies and cultural landscapes? Please share your insights in the comments below. #MichiganTheatre #CommunityDevelopment #UrbanRenewal #CulturalHub Original article: https://lnkd.in/e4nNvZim

[Coffee & Chat] - MY edition 🇲🇾 (Yeah gotta make it happen since I fly here once in a while 😂 ) Met up with Ivy Hew, who runs one of the most engaged F&B communities in MY, F&Bconnects. It's amazing how she achieved an engaged community and is still going strong after COVID-19 (as most private communities have died down). It's even more amazing to hear that her community members stepped up and volunteered to help her run different aspects of the function, such as marketing, gen sec etc. Got to learn from her on 1. How she helped newer F&Bs negotiate on how to deal with landlord demands on negotiating for higher traffic spaces in prestigious malls in KL. 2. How SG companies go into MY and how to navigate them. We are grateful for such partners and also appreciate the value in what we have done for community members such as Mr Fish to scale towards their 10th outlet in KL. Looking forward to more! 🐟 P:S if any F&B leaders are keen on the above topic or would like to be part of the engaged community, do let me know, and I could do the link up :) P:S:S - If any F&B leaders are keen on Coffee and Chat MY edition, let me know too! Perhaps I could meet ya all during my next trip 😀 #FNB #laborcost #scale #operations #retention

Impact. It's a word we hear a lot. This week, I saw impact firsthand via a coffee shop in a small CT town working on revitalization. I watched as customers streamed into the Loaded Goat Coffee Shop in Naugatuck on a street with its share of vacant storefronts. I saw mothers with babies, area employees, 20-somethings. Coffee shops offer more than just a drink. They are places to socialize, see people, to go for a break. That's what revitalization in any town or city center across this country needs. We cannot underestimate their role in revitalization. Bottoms up. #business #smallbusiness #revitalization #downtown #foodandbeverage #workforce #entrepreneurs

🛍️ Bringing Life Back to Grimsby Town Centre. At the 2025 Group, we're often asked: "What is been done to attract people back to high street shopping?" Well, we have some ideas that could attract people into the town centre. 1. Creating Experiential Shopping: We believe shopping needs to be more of an experience. Maybe we could have more pop-up shops, live cookery and craft demos, and interactive events that make shopping fun and engaging. 2. Improving Accessibility and Convenience: Could our parking facilities be better? safer pedestrian areas? and better signage to make our high street visits hassle-free and enjoyable. 3. Boosting Local Businesses: By spotlighting our local shops and eateries, our town centre is offering something online shopping can't – a personal touch and a taste of Grimsby's community spirit. 4. Hosting Community Events: Regular markets, festivals, and cultural events are in the pipeline, turning our high street into a hub of community activity. 5. Enhancing Aesthetics and Safety: We believe a clean, safe, and inviting environment is key to a great shopping experience. Expect more greenery, art installations, and improved safety measures. Your town centre is changing, “be part of the positive” what can you do to support this change? Do you have any ideas you would like to share, please comment below. If you are a business or community organisation who wants to know more about the regeneration projects in the town centre and would like to sign “our be part of the positive” pledge then please send me a DM or contact me via our website www.2025Group.com #GrimsbyHighStreet #ShopLocal #CommunityFirst #2025Group