| There is a continual trend we are seeing which I | | | | higher end your city has interesting trends not |
| can remember participating in over a decade ago, | | | | normally seen with the middle class center, |
| when cities were trying to figure out how to | | | | probably due to the East Windsor area thus it is |
| increase sales tax revenues when the large box | | | | growing North West while the west side of |
| stores outside of town came into nearby or | | | | freeway has remained the older area. But I |
| surrounding areas. For instance a big and easy | | | | cannot tell for sure without spending much time. |
| example would be Wal-Mart. Sam was smart and | | | | Typically an area with a regional type mall if it has |
| built his stores just outside of town near towns, | | | | thee Old Navy Type stores which go in next to |
| which drew from neighboring towns of 5,000 or | | | | each other are trendy places of spending |
| more from three to five directions. If you look at | | | | consumers that is good, but also need to be |
| an over lay of Wal-Mart stores to an atlas of that | | | | cognizant of the need to be by or near Happy |
| state you will see the rural America can get | | | | Meal Station, or other QSRs. This is well |
| anything they need at the best price without | | | | documented in the annals of car washing guru's |
| driving all that far.Unfortunately that awesome | | | | best advice and written articles. By putting the car |
| distribution system that Sam designed which | | | | wash near that off ramp you will not cut yourself |
| accounts for nearly 12% of all retail sales in | | | | off from your 10-mile radius sphere of influence |
| America today also made it tough for less | | | | where 80% of your customers will be coming |
| efficient small town business owners on Main | | | | from. now realize that those town homes or |
| Street USA to compete. Since then many small | | | | multi-family units, apartments that were built for |
| towns have found a way to bring back and | | | | the city to take advantage of matching Federal |
| revitalize there towns. It is estimated that with | | | | funds for low income housing years past will be a |
| 5-10 million most towns can totally revitalize their | | | | significant base not to mention the up the street |
| down town sectors and that maybe about the | | | | Golf Course crowd. Like the Viking customers you |
| same amount of fees and permits to build the | | | | will be paying through the nose for property, |
| Wal-Mart in the first place. Since 1980 an | | | | sewer hook-ups and hidden fees (taxes) and you |
| estimated 19 billion dollars has been spent on such | | | | will feel like Popeye the sailor by the time your all |
| revitalization of down towns and made them a | | | | through and want to through some tea into your |
| place to meet, shop, hang out and go.Just like the | | | | reclaim pit. So before you decide to put in a car |
| song "Down Town, everything's great when | | | | wash in a town like Windsor or buy a piece of |
| you're downtown" great song and that is the goal. | | | | property, you should look at the layout of the |
| It is a feeling, a place to be, a destination location. | | | | town, determine where they filters or nets of |
| And it has just about everything you could want, | | | | wealth or money flow is going.If the down town |
| that is everything you cannot find at the mall or | | | | is going to be revitalized a car wash some where |
| at Wal-Mart. Sure many of the typical stores | | | | between both or a detail shop in the down town |
| have gone out. Such as the stationary stores, | | | | with a hand wash valet parking or just good old |
| photo developing, pharmacy, video rentals, sports | | | | fashion look will put your business at the top of |
| equipment, auto parts, grocery, pet stores, etc. | | | | the food chain with the local founding families of |
| But you can shop for antiques, something to eat, | | | | the town and the powers to be of that fiefdom. |
| a movie, used books, lots of items that work well | | | | Whatever you do it is important to do it right and |
| in that setting and many types of businesses, | | | | to do well, or just don't do it. Regarding the |
| which cater towards those types of atmospheres. | | | | question of car washes as a business in CA. Yes |
| Such as Starbucks, certain food places and small | | | | it is viable, but more money is made building up |
| mom and pop shops, florists, gifts, specialty, | | | | car washes and selling them in CA than in running |
| entertainment/liquor establishments, restaurants. If | | | | them. The IRS likes to audit them a lot. Car |
| you look at cities like Pittsburgh for example you | | | | Washes being a cash business by nature tend to |
| will see a well-served and thriving downtown area. | | | | hit all the red buttons. With the Tax cut and |
| In other cities you see a combo mix and made | | | | $100,000 immediate expensing it is a worthy |
| up facade downtown of tilt-ups prefab buildings, I | | | | endeavor, but risky too. been in the industry 27 |
| can think of many like the Limited Groups | | | | years washing stuff, I have to agree with much |
| Downtown area in North Columbus OH and it is | | | | of the thinkin gof this gentleman with regards to |
| hopping with people and spending. A place to go, | | | | downtown areas and possible car wash locations. |
| and it works.But many so many smaller towns | | | | is also good people and will take care of your |
| have done well to rebuild the downtown areas | | | | needs. Investing in a car wash especially in CA |
| where for lease and out of business signs abound. | | | | with the real-estate prices is a difficult match to |
| Why? Well all money made in town leaves town, | | | | the intended ROI. But if planned properly with the |
| it does not stay to re circulate. Just like those | | | | proper location, it is a good business, once all the |
| who get a paycheck in the big city have moved | | | | delays are done and the city approves it. The city |
| to the suburbs and therefore the subs get the | | | | planner of this particular city went to Chico State |
| first use of that flow of money. Why? Well city | | | | and is probably laid back so he maybe easier to |
| planners in the subs attract through incentives car | | | | deal with than the ultimate planning commission or |
| dealerships and other such businesses and put | | | | all the yuppie liberal cream cake granolas which |
| them on the main roads surrounding the | | | | come out of the woodwork in their 1969 Volvos |
| residential areas of single family dwellings and then | | | | with leaky rings spewing Carbon Monoxide smoke |
| allow multi-family town homes, apartments, etc | | | | and proclaiming themselves the environments last |
| on the same main thoroughfares, one city I | | | | chance, all the while spreading the Redwood tree |
| recently reviewed in CA had done exactly that. | | | | pathogen all around the forest each day as they |
| These areas of businesses surrounding the | | | | go for nature walks and chain themselves to |
| residential areas serve as a net to trap the | | | | trees when the forest service is attempting to |
| money from leaving their area. Well the | | | | allow thinning as to not burn down the entire |
| downtown revitalization tries to do the same | | | | forest with 120 tons of debris and dead wood |
| thing, attract people into the area to hang out and | | | | fuel per acre. Heck I could go on all night. Once |
| enjoy themselves and thus have time to spend | | | | opened toe the line and stay totally politically and |
| their money.If you look at this city Windsor CA | | | | non-profit group active, but keeping piece near |
| you can see some of our observations: Now then | | | | paradise is not easy. They will claim noise pollution, |
| some might think people in CA are all a bunch of | | | | water pollution, air pollution, toxic chemicals, none |
| Hippie Dippies. Such as the Cheech and Chong | | | | of which is true. The demographics are right |
| Comedy team, but as a whole People in CA are | | | | provided there are less than two other car |
| generally smarter than most due to oxygen level | | | | washes which are full service within 7-8 miles of |
| as most live near or around sea level. Better | | | | your wash, having a more convenient location will |
| weather makes year round activities and human | | | | net you the soccer moms if you choose full |
| interaction easier and therefore more is learned | | | | serve. If you are self serve probably across the |
| both academically, physically, observationally and | | | | freeway where land is cheaper since those self |
| literally. So it is not much different than a city in | | | | serve bays are only good for $1300 per month |
| Mass, NJ, VA, but with more ideal weather. The | | | | gross or so?With that explanation told on this |
| town of Windsor is an okay town. We have no | | | | subject of location based businesses, you have to |
| problem with it. Some of everything there. | | | | ask yourself which business models are viable for |
| Protectionism and good ole boy networking alive | | | | a down town sector to really thrive and attract |
| and well, this can be to your advantage by | | | | even more people. This example goes into depth |
| working the system a little and being in the right | | | | of the kind of thinking that needs to be thought |
| non-profit groups. It is doable. But it is not worth | | | | of when setting up a downtown revitalization |
| the headaches for our company to participate in | | | | project, but with each type of business model. |
| anyway due to the CA mentality on business. | | | | For instance ask any developer of property |
| These good ole boy networks want to make | | | | manager of strip malls of retail large income |
| money in their downtown businesses but do not | | | | property and they will tell you the types of |
| often allow the progress to revitalization until | | | | anchor tenants needed to make the center |
| which time they get off their butts and visit a | | | | survive or strip center. What types of business |
| town which has revitalized their down town, then | | | | and specifically which businesses, such as Kinko's, |
| they immediately go and join the Main Street | | | | Starbucks, Blockbuster, etc. And the types usually |
| Program which currently has nearly 1800 | | | | preferring franchise businesses such as Juice |
| communities which participate in it and they are | | | | Stores, Haircut, tanning, insurance, real estate, etc. |
| really learning a lot from each other, as to what | | | | It is important to understand the mall and the |
| works and what does not.I recently visited | | | | traffic without going over board, recently I saw a |
| Franklin TN where the downtown was cooking | | | | delightful strip center in a perfect location in Red |
| along as a matter of fact you could smell the | | | | Bluff, CA, right on a busy intersection across the |
| aroma from nearby restaurants, see a movie, get | | | | street from Wal-Mart, none of the businesses |
| a beer or your favorite rendition of a Latte. If this | | | | moving in could ever compete with Wal-Mart and |
| is your dream to put in a car wash near | | | | they did not have to. Across from Burger King |
| downtown go for it. But watch out for the traps. | | | | sat a Starbucks as the strip malls anchor tenant. |
| Environmentalists who do not understand the | | | | The center was good, but probably the coffee |
| cleanliness of the industry or water usage. | | | | place was too well placed and even with a drive |
| Underground tank rules with regards to fuel or | | | | through would drive too much traffic into that |
| reclaim tanks. Labor issues if you do more than | | | | strip center for parking. Parking in downtowns is |
| coin-op, automatic. Full serves are loved by | | | | equally as important. Building downtowns is always |
| customers if excellent quality prevails there, but a | | | | a tough one in convincing the older thriving |
| crew that has part time drug users can ruin your | | | | businesses that street improvements, |
| business quickly. Labor will be an issue. Regarding a | | | | construction and general obstructions are |
| location in the town of Windsor as this study | | | | necessary to do it. Long term it is great, but |
| samples example: the orange areas which would | | | | short term it is an issue, construction out front will |
| mean that it is zoned service area, least amount | | | | kill you.If you look at the highend areas of Naples |
| of issues with planning commission and easiest to | | | | Fl, Palm Desert CA, Scottsdale AZ, you see some |
| get passed easily. Also near the mid center off | | | | great work at total revitalization. But the old |
| ramp. Near the Retail Center, looks like a regional | | | | funky look of Key West FL, Manhattan Beach |
| mall, near there is best on main road, but have to | | | | CA, Montpellier Vt. you see they also work well. If |
| find an open location with no center medians. | | | | you happen to go to GA and visit a little town 15 |
| Looks like traffic issues there, notice the FWY | | | | miles south of Statesboro, GA you will see it is |
| interchange signaled intersections. It is not near | | | | the Fruit Cake Capital of the World and actually |
| downtown at all but would serve a small business | | | | no where near San Francisco. A revitalization |
| owner better than a downtown revitalized area. A | | | | project must tke into consideration the natural |
| detail shop would be a better use of a closed | | | | flavor, in this case fruit. Every town is know for |
| down town area gas station, fixed up real nice. I | | | | something. This is of value. Oxnard CA, |
| have seen plenty in FL, GA, SC, AL, TN but also | | | | strawberry Capital. Bozeman MT Sweet Pea |
| in Gold Rush Towns of CA, in the rural towns of | | | | Festival, heck recently we were in Sheridan WY |
| north Washington state. Also your volume will | | | | for the Hoops Festival. But we have also been to |
| come from a 10-mile radius, and you would be | | | | the avocado festival, wine festival all in CA, |
| better served in the Suburban area near box | | | | Raspberry Festival in UT and Tamale Festival in El |
| stores, QSRs and strip malls. The demographics | | | | Centro near the Mexican Border. There is always |
| are good where in Windsor, lots of Bay Area rich | | | | a need for a local celebration to draw from miles. |
| refugees who bought right and modified their | | | | Renaissance Fairs, October fest, even the Forth |
| town. Took an existing town and developed the | | | | of July Extravaganza. You have to make it |
| hell out of it, driving up property values and still a | | | | happen with the locals and draw from |
| revitalized down town would draw them in and | | | | everywhere, parades. I have had the good |
| with their money they would spend.In Windsor, | | | | fortune of planning these events, participating in |
| CA, if you end up North West side where all the | | | | them and bringing in dollars. So far in America at |
| orange is there could be issues with visibility and | | | | last count the cities which have revitalized |
| you could be cut off by C-Stores with rollovers, | | | | themselves have refurbished 90,000 buildings, |
| car wash for $3.99 with fill up. But the middle to | | | | sounds similar to what we are doing thanks to |
| upper middle will not take their SUVs through | | | | really great and faithful American corporations in |
| there thus you advantage. Buying an existing car | | | | the Open Markets of the cities of Afghanistan and |
| wash might be a better play, but car washes go | | | | streets and market areas of Baghdad. For more |
| out of business for a reason, it is not always poor | | | | information on providing jobs and money flow |
| service. It could be location issues. Generally a | | | | locally in a town near you check it out. |
| combination. Towns tend to grow North and West | | | | |