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With resolve and imagination, Downtown Lodi can surge once again


Saturday, October 31, 2009 6:47 AM PDT

Comments (24 comment(s))

Times are tough in Downtown Lodi. Sales tax revenue in 1999-2000 had slumped to $410,000, but as revitalization got underway, business picked up immediately. In the summer of 2002, the Stadium 12 theater opened up just as Geweke Auto Group moved the Dodge-Chrysler Dealership to Beckman Road. Sales tax kept right on growing.

It hit a high of $533,000 in 2005-06 and then the recession cast its grim shadow. Starbucks and Classic Living Furniture closed.

This past year, sales tax came in at $388,000.

But a year or two before Knowlton Gallery and Shangri-La opened up, Sierra Adventure Outfitters expanded. Last year the WOW Science Museum and the Dancing Fox showed that faith is not lost in Downtown's future.

Sure times are tough. But if we had not done revitalization 10 years ago, what are the chances Downtown Lodi would be a ghost town today?

Two significant meetings this week give us hope that Downtown is getting ready to surge again.

  • The Downtown Lodi Business Partnership met to discuss members staying open on Sundays.

    A small shop struggles to staff its premises 40 to 48 hours a week. Adding another day to the business cycle is risky. But customers expect it. We hope a few more merchants step up their service, and we hope they reap the rewards their efforts will deserve.

  • City Hall invited the architect of Downtown revitalization, Michael Freedman, back for a reassessment.

    Perhaps it's not startling to hear him say we need a national retailer like Whole Foods or Barnes & Noble Downtown.

    "You are in an enviable position," said Freedman. "It's not like it was before. You can get the things you couldn't get before."

    Of course, we hope the city is careful and doesn't get carried away with incentives as Stockton seemed to when if bent too far backwards for Paragary's Restaurant.

    But complacency won't work either.

    It's time for the tough to get going.

    — Lodi News-Sentinel

    Reader Feedback

    Rhodie wrote on Nov 7, 2009 7:50 AM:

    " Yesterday I went to Target. As I was walking in I saw a car blocking traffic on the main lane passing infront of the Target as they waited for another car to get loaded up and pull out of a front spot. There were spaces five and six spots away but this car needed the one right out front.

    Is this unique? No, I've seen this kind of (I call it laziness) desire to be close to the store in every city I've been in. I'vwe enven seen (yes here in Lodi) the passanger climb out of the car and call back to the diver that they only need a couple of things. The car goes into park, on the side of the driving lane.

    I'd love to see a time when the spaces farthest from the store are the ones that get filled first so people walk that extra distance and get that extra exercise.That could even be a part of National get in shape month here in Lodi. Have the stores encourage for a week or more for people to park at the farthest spots open and walk in. "

    Report Abuse

    Lodian wrote on Nov 6, 2009 8:09 PM:

    " I guess Brian can't back up yet another silly claim. "

    Report Abuse

    Lodian wrote on Nov 4, 2009 11:39 PM:

    " Brian wrote "Unlike other cities, Lodi is generally not a city of people who like to walk to their destinations."

    What other city, like Lodi, has more people walking to their destination than driving? "

    Report Abuse

    Brian wrote on Nov 4, 2009 9:09 PM:

    " Lodian wrote on Nov 3, 2009 1:51 PM:

    " Brian: That's weird... I see a lot of people walking, running and bike riding in Lodi. "

    -And you will. I never said it was soley
    a city of people who don't walk to their destinations. Do you not see with your own eyes the majority of people in Lodi are in cars going to their destinations? "

    Report Abuse

    jbhiker wrote on Nov 4, 2009 10:46 AM:

    " Where is the miracle of Michael Freedman in Downtown Lodi? Sacramento street has trees so the bums have a place to defecate. It has become a back parking lot for employees of School Street businesses and a high crime area. Quit wasting money on this guy's predictions.

    And how about more input from the Community? You guys sure turned out to get your Prayers but have not been back to the Council Meetings since. How high do your taxes have to get before you all get a clue? "

    Report Abuse

    Rhodie wrote on Nov 3, 2009 11:10 PM:

    " Ya know, after I posted I was kinda thinkin that but the computer was already shuting down. "

    Report Abuse

    dogs4you wrote on Nov 3, 2009 10:46 PM:

    " Sorry I messed up I ment at the gas station only "

    Report Abuse

    Rhodie v2.0 wrote on Nov 3, 2009 5:04 PM:

    " "its credic card only, no money. With no money on site"

    Just a point of clarification, you can use cash at costcos. At least we have the dozen or so times we've gone there. "

    Report Abuse

    dogs4you wrote on Nov 3, 2009 3:53 PM:

    " Rhodie, since WalMart is all but dead in this crummy town, I have heard from a reliable source that a Costo is going to be built in Lodi, it`s on the drawing board stage anyway. They have a gas station, and since you have to belong to Costo in the first place, its credic card only, no money. With no money on site, a lesser chance for a robbery. All after hours business should adopt this, with no money a lesser chance of being robbed. "

    Report Abuse

    Rhodie wrote on Nov 3, 2009 3:23 PM:

    " Lodian wrote " I am looking forward to that Costo in Lodi. "

    I'm interpriting this as sarcasm. You don't really want a Costco in Lodi do you, Lodian? "

    Report Abuse

    Lodian wrote on Nov 3, 2009 1:54 PM:

    " I am looking forward to that Costo in Lodi. "

    Report Abuse

    Lodian wrote on Nov 3, 2009 1:53 PM:

    " Brian wrote on Nov 2, 2009 7:30 AM:

    " Lodian, I'm just on an extended hiatus from Lodi. I do understand your point, though. :)"

    I thought you didn't like Lodi and were glad to be outta here and living in Phoenix. "

    Report Abuse

    Lodian wrote on Nov 3, 2009 1:51 PM:

    " Brian: That's weird... I see a lot of people walking, running and bike riding in Lodi. "

    Report Abuse

    Brian wrote on Nov 2, 2009 7:38 AM:

    " Unlike other cities, Lodi is generally not a city of people who like to walk
    to their destinations. As Lodi expanded out, so did the parking lots. Except for the street faire and other events,
    if people can't park as close to their destination as possible they just won't go. "

    Report Abuse

    Brian wrote on Nov 2, 2009 7:33 AM:

    " If anyone has seen any pictures of how business was bustling on Main St. you would understand how frustrating it is to see it dwindle to what it is now. "

    Report Abuse

    Brian wrote on Nov 2, 2009 7:30 AM:

    " Lodian,

    I'm just on an extended hiatus from Lodi. I do understand your point, though. :) "

    Report Abuse

    Lodian wrote on Nov 2, 2009 12:47 AM:

    " Brian wrote "If anybody doesn't see the stark difference once they go under the Pine St. Arch they are in the same denial as our city leaders."

    Brian: "Our" city leaders?? You don't live here. "

    Report Abuse

    Brian wrote on Nov 1, 2009 10:02 PM:

    " Yeah you is one many people who feel Main St. is a lost cause. Main St. used to be the center of town before Sacramento St. Slowly but surely it has dwindled to practically nothing from Lodi Ave. To Lockeford St. Those RR tracks sure are a strong influence on people's attitudes towards anything east of the Lodi arch in the downtown area. "

    Report Abuse

    yeah you wrote on Nov 1, 2009 7:53 PM:

    " Brian, Lodi Avenue is getting a makeover in the next few months all the way to Cherokee Lane to the tune of a couple million dollars. I'd rather see that than blowing money on Main Street. "

    Report Abuse

    Brian wrote on Nov 1, 2009 8:37 AM:

    " With only Lodi Export left on Main St, it's almost a thing of the past to see packing plants in the downtown area. One wonders when Union Pacific finally
    lessens the grip on the easement they have along the tracks from Lockeford St to Lodi Ave. I'm glad to see the old Earl Fruit Co. building was finally torn down. although the facade
    could have remained as a historic reminder and an office and retail complex could have been built in place of the old packing facilities. So many buildings have been lost in downtown because of neglect and fires. Most of them on the east side of the tracks
    where the city still views this area
    as their red-headed stepchild. "

    Report Abuse

    Brian wrote on Nov 1, 2009 7:46 AM:

    " Once the city of Lodi realizes the Downtow ALSO consists of the area east of the RR tracks and should get equal treatment
    consisting of funding for infrastructure improvement things will start to improve. If anybody doesn't see the stark difference once they go under the Pine St. Arch they are in the same denial as our city leaders. "

    Report Abuse

    dogs4you wrote on Oct 31, 2009 9:12 PM:

    " Your fooling yourself, Downtown is Dead "

    Report Abuse

    wtf wrote on Oct 31, 2009 11:36 AM:

    " Clarification: "Since when I buy books, I buy them online or simply go to the library; the idea of a Whole Foods is fantastic!"

    Should read: "Since when I buy books, I buy them online or simply go to the library, a Barnes and Noble would be redundant; the idea of a Whole Foods is fantastic!" "

    Report Abuse

    wtf wrote on Oct 31, 2009 11:35 AM:

    " Since when I buy books, I buy them online or simply go to the library; the idea of a Whole Foods is fantastic!

    If downtown can get a Whole Foods in the anchor position, wonders may never cease! I say: GO FOR IT!!!! "

    Report Abuse

    Comments on this story are now closed.

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