CdM B.I.D. to Study Ways to Attract Varied, Upscale Retailers
Corona del Mar has an abundance of rug stores, hair salons, gyms and vacant spaces — but what if local leaders could lure upscale businesses into the village, or create a wider variety of shops?
“As a community, we should try to influence the mix,” said Jim Walker, an advisory member of the Business Improvement District, at the group’s monthly meeting on Thursday. “Is there some way as a B.I.D. and as a city that we can influence the businesses that come here.”
Walker said he’d like to see Corona del Mar go upscale, becoming the Rodeo Drive of Newport Beach. Others at the meeting said they also would love to see a bigger variety of everyday shops.
“We would shop even more locally if there was more here,” said City Councilwoman Nancy Gardner. “There are stores I would love to see.” But a person usually belongs to just one gym, and buys rugs rarely — so locals tend to go outside the village to do shopping. “I’d love to walk more.”
Katie Bowden, a Newport Beach economic development employee who works with the B.I.D. group, said other areas of the city have tried to reach out to national chains and businesses — with little luck.
“No one was interested,” she said. Parking would be a problem for Corona del Mar, as well as the lack of a village center, and the proximity of Fashion Island.
The group nonetheless decided to explore the subject further, including ways to offer landlords incentives to rent to desirable businesses. A special meeting devoted to discussing the topic, and hearing more from research that city employees have already conducted, has been set tentatively for 7:30 a.m. Tuesday Feb. 16 at the Corona del Mar Chamber of Commerce office at 2855 East Coast Highway.
Filed under: Home (General)
Instead of upscaling retail, Corona del Mar needs to downsize retailing to widen East Coast Highway. The village is encumbering a California state coastal throughway. The city has to yield to the increased motorists and emerging bicycling. We’re all watching if Newport Beach will be the first city to be bankrupted by bicycle injury claims. The fault lies with overly frugal city planners and unconcerned traffic engineers.
I’ve always heard the same thing and now having lived here for a year, it’s always parking parking parking. You wonder what types of shops the residents alone can sustain. I’d be all for it – I wish some of the restaurants also had rooftops bars and that they would approve the sidewalk expansion to accommodate “beer garden” patios – I mean seriously, we are one of the best beach cities – let’s make it thrive. And get two or three parking structures approved – underground.
i agree with damien. underground parking would be excellent (ie below starbucks) and i’d prefer to see some more local/independent shops if possible. balboa seems to be able to sustain those. i wish zinc were open evenings – maybe if there were more rooftop or sidewalk activitiy (or patio – like at port)…existing businesses would expand…and maybe some at different price points. cdm residents are a diverse bunch.
First, there is really no place to build an underground parking garage. They tried at Banderas years ago during the clock park construction. Too expensive. (Though a new city hall apparently isn’t…)
I agree the some shops could be upscaled. However CDM into Belmont Shore is not in the interests of the residents. There are conflicting needs. Bringing in more customers to businesses hurts property values of residents. But so does empty storefronts.
The “Rodeo Drive” discussion occurred 15 years ago. However, for anyone who has actually “been” to Rodeo Drive lately, it’s really nothing but an outdoor shopping mall for the Louis Vitton crowd. It’s not very nice. CDM is far nicer IMHO.
And sadly as others have said, the residents don’t patronize many of the shops. Locals use the restrauants, but I’ve never bought an oriental carpet or over priced antique or an electric golf cart and have no plans to in the forseeable future.
Finally, I think maybe rents are too high for many businesses to make a profit. There is so much turnover here, even in the good times.
Thanks for listening.