eatasheep69 (anonymous) says...

That really sux. I love that store. I'm sure there's more than a few jobs being lost too. What a shame.

July 25, 2009 at 10:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

biscuitboy (anonymous) says...

More jobs gone.....more lost tax base.....more lost business for others.....another empty store.

July 26, 2009 at 4:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

create (anonymous) says...

I'm so sorry to hear this. What a loss to Emporia in more ways than one. I love that store.

July 26, 2009 at 8:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

builderboy (anonymous) says...

dang !! I really enjoy that place

July 26, 2009 at 8:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...

Sad, Sad, Sad.

What is even worse is that if they have a going out of business sale, it will probably be their best week for sales.

Welcome to economics 2009.

July 26, 2009 at 9:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

cheryl (anonymous) says...

Two thoughts on the closing of Hastings:

1) If Emporians don't buy locally, Emporia stores go away. When we support Amazon, Barnes & Noble in Topeka, Borders, etc., our hometown stores can't make it. Sure it's fun to shop online and in other towns, but it's to our benefit to spend most of our money in Emporia.

2) OPM. Other People's Money. Emporia may not be a tourist mecca, but we do get visitors -THOUSANDS of them - a year. If we promote "tourism," recognize this gift we have of the vistors' presence, treat these people kindly, they will be more willing to spend their money HERE.

These visitors are parents of ESU students who come for a weekend. They are sports teams and their families that come for soccer meets, wrestling meets, baseball at Soden's Grove, ESU basketball/football games.

We are lucky to be at the junction of several major highways. Some of these visitors are people who just stop in town, resting overnight during a long journey. They stay in our motels, eat at our restaurants, buy gas at our stations. If they are treated warmly, if they feel Emporia is a good town, they may stop again, they may tell others about Emporia.

And as weird as it sounds to Emporians, some of these visitors come specifically to see and explore Emporia. Heck, I go to Newton, Hutchinson, Olpe, Admire, Council Grove - just to see those towns. Some people come - on purpose - to Emporia, They are interested in the history here, the WAW house, seeing our Veterans Memorial, the Marsh Arch bridge, the Zoo, the Granada Theatre.

When out-of-towners spend $10, $20, $100 here, that helps keep our businesses alive, and they pay sales tax that helps our community. That is money that Emporia residents don't have to come up with.

These tourists/ESU parents/soccer families may be invisible to many of us, but we need them.

Maybe it's not the right time for a tourist center, I don't know, but I do hope that as a community we recognize the financial value of these visitors - their purchases provide sales tax money and their purchases help support Emporia businesses like Jock's Nitch, like Hastings.

July 26, 2009 at 10:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

biscuitboy (anonymous) says...

cheryl

Where has your cheerfulness and optimism been? It is sorely needed here right now.

July 26, 2009 at 10:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

create (anonymous) says...

I hope the clerks in many of Emporia's stores also take note of what you've said here, cheryl. I was never treated very well at Jock's Nitch so after a couple of times there, I never went back. I can say the same about Mike's Sporting Goods. If they don't know you, they act as if they couldn't care less that you are shopping in their store. Sears? They never know what they have or where it is except that they're more interested in selling the big ticket items. The clerks at Hastings, however, always treated me well and know their merchandise. Bath and Body Shoppe clerks are always friendly too. A person is willing to buy more when clerks are friendly and helpful. Water's Hardware is fantastic about helping. So is Mark II. Sutherland's, however, needs help in that department. Management in all local stores need to pay more attention to training clerks about being hospitable, not just taking money.

July 26, 2009 at 11:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

biscuitboy (anonymous) says...

She is right. It's easy some times to overlook blessings that are right under our noses. Several years ago I was involved with a local restaurant....[now gone]....that develpoed a pretty good little niche business with snowbirds traveling back and forth between the Twin Cities and Arizona each spring and fall.
It started with one couple....then through word of mouth only it grew to be as many as ten or twelve at its peak.

Emporia so happened to be a good stopping place on the journey and each stop brought business to a local motel,,,,us for dinner....anohter restaurant for breakfast....gas and repairs. Some would talk about visiting other places in town and presumably spending money there. There may well have been others that overnighted here also that just didn't eat with us.

The point is it was free.....it didn't cost anybody anything to attract this business and no visitors center was needed either. It happened because they were made to feel welcome and were remembered and welcomed back on their return trips. In a word.....they felt wanted.

That probably would have never happened in a chain restaurant with barely pubescent managegment and a don't give a squat staff. But it can happen and it all helps.

July 26, 2009 at 11:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Free4all (anonymous) says...

Create I cant agree more with you. Most of the time when I do buy big outside of Emporia it is because I can go to Topeka and get great service. I tried to buy a trailor at sutherlands, stood outside and call the store, told the gal I was outside wanting to buy a trailor. She stated, "I dont know who to talk to, hold for a sec please". That second turned into five minutes with her picking back up laughing saying "what are you holding for"? I stated I would buy my $1000 trailor in Topeka.
Went to tractor supply, I was out looking at them and a sales rep approached me in the lot and made my purchase. Not only that but did a safety check on the hookup and found I had the wrong ball for it and hooked me up with the right setup for FREE. It was worth the hour drive for that kind of service.
Every since my wife and myself moved here in 2003 that was the first thing we noticed when we shopped or went out to eat. If they didn't know you or relation to you, you were bothering them.
This falls into bad management for not instilling proper customer service training in their work crew. Even when my family and friends visit here from out of town they will mention the bad service too.
Yes I want to shop here, but I expect good service too by a professional.

July 26, 2009 at 2:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

biscuitboy (anonymous) says...

Just returned from Hasting's a few minutes ago....and rbow.....you were right. The largest crowd I have ever seen in that store was there today. One of the managers said to me.....if all of you had been here more often we might not have closed.

July 26, 2009 at 2:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Weltha (anonymous) says...

I'm sorry to hear this. I love Hasting. To heck with Wal-Mart for your media needs. Hastings is where I go to buy books, DVDs and CD's when I have extra spending money to do so. Here lately though that hasn't been very often. Hastings will missed in this household.

July 26, 2009 at 3:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

paulkersey (anonymous) says...

I've purchased maybe 5 CDs since the year 2000, and have over 10,000 songs. I currently own around 40-50 movies, 6 of which are on DVD's. Physical media has been outdated for years.

Yes, it is never a good thing when a business in Emporia closes, but movie and music stores are a bad business idea. Between iTunes, Netflix, Amazon, and a few others, digital media is king. iTunes sells more music than anyone, in less than 8 years of existence. Netflix almost put every brick and mortar movie rental store out of business, in less than seven years. I feel that Hastings just didn't keep up with the times.

July 26, 2009 at 4:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Weltha (anonymous) says...

Thats why I started going there to begin with, yy. I soon found out it was a great place to shop because of the people too. I agree with what you said,also, Paul. its nice to buy the ONE song you want without all the fluff. But, I like to have the hard copy and more times than not I find myself really enjoying most of the other songs on the disk. Plus, all those online stores No matter how GREAT they are, does not keepthe money in Emporia.

July 26, 2009 at 4:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

ChrisBatchman (anonymous) says...

I'm saddened to hear that hastings will be closing. I am new to the area and was looking forward to giving them quite a bit of my business as far as books and movies go. Is there any other place in town that has a large volume of books for sale?

July 26, 2009 at 7:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Weltha (anonymous) says...

Town Cryer down town sells books.

July 26, 2009 at 7:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Weltha (anonymous) says...

Oh and welcome to Emporia. Sorry 'bout that.

July 26, 2009 at 7:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

fairbro (anonymous) says...

Oh great, I move here from Virginia 3 weeks ago and now my favorite place is closing. I even just applied for a job there today! <
I know all the people who work there, even the lazy guy (if you're reading this and you think I'm talking about you, it's not you, because the lazy guy couldn't imagine it was him I was talking about :-) )
I always buy something when I use the cafe internet, maybe they should charge, like Starbuck's. I enjoy it there, there's nothing like that Kansas camaraderie in Virginia.
Where to go for books now? In Virginia I had Barnes and Noble, and Borders, and several little stores.
Well, there go my dreams of a little table, a stack of books, author-signing his own book when I get my book about Jackie Stiles published later this year...
Good luck to all of you great employees finding another place to put in a few hours and get some bucks...

July 26, 2009 at 7:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

sciguy (anonymous) says...

Fairbro, try Town Crier downtown. They're exactly the kind of place that has local authors in for book signings.

July 26, 2009 at 8:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

blulitespecial (anonymous) says...

Hastings was always OK to me,sorry to see them go.I do tend to buy music at Wizard's.If they didn't have it in stock,I ordered it.In the biz,you need unremixed,unshortened,and uncut versions.I still have go to Salina or KC for vinyl albums and tubes(real radios glow in the dark!) I do have to order guitar strings,or pick up several sets when I'm out of town-not complaining about local stores,they're just not very commonly found.And I do sometimes drop several hundred bucks in the local music store or at the lighting and sound contractor.We've also lost a few pretty cool hifi shops here in the last 30 years.Too bad.

July 26, 2009 at 9:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

phiber101 (anonymous) says...

This truely is a disappointment!!! I absolutely love Hastings! I guess if you have any late fees you'd better get in there and pay them or they WILL send you to collections (found that out from the video store that used to be where Simply Wireless is now = had a $3 late fee when they went out of business and 5 years later they turned me into collections eventhough they never tried to contact me)........anyways, I go to Hastings all the time and buy Blu Ray's, books and there coffee is pretty good too! I'll sure miss that place because no store around here has my geeky "tech" books!

GO PAY ANY LATE FEES IF YOU'VE GOT THEM, TAKE MY WORD ;)

July 26, 2009 at 9:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

paulkersey (anonymous) says...

YY4U--

I'm going to disagree with you on the online prices. iTunes has raised prices 29 cents since 2002. Netflix hasn't went up in at least 3 years. The ISP's might raise prices, but the online music and video stores don't. There are many reasons the same product is cheaper online-- no shipping, no packaging, etc. The other reason is versatility. For example, you can download a movie rental, have 30 days to watch it, no late fees, put it on your iPod, and watch it on your (future) train trip to Kansas City.

It is sad, but that's the facts. It is sad Emporia doesn't get these tax and revenue dollars but it happens.

July 26, 2009 at 10:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

JFish (anonymous) says...

I haven't lived in Emporia for 7 years now. The previous 7 to that were spent in Emporia.

While living there, I found that we simply had to go out of town to shop because stores there often didn't have what we wanted. We tried to shop in Emporia, but sometimes that was not possible.

We regularly shopped Waters, Town Crier, Blue Stem, etc., and were very happy with them. We still do shop in Emporia at those stores.

All the furniture that we own came from Emporia stores.

Now that we are out of town, we don't feel compelled to try to support Emporia anymore. We have our own town to support as we can.

The store manager pointing out that if all those people had shopped there regulary before, they'd still be in business was correct in his observation. But could those people have afforded to shop there that often for the prices they had before they decided to go out of business? Not likely.

A store like Hastings is fun to shop in. But while we're tossing around sources to blame about this, consider the economy. It's more than just the online stuff or out of town shopping, it's also the economy.

All those people who lost their jobs are not shopping as much. They simply cannot. Even tourists and out of towners who come in will likely be more careful with their money.

Many people who still have jobs are being careful, saving for their own turn at unemployment.

Some, like us, were forced into early retirement, slashing our income permanently, thus slashing our ability to buy. We have to be more careful.

And people who are out of work are sometimes staying out of work, not by choice either. Or they are moving.

July 26, 2009 at 10:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

alsrac (anonymous) says...

Just remember guys that there is a cheaper way to rent movies in town, is called Red Box, maybe this was one of the reasons their sales went down.
It's sad indeed many people losing their jobs.

July 26, 2009 at 10:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

hottopics (anonymous) says...

I rent there every week. I cant believe we havent supported it. THAT SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

July 26, 2009 at 11:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

sportsmom (anonymous) says...

I hate to see this...I am a local educator that loves to use Hastings for books and movies for my classroom. I could almost always count on them having what I needed. I use Town Crier also, but Hastings usually had what I needed...now when Town Crier doesn't have my books I want and I am not a fan of the the movie selection at the other video stores in town, I will be forced to go to Topeka for my classroom materials! So sad!

July 26, 2009 at 11:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

jenblock04 (anonymous) says...

Very sad!!! I do agree that businesses in Emporia (Chamber of Commerce) should learn and improve customer service to keep customers here. Better training, better pay, and maybe we can get better customer service. Like many others, I am fed up with the arrogance, rudeness, ignorance, apathy, and insensitivity of many of the employees at stores around town. I perfectly understand their dissatisfaction with job conditions and exploitation, but customers should not pay the consequences. Sutherlands is the worse...countless negative experiences, in general they are rude and unwelcoming. Subway follows with kids who can careless about customers, they dont even look at you into the eyes; service at the Mall's Sport store is horrible...I strongly suggest that the Chamber of Commerce should call for a town meeting to discuss how to better improve customer service in Emporia.

July 26, 2009 at 11:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

jmb232 (anonymous) says...

I hate to see Hastings go. It is a fine store. One also closed in the Kansas City area and we wrote them and they responded that it didn't meet the profit projections. It was busy all the time. Sometimes I just don't understand their reasoning as the store in Emporia appeared to be doing well.
There is one in Topeka and Lawrence. I hope that they don't want to close them also.
Try to visit them before they close and pick up the book by the author from Lebo, I hear it's a good story. jb

July 27, 2009 at 12:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

fairbro (anonymous) says...

I'm new to Emporia area, but I don't see anything wrong with the service at Sutherland's, the clerks seem to follow me around asking me what they can do for me...contrast with the Home Depot in Northern Virginia, where when you ask a question, the worker just grins at you and slowly repeats the last word (to him it's a foreign language) or the one on Long Island where you have to chase after the clerk and he's like "whaddayawant?" On the other hand, it's easy to get a job (if you speak English, you're hired).

July 27, 2009 at 2:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

rbovv (anonymous) says...

They just couldn't compete with Gamestop. There are better places in town to get games and movies. Plus, nobody even likes books, so it's only natural that they're closing. As long as Gamestop doesn’t close, I’ll be fine.

July 27, 2009 at 9:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

lets_get_reasonable (anonymous) says...

Nobody even likes books? Speak for yourself! They are the only place in town to get books other than sappy romance novels. They had excellent prices on used video and computer games, had awesome unique board games that you wouldn't find anywhere else in town, and novelty items that you would have to go to hot topic or spencers in topeka to find. Also, they were open late enough that if you were bored on a saturday night you could go in with your friends, sit in the comfy chairs with a cup of coffee and look thru books... something my friends and I have done many times. I buy all my books and cds there, and its the first place I go when I need to go gift shopping for someone's birthday because they have something for everyone. It's really devastating to see them go.

July 27, 2009 at 10:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

rbovv (anonymous) says...

"sit in the comfy chairs with a cup of coffee and look thru books"
Yeah, while a bunch of pre-teens run amuck and you hear someone beating a Rock Band drum kit to death... Sounds like a great time to me!
There's a reason B&N doesn't have noisy video games. Hastings tried to do too much as an "entertainment super store". If they only catered to book-reading, coffee drinkers, they could cut expenses because they wouldn't need the space or staff for all the video games and movies. Instead, they tried to do it all while not being the best at anything. When there are better places to buy video games, why would you go to Hastings simply because it has books you’ll never buy? (and vice versa)

July 27, 2009 at 10:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

sunshine (anonymous) says...

rbow...plenty of people love books. Everytime I went into Hastings I saw people perusing books and magazines. What is wrong with you? Just because you don't like books doesn't mean there aren't plenty of people who like books. I can't even reconcile the fact that there would be people who don't like books of some kind.
I agree with Observation on the fact that it is more of a national issue than local in this case. I personally was in Hastings every week, at least once. Everytime I went in there were plenty of others there. I can't believe we didn't support that store. I have tried shopping at Town Crier and unfortunately I just can't afford to. They are expensive. So now, I will go back to ordering online or shopping at other stores when I happen to be out of town. Don't forget the good ol' Library people! And there is interlibrary loans..so most of the time you can get the book your looking for. I don't really shop for music...I just listen to the radio. I love music, but not enough to spend my money on it. Gameco and CD Tradepost are ok, but the whole buy back for hardly anything but resale for a lot makes me sick.
I will miss Hastings. I will miss their coffee and the pleasant staff who are always willing to help and are just always polite everytime I walk in the store. Guess now I will just have to have my coffee at home cause I'm not too fond of Java Cat as they are always out of something, Granada is lovely with wonderfully nice people but I feel its a little too pricey for me and not big enough for group meetings, and I abhor Starbucks and they are just too expensive and inconveniently located.
I'm sorry, I'd love to spend more money in Emporia, but it is getting increasingly more difficult. I can't just spend the money here just because...I have to like where I'm shopping and that usually translates to good customer service which IS hard to find here. Give me something good and I will definitley keep my money here...keep things the way it is and more and more of my dollars will be going out of town!

July 27, 2009 at 10:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

irishemporia (anonymous) says...

Books? I love books. I love Hastings. This is a sad day...one of many to come, I fear.

July 27, 2009 at 11:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

irishemporia (anonymous) says...

For what it is worth, I go to Hastings to get away from MY teens! :)

July 27, 2009 at 11:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

rbovv (anonymous) says...

"good customer service which IS hard to find here"
That ain't no lie! Except at Gamestop, of course. The help at Gamestop is top notch. They are knowledgeable and friendly.

At Hastings, on the other hand, you're lucky if you can even find an employee to get a game out of the case for you. When you finally get the game and make your way to the front, you have to stand in line for 10 minutes because they NEVER have more than one checkout open. Sometimes, when you're real lucky, you'll get a kid trading in 20 games in line in front of you, so you have to wait while the checker inspects every game and negotiates with the kid trading them in. That's a 20 minute wait for sure.

Books are fine and all, but Hastings was trying to cater to too many different market demographics. Movies sales/rentals, video game sales/rentals, books, novelties, music, coffee, etc… You can’t effectively cater to all those different markets because you’re never going to have one customer interested in all those different things. In other words, they can’t expect to the “go-to place” for video games if they are putting too much emphasis on the books. (and vice versa) This approach only works for Walmart because they are cheaper, larger, and they carry necessities so they are bound to have something for everyone.

rbovv =
Reading
Books
On
Various
Video games

July 27, 2009 at 11:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

create (anonymous) says...

Hey Steve,

It's time to put in a few comfy chairs, serve gourmet coffee and offer a few books to peruse at the Town Royale.

July 27, 2009 at 11:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...

That poster was rbov v, not rbow. I find it very hard to tell with the font on my Firefox browser, but it is clear as day on my Safari font. You can change your default font in your browser---I just don't because I mostly use the Safari.

July 27, 2009 at 11:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

mjl (anonymous) says...

Shopping at Hastings not really any closer to "shopping local" as going to Wal-Mart, Pizza Hut or McDonalds. Profits are immediately shipped off to HQ and removed from our economy. Shopping at locally owned and operated businesses are what will turn Emporia's economy around.

Most of media sales have been turned into a digital market, but shopping for books at Town Crier, CDs at Wizards and games/movies at CD Tradepost (locally owned, but part of a regional chain) will easily replace those jobs lost and likely create more, while having the profits kept by Emporians who will put most of it back into our local economy.

The RDA claims Emporians spend $460+ million each year in Emporia. Locally owned, independent businesses easily keep 25% more of their earnings in their local economy. You do the math and tell me what makes sense for us to do, complain about losing a big chain store or change our buying habits?

July 27, 2009 at 1:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

admireed (anonymous) says...

Stores come and go. Which are the next several retailers to shut their doors in Emporia?

July 27, 2009 at 1:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

AverageCitizen2 (anonymous) says...

rbow,

Did a guy who just used a hysterical Animal Farm reference on Saturday say that he doesn't like books today?

July 27, 2009 at 2:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

giggles (anonymous) says...

jenblock04, I have to agree with you. I too went to the sports store in the mall. I was clearly looking for something, not that I could get any help. There was a gentleman working his tail off with others in the store, but there was a girl there, talking to some guy friend of hers and looking bored and like it was a bother for her to be working (if you could call it that). I set my purchase (of which I was unsure I got the thing I needed) on the counter and she gave me a look like I was irritating her. She rang it up told me the total, all the while talking to this guy friend of hers,definately not business mind you, personal problems.Nothing worse than getting an earful of someone else's dirty laundry.
I left with a feeling of irritation myself. I meant to call back when I could speak to a manager, but I have had some family issues that took precedence at the time. I may still call and let them know that until they get better help, I won't be shopping there any time soon.

July 27, 2009 at 3:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...

Thanks oh4theluveof;

r b o v v;

You are an ass!

To everyone else I love reading. Let's all go back and re-read "Animal Farm".

July 27, 2009 at 3:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Kujiin (anonymous) says...

There are a few stores in town that think they are doing you a favor by being open. Not to mention charging more for there goods cause they are the only game in town . It's sad when you can drive a small distance and save 25-30%. I can deal with no customer service and low prices. I can't deal with no customer service and high prices.

July 27, 2009 at 3:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...

rbov v;

If I knew who you were I would come over and slap a space between your v's.

I don't mind taking the heat for my thoughts, but not for some mindless game-playing pile of sputem.

July 27, 2009 at 4 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

rbovv (anonymous) says...

¿Un burro? ¡Dios mio! Lo siento, rbow. Ahora pararé.

July 27, 2009 at 4:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

giggles (anonymous) says...

It's too bad that those who run these forums won't do something about that rbow. I don't like trying to decipher who is who, some people might not know or take notice that there are two different people posting under in-deciperable names. I hope you don't have someone come to your business to personally hash it out with the wrong poster.

July 27, 2009 at 4:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

AverageCitizen2 (anonymous) says...

Sorry, rbow! I thought you seemed different today...like a whole different type of mentality. Now I know why.

July 27, 2009 at 4:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

sunshine (anonymous) says...

rbow...wow, its seems like we visited completely different stores. I am not saying that there was NEVER crazy spoiled teens running around or long lines that one must wait 20 minutes, or bad customer service...but I sure never encountered it. The kids I saw in there, except for once (and I didn't witness this) when a kids really messed up the bathroom and the staff cleaned it up right away, were not really that distracting. I was always in in the evening, so maybe that is the difference, and I must admit that I really never rented movies more than a handful of times, but it is kind of a one stop shop and that concept seems to work fine for Barnes and Noble, I am certain they still have the back area with all the music and what not, but I'm not sure because I just don't buy that kind of stuff. There is something there for just about everyones media needs/wants at Hastings. If you haven't noticed, specialty stores are struggling just like any other store is and maybe more. If Hastings only had sold books and nothing else do you think the outcome would have been any different. I don't. Just ask Town Royal, they aren't having an easy time of it either. I would say most places are showing a decrease in profits. The handful that aren't are extremely lucky.
Here's another one...Big Lots. They seemed to do ok here, I liked shopping there and I know a lot of other people did. The problems seems to be that Emporia is small, not as many people to support these places. It has become necessity for them to be where there are more people to make economic sense to keep a store open and making any profit. I do believe it is just the way things are going to be for a long while.

July 27, 2009 at 5:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

mjl (anonymous) says...

Wal-Mart has a standard practice of pricing items at, or below, competitors like Big Lots pricing until they go under. Then they move the prices back up, this is why you have to enter a zip code and select a store on the Wal-Mart website before you can see prices.

But, again, big box and large chain stores have virtually no value to our local economy and often require the city to spend more in resources than they generate in tax base.

July 27, 2009 at 5:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

booker5m (anonymous) says...

What do you mean no value ? They pay taxes hire people .

July 27, 2009 at 5:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

mjl (anonymous) says...

So do locally owned, independent stores. Only they hire more people, pay more taxes and keep more money in Emporia's economy, which then creates more jobs, more tax base, etc.

July 27, 2009 at 5:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

paulkersey (anonymous) says...

I agree Booker. I would say Wal-Mart probably pays more in sales sax to the county and city than every store downtown combined.

July 27, 2009 at 5:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

booker5m (anonymous) says...

mjl would you explain that concept to me.

July 27, 2009 at 6:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

mjl (anonymous) says...

Wal-Mart COLLECTS sales tax, they don't pay it...you're the one that pays sales tax.

There are several communities in recent years that have turned their backs on big boxes and national chains and have seen a huge gain, I could give you a ton of links for studies, but here is an easy to read flier from Portland, Maine:
http://portlandbuylocal.org/images/st...

July 27, 2009 at 6:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

booker5m (anonymous) says...

Ok So we get rid of Pennys,Walmart,staples,Montana Mikes,Applebees,Walgreens,Sears,Walters,all the Chain motels,Most of what left in the mall. Then all would be great in Emporia is that right?

July 27, 2009 at 6:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

mjl (anonymous) says...

That's the end game, but no one is saying that they should all close their doors tomorrow (or Aug. 1st to stay on track with this story). But, we can all start shifting our purchases to locally owned stores that provide the same products and services.

When they begin growing, they will need more employees to do the same amount of work the corporate chains use. They'll spend more money at other local businesses, rather than using the required suppliers the corporate chains do. The profits will be used by the owners to purchase houses, vehicles and basic necessities in Emporia.

A bigger demand on local businesses will cultivate more entrepreneurs to open their own stores to keep up with the demand and keep the market in check. This is a corner stone of allowing families to move from low income to middle class.

July 27, 2009 at 6:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

biscuitboy (anonymous) says...

rbow......as irritating as bisquikboy can be to me...I can appreciate how r b o v v must be worse. At least bisquikboy just paraodies me....your jerk claims to be you. Although its very hard to tell the two apart with my font I have learned to look closely when you don't sound like you. And I believe that anybody worth worrying about on here is learning to do the same thing.

You would howver think the Gazette could look a little closer at user names that closely resemble names already in use.....but maybe not.

July 27, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

hottopics (anonymous) says...

I just got a call from Hastings saying that I still had a certain movie out that I returned weeks ago. Then was told that if I didnt have the one I have now back by Friday at noon they will turn it over to COLLECTION!!! Thats treating a valued customer now isnt it??

July 27, 2009 at 6:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...

Sunshine;

That was not me posting about Hasting's. It was rbov v (without the space).

I have nothing but good to say about either book store in Emporia, and I am sorry that one of them is closing.

I am going to ask Gwen to either change my username or rbov v's ,whoever signed up last.

July 27, 2009 at 6:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...

"A bigger demand on local businesses will cultivate more entrepreneurs to open their own stores to keep up with the demand and keep the market in check. "
I remember people bringing up this concept in an earlier debate and people didn't really go for it. They(the ones who didn't go for it) demanded a certain type of business and said that there were a lot of others that felt the same, but instead of using the free market to take advantage of this demand and supply it they forced businesses to "change" to suit them. I like the concept, I really do but too many 'round here don't get it.

July 27, 2009 at 7:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

paulkersey (anonymous) says...

"This is a corner stone of allowing families to move from low income to middle class."

I'm in somewhat agreement to this, but I think 1,000 manufacturing jobs will be much more of a foundation than 30 people opening new stores.

R= C+I

July 27, 2009 at 8:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

fairbro (anonymous) says...

Hastings needs to do what Borders and B&N already have - a website where you can order any book you want. (Hey, I'm available, Hastings - website design!)

If Emporia wants to save the downtown and the smaller shops, I wonder if they could do what they did on Long Island. There is no Walmart or big discount stores like Best Buy or Borders or even McDonalds or Burger King. Suffolk County (eastern 50 miles of Long island) has ordinance against them. They are simply not allowed. If you're in the Hamptons, and you want to go to McDonalds, you have to drive in 25-30 miles toward the city. The prices are higher, but there's a thriving village of small shops.

July 27, 2009 at 8:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

admireed (anonymous) says...

fairbro....protect the locals? Sounds like what Lawrence tried to do for years so downtown stores could protect their prices, hours, and profits.

July 27, 2009 at 9:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

rbovv (anonymous) says...

I never claimed to be r-b-o-w nor have I impersonated him. It isn't my fault we happen to have similar usernames. Don't blame me; blame the people who jump on you for my postings. If only they'd pay attention...

It seems you all are a close-knit group who don't accept newcomers. No need to change your ID, rbow. I guess I'll just stop using this site. Goodbye.

rbovv=
Reading
Books
On
Various
Video Games

July 28, 2009 at 8:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...

Ah Shucks rbovv;

Didn't mean to be so mean. Tell you what, you stay on here under rbovv and keep on posting. This will be my last post as rbow, as everyone knows who i am anyway, I'll change my username to my name. Keep up the discussion!
Steve

July 28, 2009 at 8:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

flatfour (anonymous) says...

I'm sad to see Hasting go. I could usually find what I was looking for there. I also realized the limits the store had. You can't possibly cover every nitch without becoming a huge store and all of the expense that goes along with that. Emporia's shopper base isn't that large anymore. It's too easy to get online or jump in the car for an hour and have lot's of selection available. My biggest gripe about Emporia retail is the "we can order it, have it here in a few days" shtick, but so can I and save 25%+. I'm not a shopper. If you find me in a store, it's because there's something I want and I'm ready to purchase, IF, you have it. I took the poll about should we build a visitors center at the new turnpike interchange. 67% said no. Answer me this, how are travelers going to find out about J's Carryout, Bobby D's, House of Ma if they don't know where they're at? Same thing applies for Bluestem, High Gear, L & L Pets, Flint Hills Music, and on and on. Driving through Emporia on 35 doesn't give much of a clue of what we have. You see the college and the Sprawl-Mart cluster. Wow!
...but no need to worry fellow citizens, it won't be long until all of our empty business' will be occupied by Asian restaurants, something we sorely need.

July 28, 2009 at 10:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

giggles (anonymous) says...

flatfour, about the only way you may be able to pull someone off of the turnpike for that is to make sure the radio signal is good and advertise that way. A small visitor center where some may (but probably not) stop to take a leak or let their dog doo is not going to really pull someone into town. Stuff it into their brain before they get near town.

July 28, 2009 at 11:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

mjl (anonymous) says...

"I'm in somewhat agreement to this, but I think 1,000 manufacturing jobs will be much more of a foundation than 30 people opening new stores."

I never said we needed retail jobs over manufacturing, the discussion was about retail chains and locally owned businesses. We're better of with both and then even better jobs will start trickling in because of the strong economy and workforce.

"I remember people bringing up this concept in an earlier debate and people didn't really go for it."

I understand this, many people not going to be able to look beyond the "low prices" marketing garbage (I can find almost anything I need from local merchants at almost the same price as the big boys sell it for). We wont ever see the Wal-Mart close its doors, and they're going to be able to carry some things that a specialty shop couldn't sustain on their own, so we may not want them to. But, we can make them a small time player and support the businesses that support us.

July 28, 2009 at 11:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...

Sometimes, these big corporate decisions aren't about the actual activity in that store. Big Lots, for instance, wasn't closed because of lack of revenue. I know two former employees and they have told me that it was a distribution issue. They were losing stores in surrounding areas and as a result had to re-structure their distribution districts and routes. Wichita stores were to receive shipments that would come up from I-40 (Oklahoma City) as were many other stores in the southern region, however, Emporia was too isolated to fit into the I-40 or the I-70 routings. As it was a solitary store for many miles, it wasn't financially prudent to keep it on a shipment route, despite the good sales it had. Who's to say that Hastings isn't in a similar quandary? Maybe they weren't turning enough of a profit, but I haven't heard any reason given, so I am playing "devil's advocate" here.
Our location is actually a hindrance to us in the corporately operated retail world. The ones who are willing to open stores here are the ones who are big enough to be everywhere and have multiple distribution centers in each region or are based here in Kansas. This corporate problem isn't going to be as prevalent with locally owned businesses, but as we saw with the closing of the Snap Shot store due to supplier issues, it will still happen. The domino effect of all economic decisions is far reaching.
I hope that the Hastings employees will be able to find the existing local support in finding new employment as well as during the search.

July 28, 2009 at 4:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

paulkersey (anonymous) says...

Regardless of whether you think we need more mom and pop stores, or more box stores, whatever, Emporia needs more retail period. The less retail we have here, the less chance an industry will locate here.

July 28, 2009 at 9:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )