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Respondents
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Answers (CNTL-F to search) |
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1858645
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Local ownership is an added extra, but it falls by the wayside when the services dont add up.
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1858649
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We love walking to our little downtown to do whatever.
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1858657
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I don’’t know
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1858691
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Attractiveness
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1858715
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Cleanliness and Novelty of store Doorways and aisles large enough to push a stroller through No weird smells (many of current Takoma Park stores have weird smells.)
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1858724
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not a chain, I hardly ever shop at CVS, never at Subway
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1858831
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quality of merchandise service whether I need what is on offer
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1858836
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That I can walk to them
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1858839
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Takoma Park businesses (especcially ones that sell things liek or medicine) will get my bussiness if I can walk to them on way from the metro station to home. This means that they need to be open till at least 7pm on weekdays.
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1858844
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Price and convenience, particularly if I don’’t have to drive to the service provider
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1858872
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Competitive prices
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1858883
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I live within easy walking distance, so parking is not the issue (though it is for others). I would want quality products/ion and service (helpful and friendly)
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1858939
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Good service
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1859153
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For MOST things, parking is very important. For us inparticular it is not so important.
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1859178
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Parking proximity again depends on location. I often walk to 4th St in DC and Old Town, but not to Takoma Junction, which is much farther away.
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1859188
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Price Goods/products that I would not get elsewhere
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1859191
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C
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1859192
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Competive Prices
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1859201
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Ambiance, character
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1859205
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Integrity
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1859250
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quality of customer service kind of clientele the business attracts business policies
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1859280
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bike parking convenience
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1859323
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price, quality, ion, fair-trade/made in USA stock
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1859336
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You should ask the 3 out-of-the area stores (not Silver Spring) that people go to that they would rather not have to go to Rockville, etc. for.
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1859339
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Welcoming atmophere. Downtown SS has become a quotchainquot business neighborhood. (E.g., when I went to put up poster for the loca HS play, all but two businesses said it was against their company’’s policies yet they want community business and support!) While business volume may not support longer hours, many TP shop hours are quite restrictive. I have often gone elsewhere because shops weren’’t open yet or closed earlier
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1859346
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Why are there no questions about the Metro? How can you guage the importance of the Metro if you don’’t even acknowledge its existence?I would patronize Takoma Park businesses if I could walk there. I patronize other businessses if they are on the Metro.
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1859347
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Metro accessibility
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1859356
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I don’’t mind walking a ways for parking, but I’’m usually in a hurry.
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1859357
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I love the Takoma business district because it’’s eclectic, different, and a world removed from the rest of the region with its huge cookie cutter chain stores. I’’m proud to have businesses like quotFair Days Playquot and quotPurple Mountain Organicsquot just around the corner, and I know that they’’d probably never survive in another DC suburb (unless Mt. Rainer were to get a metro station).
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1859359
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Interesting mix of offerings. Both things to buy andways to hang out.
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1859363
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Speedy service. Strosniders is an excellent example of good service for any type of business. There are always knowledgeable people available and plenty of staff to make everything quick.
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1859386
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Good quality - for example, we go to Silver Spring or elsewhere for pizza, flowers, dry cleaning, ice cream parlor - even though they all exist in Takoma Park. Pizza is awful - flower ion isn’’t good - had my dry cleaning completely ruined - and although I like the atmosphere of the ice cream shop, it’’s just not that good.
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1859391
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affordability
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1859394
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Good value and service.
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1859406
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The quality and price of items featured - takoma park is very convenient to me already.
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1859407
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None
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1859415
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Vegetarian/green-friendliness of the business
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1859421
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Takoma Park is very anti-car, but everyone drives and I have received many parking tickets for just going in for a minute from Takoma Park Police. Old Town needs to be a ticket free zone unless a car has been parked for a while!
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1859436
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Quality goods/services
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1859449
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I really miss a less chain bookstore. chuck and DavesI mourn your loss! I could always count on this storefor birthday gifts and at christmas
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1859459
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Walkability or Metro Accessibility
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1859465
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It is crucial that Takoma Park keep as many locally owned businesses as possible. Bringing in big name chains and such would completely ruin the integrity of Takoma Park.
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1859467
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Selection and atmosphere. I hate feeling like I’’mshopping in a thrift store, but paying retail (orboutique) prices.
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1859479
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quality, ion, and price of goods and services,as well as pleasantness of shopping/buying experience.(that includes cleanliness, friendliness,helpfulness... eg that’’s why going to the farmers’’market is so nice)
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1859481
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can’’t think of anything else
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1859505
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non-franchise
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1859514
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Safe access by bicycle and foot.
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1859528
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Nice owners/non-chain
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1859529
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Usefullness, qualtiy
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1859531
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prices
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1859532
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I would prefer to stay local for things I would do/need anyway
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1859542
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Excellent customer service.
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1859554
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brew pub!!
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1859564
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Value for money. That does not mean it has to becheap, but if it is expensive I expect quality andservice. I definitely will spend a little more tosupport a local business but the quality has to be there.
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1859576
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There are no others, just the quality of goods and service
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1859595
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whether it provide a good or service i need at a goodprice
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1859597
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FRIENDLY AND RELIABLE
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1859631
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No chain stores please!
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1859634
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Needs to be competitive in price and quality with other similar businesses in nearby areas.
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1859662
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Price, Value, Quality
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1859693
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carry quality goods and items and are well stockedwith intelligent employees!
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1859699
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Proximity of other attractive businesses or public library
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1859703
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Environmentally and/or socially conscious
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1859756
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Good customer service
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1859765
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value - if I can get a better deal driving to Silver Spring, it’’s not that far, so I’’d go there
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1859786
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Would prefer whatever businesses enter into the areanot to be chai-oriented.
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1859793
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Too many businesses close too early
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1859802
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Friendly atmosphere
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1859806
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something that I need!!!!!
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1859807
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Customer driven niche businesses like Dan the MusicMan, Video Americain, and the farmer’’s market are verysatisfying.
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1859816
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Prices
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1859820
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What I need and good service friendly/good corporate citizen in the community. I would patronize a quotgreenquot business.
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1859824
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Obviously parking is important. It’’s hard to shopsomewhere when I have to walk more than a few blocksto one store. It helps if there are many stores ofinterest clustered together. One Takoma Park problemis the spreading out of stores.
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1859835
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walkable
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1859850
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Friendly service
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1859858
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Convenience to mass transitSafeFriendly
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1859864
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-open after 6pm-competitive prices
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1859875
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reasonable prices
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1859884
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I enjoy walking around a busy, bustling, fun area. TP is now sleepy and you never know if the store you want is opened or not.
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1859901
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interesting
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1859904
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To make it worth driving, it needs to be unique whichusually (but not necessarily) requires localownership. If it isn’’t open on the weekend or lateevening, then forget about it.
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1859946
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Emphasis on environment.
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1859993
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Kid’’s friendlyReal community envolvementGreen business that recycles
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1860117
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They would have to sell something I am interested in. There are very few shops in TP that sell anything worthwhile: too much recycled clothes, furniture, etc.
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1860120
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Quality of service e.g., food, baked goods, hardware store, etc. MUCH MUCH More important than local ownership
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1860160
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Walkability. Takoma Park has a beautiful, easilyaccessible central business district with seeminglyhalf of the retail space dedicated to bric-a-brac,used clothing and others things that are NOT things Iuse every day and would like being able to walk to. I’’ve lived here for two years and can honestly sayI’’ve been in less than half of the businesses that Iwalk by every day. With restaurants, coffee shops,bakery, deli, butcher and hardware store that wouldchange.
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1860161
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Walking distance or proximity to the metro. Commitment to green living and socially consciousmechantile. Sustainable living.
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1860169
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community oriented competitive prices
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1860178
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I’’m always willing to pay a little more for local ownership of business. But the business has to provide good services and food.
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1860181
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walkability
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1860184
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Uniqueness: things I can only find in Takoma
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1860191
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cafe atlantico, dcred dog cafe, SSJackie’’s, SS
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1860194
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Quality and decent prices. Good customer service is amust!
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1860222
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Replaces services I would otherwise have to drive to DC or Silver Spring to purchase.
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1860227
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Just well run business, good service, competitive prices but not necessarily cheapest. Like the idea of local ownership.
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1860231
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I would like TP not to be chain stores. With that said, I do like the Subway. A snall scale clothing store, even if a chain, would be nice.
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1860239
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QUALITY.
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1860243
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As noted previously, Takoma Park has some great uniquebusinesses with quality products (Mark’’s, MiddleEastern, Summer Delights), but they all look and feelas if the ceiling may fall in at any minute. Theyaren’’t conducive to having a night out with friendsfrom anywhere other than Takoma Park (and sometimesnot even then). Also, the hours don’’t allow workingpeople to shop at the stores other than the Woof,which has done it right, and the Co-op, which is opentill 9 every night now.
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1860253
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Must not be a Franchise. I will not go to a frachise.
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1860275
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For many service businesses (vet, Salon Jam, drycleaners) the few meters seem perfectly adequatebecause people don’’t stay long. I rarely have aproblem parking.
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1860284
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Employees who actually bathed more than once a month.
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1860285
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customer service, pricing
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1860307
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Butcher / Bakery— wholefoods, SSCalvert woodley, DC—Wine Strosnider’’s hardware, SS
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1860319
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Unique products and great customer service -
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1860321
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I would like Local Ownership, but only if that local ownership gives a sense of vibrancy to the downtown area. Right now, the only shop I really go to in Takoma Park is Now Then and that is generally for gifts and cards. There are really only so many times I want to hunt for antiques or shop for used clothing. I appreciate that those businesses are there, but I don’’t necessarily think they are in the best interest of the economic development of the neighborhood. There is too great a concentration of them in one area.
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1860328
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Customer friendly service
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1860337
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uniqueness of the service/goods. if i can get it in the mall, i will - it’’s cheaper.
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1860465
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usefulness
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1860468
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Competitive prices
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1860470
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I would like to see things in Takoma Park be kept up better. I feel like everything has gotten run down. Even the ice cream store feels quite run down. It makes me think twice about going to there. I feel like it’’s much worse than other places I’’ve lived.
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1860531
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independently owned, non-chain
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1860545
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the fact that I can walk there.
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1860585
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I’’d like great customer service. Perhaps the neighborhood could develop a code of operation, the comfy feel of the listserv and at least one larger scale commercial business.
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1860616
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Good, competitive prices or a little over the largerchain stores
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1860635
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Clearly marked, easy to *find* parking, even if not right adjacent. Didn’’t notice alley to rear parking until recently.Quantity of retail stores/services - the more errands I can take care of at once, the more likely I am to go there!Retail map - a lot of stores are quottucked away.quot How about a TP retail map with brief description of businesses and services offered available at each shop, or by the newspaper stands? Not too many quotfreequot newspaper stands!
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1860658
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We need businesses that quotdraw people inquot like bookstores, cafes, and toystores. Having businesses open into the evening is a plus.
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1860711
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Slightly upscale from what’’s there now (Now and Then, Bead shop excluded). Something not quite so homey, hippy. Atmosphere for restaurant.
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1860712
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Parking proximity matters only if outside of Old Town Takoma (around OTT I walk)
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1860739
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Friendly service
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1860759
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Metro Accessible
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1860843
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I mostly care about the vegetarian offerings.
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1860861
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price
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1860875
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Pleasant interactions with nice people.
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1860914
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Quality product
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1861048
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Good ionservice well kept facilities,
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1861085
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Whether they had vegan options available.
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1861125
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Cleanliness, Organization
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1861204
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If there was a clothing store that catered to Petite women I would be there
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1861291
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Uniqueness - interesting character
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1861319
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green , fair trade, locally made options
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1861371
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quality of service, products
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1861392
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Prices
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1861408
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Affordable and is selling something that I could use for myself or my family
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1861417
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High quality of service provided, proximity to other shops or restaurants that I wanted to patronize
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1861444
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Quality.
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1861450
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many businesses open late and close early - I know it’’s an issue of staffing, but 11 AM seems late.
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1861460
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Wheelchair access, and proximity to public transit.
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1861655
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reasonable prices (though I’’m willing to pay a smallpremium to not have to drive)
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1861830
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Other: reasonable prices. Not boutique/high end prices.
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1861850
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After-work (aka evenings) hours important
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1861867
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clean up the look, keep the chains out and have shops other then old clothing
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1862000
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Cleanliness
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1862326
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Affordable (we don’’t need anymore high-priced potteryor gift stores)
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1862345
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High quality. This is kind of like affirmativeaction. I’’ll give the benifit of the doubt to localbuisnesses with joy. But if the service is poor, I’’llgo elsewhere.
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1862557
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Walking distance from home
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1862573
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friendly, good service
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1862873
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price and ion and pleasant atmosphere
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1862971
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forgot to say before, a good coffee shop would be great
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1862972
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Being in TP is an excellent start.
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1862988
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walking proximity to metro
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1863422
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Local ownership is nice but no imperative
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1863841
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appropriate pricing competitive pricing to what’’savailable in Silver Spring
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1863918
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Atmosphere
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1863930
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Commitment to customer service and community involvement.
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1864095
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Clean and fresh-looking environments. None of the buildings in the business district are of historical significance, they look like crap, they’’re dirty and uninviting (the few exceptions are the SA beads, Now and Then and Big Bad Woff). I hate taking my clothes into a cleaners that filthy. Another grocery store would be welome.
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1864112
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excellent quality, first and formost
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1864276
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helpful, knowledgable, friendly staff (e.g. strosniders)
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1864366
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Friendly service. Fragrance-free atmosphere. There’’s too much incense in Takoma Park.
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1864626
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asfddsaf
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1864778
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Metro accessible
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1865588
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Friendly staff
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1867259
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Location, distance to the metro/old town.
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1867379
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live music
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1867570
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Professional reputation.
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1868136
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Not a chain.
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1868173
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Pleasant, knowledgeable staff. Creativity andinnovation in service and look. Open late enough forme to get there after work. Has something I actuallyneed or want in my daily life. And CLEAN. I know Isound like a broken record on the cleanliness thing,but it’’s really a problem inside and out.
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1868266
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I’’d like a few businesses that sell things you use on a daily basis. A grocery store would be ideal.
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1868341
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Useful things currently most things are too niche marketnot useful.
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1868441
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Again, quality and some STYLE is hugely important. Many businesses seem to langusih here because they seem to have little energy behind keeping themselves up to date, with good quality merchandise.
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1868560
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PriceReputation
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1868571
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Friendliness of owner/staff
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1868607
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Quality of service.
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1868647
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quotApart from goods/servicesquot is kind of like quotOtherthan that, how did you like the play Mrs. Lincoln?quotProviding relevant goods and services at a reasonableprice is essential, and something that a lot of areabusinesses struggle with.
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1868948
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Friendly atmosphere and service
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1869705
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price, although I am willing to pay more for a locally owned business
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1870194
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a well operated business that doesn’’t scream that itis granola or politically correct. i would preferthat it not be a chain.just remembered that a good fresh tex mex restarurantwould be at the top of my list
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1870726
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Affordability
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1872450
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community-centric: to be a quotrealquot takoma park business, there should be some aspect of classes, learning, gathering for the community.
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1873194
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Close to home means that the businesses are neighbors. Knowing the people you frequent is an important aspect to trusting business.
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1874000
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Proximity to my home it would be nice to go out for a good meal in my own neighborhood~!
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1876373
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Would have to be open beyond 9-5
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1876641
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ability to attract people from outside tp
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1878432
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Uniqueness
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1878743
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Availability of good quality goods/services
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1878751
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quality, ion, price
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1884888
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Quality of offerings and quality of service
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1885623
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We do not own a car! We walk to TP, and also use Flexcars at TP Metro station, and on the DC side of Takoma. Walkability matters, aka keeping sidewalks clear and having excellent traffic signals for crossing streets, NO crosswalk blocking.
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1890948
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Level of customer service. Atmosphere and environment of the shop. Ability to get all my errands/shopping done while only parking once.
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1891796
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Quality of goods/service friendliness of business owners
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1891802
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Fair Trade products available
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1891810
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walkable- in downtown TP area
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1893023
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Useful stuff and not excessively expensive
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1893559
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I would make a stronger effort to patronize a store I knew was locally-ownedParking is not a factor for us but I’’m in favor of an Old Town parking garage for other patrons
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1894599
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Salon Jam (hair)Dry cleaners on LaurelFramers at Takoma Junction (Elves Workshop)
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1895499
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Within walking distance of the metro community gathering place
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1896398
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Competitive prices
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1896438
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Setting/appearance (clean, charming, unique)
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1898073
|
Proximity to Metro. Mixed use. Proximity to adjacentstores up and down the block, so you can walk fromstore to store (not just all stores on one block ofthe MD side).Ever since Chuck and Daves decided not to open late,hours have been terrible. even for a suburb smallerand less central than Takoma Park. In part this isbecause it appeals to a narrow income demographic, allof whom commute.Everyday Gourmet is the only place that caters todaytime office/blue collar workers, lunch is its busyhour. Either we want local ownership, or we don’’t. If wewant local ownership, we should not CONCEDE the pointuntil we have significantly more local stores than wedo now. Compared to other cities, Takoma Park’’scurrent concentration of locally owned stores ishardly unusual or intense there are just enough(barely) to market it as a shopping district, but theyare all one type. Incoming stores should be local, orwe don’’t come out ahead.
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1914944
|
Metro accessibility (this applies for virtually allthe answers to similar questions to this point). Since I take metro nearly every day, I find storesthat I can stop by on my way to/from metro to be themost accessible.
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1915346
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ambience, cleanliness, friendliness
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1917120
|
Quality
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1918024
|
It it is a restaurant, something more upscale and trendy.
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1918119
|
If by local ownership you mean not a national chain, yes I prefer that.
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1918717
|
Not a national chain - doesn’’t have to be locally owned, just independently owned or a local chain.
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1918928
|
Safety price quality service
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1924264
|
Quality merchandise, things not seen elsewhere
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1924267
|
quality
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1924362
|
convenient location (e.g.,Old Town, Takoma Park)
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1924395
|
Cost of service
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1924509
|
If I like the store and owner I will patronize. Otherwise I won’’t. For example, I’’ve never set footin the Subway in downtown Takoma, because I never eatthat kind of food, even though I only love a couple ofblocks away. .
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1924607
|
organic or fair-trade focus, quotgreenquot agenda
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1924683
|
Something I want or need....local ownership is desirable but in the end not vital to me...convenience
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1924694
|
I walk to them they are my neighborhood businesses,bank branch, restaurant
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1924774
|
local ownership helps
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1924804
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price, if it were kid-friendly, if it were conscientious,
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1924815
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Orderly display of goods. Customer service. If applicable, ability to communicate by email.
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1924846
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Openness. I find some businesses in TP highly geared to ultra-liberal, forgive me...quotcrunchy granolaquot types. I’’m AA middle-of-the-road female who loves the neighborhood and will patronize ANY business, but not if proprietors give me the quotjudgementquot vibe because of how I’’m dressed, appearances, etc.
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1924854
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Prices of items relative to competition.
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1925089
|
Commitment of the owner to the values that make Takoma Park and Takoma great: green, socially conscious, supportive of the community, etc.
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1925104
|
Community involvement
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1925246
|
good ambiance clean (unlike savory)
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1925450
|
We work shifts, so it would be good if a place was open between lunch and dinner, even better if they opened up early - before 7am.
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1925636
|
attentivenes/friendliness of owners and staff, kid-friendly
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1925656
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A quotmiddle-classquot approach to prices. The TPSS co-op is a nice store, but way too expensive for me to patronize on a regular basis.
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1925730
|
high quality customer service
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1928108
|
Provides goods currently not available.
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1928323
|
Safe, clean, organized, professional operation.Proximity and accessability to metro.I don’’t want another poorly operated store that feels like it is owned and managed by a rumpled old hippy living in the basement.
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1929474
|
I don’’t care about local ownership, just that the businesses are useful to the community.
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1931677
|
Reasonably competitive prices (doesn’’t have to be the cheapest, but can’’t be wildly overpriced)
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1932755
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Decent restaurant would really do it. Don’’t really have much interest in the ones we have now.
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1932787
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Walkable in ’’Old Town’’- Metro strip
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