Back to results page

Below are all of the text answers for the selected question in the OTBA Spring 2007 Survey.

Question 24. What do you think local shops could do in order to attract more business?

Respondents	Answers (CNTL-F to search)
1850010	-
1858645	Diversify and offer more useful goods and services
1858647	Restaurants need to be cleaner, offer alchohol and be open more hours.
1858648	Having a few restaurants would help draw people to thestore. More stores to increase ion and potentialfor more people
1858649	Lots of trees, walking friendly, more stores with longer hours. Not stores that close down at 8:00pm.
1858657	Nothing, really. However, if more people live inTakoma Park (e.g., Metro development housing), theywill get more customers.
1858661	Resturants need to look cleaner. Shops need more merchandise. Less vintage.
1858664	Spruce up their shops. Mark’’s needs an interioroverhaul. The decor is awful. So is EverydayGourmet’’s. Put READABLE signs on the exteriors thatemphasize what they sell. The stores are not veryattractive from the inside or outside, they look oldand dingy. A guide/map at Metro would help visitors.
1858670	sidewalk tag sales promotions takoma as destination, pitching weekend farmer’’s market, food, shopping, kid-friendly
1858678	More events
1858685	Improve quality.Cater to everyday needs.
1858691	I don’’t know but I enjoy seeing their various window decorations
1858693	maintain excellence just as any other businesses elsewhere
1858715	Have a cleaner store on the inside specialize in things that people need on a daily/weekly basis.
1858717	Provide basics that people need
1858724	how about some decent baked goods? i.e., better quality
1858738	have a large sign at metro and at gateway points totown listing the stores, welcoming visitorssupport from city to fund music at under-used gazebo
1858750	Meet needs better. Nobody owes anybody a living. The well-run ones that meet a community need or have a unique niche do fine. The others don’’t. Attitude matters.
1858797	i dont know
1858812	Clean their stores, upgrade facades, have appropriatewindow dressing, train employees, lower some prices tobe competitive, local free delivery?
1858831	improve quality of merchandise steer away from knick knacks focus on stock that is either useful or unique. that is not available elsewhere in the vicinity and certainly not a replica of what is across the street or around the corner!
1858836	More vibrant downtown e.g., more shops, more upscale
1858839	Focus on the unique things that they can offer that no one else can. Advertise those. Band together and advertise in the DC area. My impression is that Takoma is not a destination even for speciality shoppers who do not live outside of the immediate area. Focus heavily on the asthethics of thier stores. The local architechure is what sets takoma park from other nearby but often ugly areas.
1858844	when using parttime help, supervise them closely and carefully to make sure they are pro-customer and not on their cell phones!
1858868	Get more people in
1858872	Suply the everyday needs of residents
1858873	Have a little longer hours so people could stop by after dinner. Closing at 8 rather than 7.
1858875	don’’t know
1858877	TP has lots of tchotchke shops, but god forbid peoplecoming for the tchotchkes or the cuteness should wantto sit down and have a bite of something. Seems likealmost every eatery that opens in TP eventuallybecomes famous for its bad food and bad coffee. (Savory, Everyday Gourmet, Taliano’’s, etc.).Businesses should be open after the Farmers Marketcloses, and *someone* provide a decent snack/lunch andcoffee. All store fronts should look *inviting*people should be able to *look in* and see things theywant. Perhaps more thought needs to be given tothings people *need* as well this is a tough economy.I don’’t often go into Old Town because I have to drive*out* to get items I need. Need a frequent, freeshuttle from the Metro station to the Co-op.
1858883	more variety, esp. for staples and routine purchases right now we shop only for quotspecialtyquot items
1858909	Diversify not all sell the same type of thing(e.g., Now Then, Magic Carpet, SA Beads, etc., etc.)
1858929	flyers to TP community
1858939	Coordinated special shopping days or nights
1859048	Determine what kind of shops are useful and could blend in with the general character of Old Town Takoma. I do not find the used clothes/junk shops useful to me. I would prefer shops oriented to present fashions (like Amano’’s for example), or which would satisfy needs for services in the community
1859082	?
1859122	Not sure
1859124	Not sure.
1859148	Upgrade quality (in some cases). Attract morebusinesses to build the whole of Old Takoma. Dobetter marketing.
1859152	??
1859153	I think about that all the time. I don’’t know.Sometimes I think that if TP had something like a fleamarket (as in Georgetown or on U Street or at EasternMarker) on a weekend day, in conjunction with thefarmer’’s market or even on Saturdays, it would drawpeople to the area and increase business for ourbusinesses.I definetly don’’t want us to turn into Silver Sprung,but I also don’’t want us to be lost because of theirsuccess.
1859163	Sell different things. We have FAR TOO MANY quotvintage clothingquot and nick-nack shops.
1859164	There needs to be more variety to bring me downtown shopping consistently. Everday gourmet isn’’t comfortable and welcoming, I only need gifts so often. I often go for the farmer’’s market and then to something else. Many of the stores are cramped or not really kid friendly and there are lots of kids in Takoma Park.
1859168	sales! more juggling,
1859174	Takoma needs to land a Borders or Barnes and Nobles. Astore that will attract people to the downtown shopping.
1859176	Evening hours.
1859178	Dunno. Parking does seem to be a problem, especially in the winter or during inclement weather. I often walk into the Culture Shop because it’’s on my walking route to the Metro. Store hours are strange toomany shops don’’t open until 11 AM. But I don’’t go out much earlier than than myself, so maybe that’’s not really an issue. Percentage off sales or bonus points for shopping might help (something done collectively, not just by one store.) If I go to one store for something, I do tend to into one or two others. Later hours for restaurants might helpfor example, Savory’’s across from the Metro.
1859185	The eclectic types of stores. Not that I think theyare what I would call quotattractivequot from an estheticpoint of view, but I like a Rerun next to AmericanCraft. Personally, I think old town Town Takoma Parkisn’’t too pretty.
1859187	be in better shape
1859188	- advertise more to rest of entire DC area - host monthly social evenings as a group
1859189	I really don’’t have any idea
1859190	Wider variety of eating places
1859191	Get the city to stop charging for parking. Sellsomething other than overpriced knick knacks for babyboomers.
1859192	more variety
1859193	Move to Silver Spring! The businesses are hamstrung by local vocal neighborswho bleat about every car.But hey, you can never have enough used clothingboutiques! They don’’t bring in the crowds, so theydon’’t bother anyone!
1859194	Stay open later
1859198	have a niche(!), and be of high quality. for instance I know people from DC who shop at the big bad woof ’’cos of specialized products. It’’s important to think beyond TP residents as consumers, but lots of people think takoma is far and therefore don’’t visit the city is also not a stopping point. Perhaps if there was something here to draw people (live music venue?), then they could for example also frequent a restaurant and shop. But everything closes too early here. Most places are closed by the time I get home in the evenings. There also has to be a demand for items in these shops. for instance, I love the numerous fun vintage shops, but I’’m not sure if there’’s enough demand for them all.
1859199	Advertise more?
1859200	Well being frank a lot of the businesses’’ are pretty tatty. when I walk into everyday gourmet it is filthy as are some of the other places. I knwo the buildings are old, but I would think that something could be done to renovate in a way that is visually appealing.
1859201	Be open later in the evening. I want to like Savory, but there’’s almost nothing vegan to eat or drink. Hold special incentive eventslike Ellicott City’’s Midnight Madnessoffers a sense of community.
1859205	Safer rep
1859206	no idea
1859208	I think they do an excellent job already. Everyone I know is happy to shop in Takoma.
1859209	better parking
1859210	more turn-over of goods
1859217	Better service and food at coffeehouses would encourage people to visit the downtown more frequently. I try to avoid (as do others, I’’ve learned) Savory and Everyday Gourmet (aka Grouchy Gourmet), because they have a well-deserved rep for slow, undependable service and, in the case of Savory, stale goods.
1859226	Focus on green business, fair trade, and vegetarian food.
1859250	Hmm, I don’’t know.
1859280	?
1859281	Longer hours
1859284	Provide more attractive goods/services.
1859310	Improve parking situation, encourage addition of quotcornerstonequot shops that would attract wider array of patrons (i.e., I think lots of quirky shops together don’’t add up to a destination)
1859311	I would like a tasteful flyer, perhaps distributed along with the neighborhood newsletter, highlighting two or three businesses each month. I think many of my neighbors have no idea of how wonderful the shopping is in Takoma.
1859323	band together for wider advertising
1859325	I’’m really not sure.
1859330	Better hours, friendlier staff and cleaner!!!! (that applies for ice cream parlor on Laurel, the cafe on Laurel (cannot remember the name), Mark’’s Kitchen, Savory Cafe...I don’’t patronize these places for that reason am not a particulartly cleanliness obsessed person.
1859336	Step up the variety and the quality.
1859337	just having more shops and restaurants would draw morepeople
1859339	Most importantly, having a restaurant/bar in the neighborhood would make a BIG difference. Since Taliano’’s left we don’’t frequent Old Town nearly as much. With Mark’’s, Med Kitchen, Everyday G, Subway and Savory as the only choices, we will often do our shopping elsewhere to combine it with a meal. While I love these establishments, they are relatively sterile, barren, and not as comfortable to spend time in. (I must admit that I didn’’t love Taliano’’s but it did provide a much needed option.) Also, because there is no bar, Old Town isn’’t as much as a meeting place or a neighborhood hang-out. I would love and support a place that I could tell friends (especially those outside the area): I’’ll be there hanging out come join me!
1859341	Train their staffs to pay attention to the customer instead of talking among themselves.
1859343	Many need to be quotspruced upquot. They are looking old and tired.
1859344	be open later in the evening!!! Those of us who work far from Tk Pk have no chance of shopping in the evening during the week
1859346	More useful contents. The bead shop is very good because it has a comprehensive stock. Other stores seem to be all gift shops that I never go into because I make my gifts. I don’’t wear vintage clothing.
1859347	If they are green, advertise that fact. I don’’t know for sure, as I don’’t live in Takoma Park.
1859348	They tend to be so niche-centric. Frankly, more restaurants would be a terrific draw, particularly a brew-pub type restaurant.
1859349	Earlier hours almost no one opens before 11:00 a.m.!
1859350	Restaurants need to clean up and be more aesthetically pleasing. Store fronts need to be more attractive to draw in patrons.
1859351	put a directory near the metro, pass out maps at the metro
1859352	stay open later. i work until 7 pm in bethesda andtake the train home. it’’s a pain just to get my drycleaning.
1859353	store interior, new collection, on sale, dicount for members, special promotion
1859354	Be more visible in the community
1859355	I don’’t have any suggestions. Maybe another coffee shop like Savory that’’s right in downtown area with wireless access?
1859356	Be open in the evenings.
1859357	I could see parking being an issue. It isn’’t for me since I’’m down the street. I think if something like a decent bar/live music venue was put in, it would attract the younger people who are more likely to patronize Takoma’’s eclectic mix of stores. A lot of folks don’’t seem to know about it, so there needs to be something like that to motivate them to come and get introduced to what there is to offer. Also take full advantage of being so close to metro.
1859358	cleaner restaurants, better variety of food and products
1859359	don’’t know. Have an anchor that brings people in froma bigger radius. Something that is one of a kind, likehouse of musical traditions
1859360	Have a large business nearby as a draw
1859361	offer better service, better pricing and more variety... sell stuff I want/need at a price I can afford
1859363	Provide things people actually want. Used clothing/junk stores aren’’t a real draw for a lot of people.
1859364	I think a resturant will really help plus the abilityto quickly park and run into someplace to offlaundry etc. It’’s hard to carry alot oflaundry/packages a long distance. More stores in atighter area so people can ’’browse’’. Plus outsideevents/entertainment - street performers add alot ofatmosphere.
1859366	encourage a shopping card with rewards for shopping in that store
1859367	1. Have more evening open house events and ask patrons what product lines they should carry. 2. Consider introducing consignment programs.
1859371	I don’’t know
1859372	Offer more food options to draw people onto the street to then window shop in their stores.
1859374	Encourage smart growth to increase foot traffic in thearea
1859376	don’’t know
1859377	Extend hours
1859380	I think if there were more day-to-day services (like hardware, bakery, other restaurants), more people would come - Silver Spring does do the mix thing well.
1859385	coupons for discounts during certain shopping times of the yearholidays
1859386	Improve the quality of their products (florist for example needs a complete overhaul) - also, local shops need to work on getting empty spaces filled with their gaps - no need for more gift shops or thrift shops. Need good places to eat (people like to have a good meal and then browse stores or vice-versa) - need to have the town look vibrant and not empty. Turns people away...
1859389	While some shops take care to visually draw in people, others seem quottiredquot. I also would have more reason to shop there if there was an initial pull to the area, for example a place to eat especially with outdoor seating. I have lived in the area 20 years and have only shopped a handful of the Takoma Park stores. For the town to draw in people fro out of town there should be more unique upscale stores, to draw in the local residents there should be goods/services offered that cater to daily needs eg(Bakery/wine shop/gourmet deli )
1859390	More events, more publicity
1859391	No more used/retro clothing stores.Encourage city to make surrounding streets safer, particularly at night. If I have to get in my car to feel safer going to downtown Takoma, I might as well go to Silver Spring.
1859392	variety
1859393	Sales
1859394	Sell subscriptions for upfront money to prompt good new restaurant to locate here and to ensure patronage (e.g., $50 quotmembershipquot that qualifies member for 10 meals at 15% discount).Provide 20% discount to shoppers who have bought at least one item from each store in Old Takoma (e.g., after clicking off card showing all purchases shopper gets card for 20% off at any store for rest or year or for next 12 months).Get property owners between Old Town and Takoma DC(past Metro) to plant trees and do landscaping so its a much nicer (and, on hot days, shadier) walk between Old Town and Takoma DC (e.g., 7-11 and parking lot owners could plant trees near sidewalk and new condos could do a lot with trees, landscaping, etc. to help).Get magnet stores/facilities like bowling alley, theatre, to bring people in who will then go to restaurants, snack bars and shops.Coordinate more with farmer’’s market re advertising, stor
1859396	Try to add more choices to their offerings (there’’s SO much out there to sample in the world)
1859402	Shops are doing fine, the City could provide free parking and get rid of the parking meters or make the fees nominal-like 25 cents for 2 hours
1859403	More useful stores mixed in with touristy.
1859404	Encourage growth - a good resturant increases street traffic, safety, and shopping.
1859405	offer more everyday items
1859406	Increase the number of high quality stores that consumers want to spend money at. If there are more of them, it can be a destination. I frequent downtown silver spring much more because I know I can get a lot done in one location. If there were a large bookstore that might help, but the whole notion of economies of scale in trips. I also think that development near the metro station is a great idea - more people, more traffic around the metro station (instead of it being sort of vacant and scary) - I love green spaces, but I rather see well landscaped and used area. Density is key, and I think Takoma Park needs more foot traffic from pedestrians who live nearby.
1859407	I don’’t know.
1859409	Advertise more widely.
1859414	I think the exising locations will be helped by a wider variety of offerings that will keep people shopping local rather than having to leave town for certain items.
1859415	a local mailer to advertise
1859417	Need greater diversity, to build regular traffic. Right now, mostly only kitsch/gift type thingsavailable unless I need a gift or want to look atjunk, not much reason to go downtown, except forfarmer’’s market. (Bike and game stores are alsospecialty items that I don’’t need frequently.) Agathering place type restaurant might also helpregular traffic.
1859419	spruce up a bit. for example Everyday Gourmet is very grimy inside and not very clean or nice looking
1859420	price competitive
1859421	Local shops could lose sense of entitlement and be more welcoming... offer up their parking spots (back lot of Laurel Avenue always has empty spots that belong to the storesgive those to customers) businesses could all pitch in to clean up the back areas (dumpsters all around the Curves facility are awful and a turn off) paint some muralsdo something.
1859423	Most do OK I think.
1859424	More basic stuff - I don’’t have lots of money tospend on facy gifts and home furnishing - don’’t putall efforts into upscale stores - a basic bar orcoffee shop would be nice
1859425	stay open in the evenings - at least in the summer, special entertainment events, more restaurants, theater or some such
1859433	Closer parking, larger space (many restaurants are toopacked to even get in the door)
1859436	price
1859439	Reorient away from galleries and art and toward morepractical goods and services
1859440	be open when working class people are off work, i.e.,later night hours and more Sat. and Sun hours
1859443	There needs to be something more to do at night in OldTown than eat out.
1859446	advertise outside of Takoma Park develop more continuous string of shops from subway to Savory
1859447	Nicer storefronts, nicer decorations inside
1859449	Be open more, convenient hours. Have more stuff forkids and families. Better prices. More parking.Store events and promotions. Rent control so smallbusinesses can afford to stay.
1859455	offer frequent shopping cards or monthly discounts (such as Amano)
1859457	Sell everyday needs and not just specialty items
1859459	Be run like a business, instead of someones halfassedhobby
1859462	Attract a younger audiencethe DC crowd who islooking for boutiques. Alcohol and later hours.
1859464	Improve facades.
1859465	You’’re only going to attract business if you’’re selling things that people WANT to buy. I think the key is to offer a wide variety of shops and goods. But also make sure niche shops have enough of a market for their business to survive. If local business isn’’t enough then local shops should also try extending their business nationally by offering their goods online.
1859467	Parking. Later hours. CLEAN UP. It just feels likesecond-hand land.
1859468	diversify
1859477	advertise sales with direct mailings (maybe buddy up), offer discounts with loyalty programs, or coupons in the voice and the gazette.
1859479	Some are fine. Others could be more professional intheir attitudes - just because this is a liberal areadoesn’’t mean we (or our friends who visit) want storesto have people hangin’’ out front smoking, tackyhand-scrawled sale signs all over, or erratic businesshours. A home-spun store can be very beautiful andattractive. The middle eastern restaurant, for example, has foodthat ranges from ok to terrible. They need qualitycontrol! The ice-cream store has awful tastingice-cream (though the bagels are ok)! The hair place,shampoo, is so ugly i’’m afraid of what they’’d do to myhair! (in contrast, salon jam has a funky stylethat’’s appealing)i don’’t know, we need to have more flexible rules andregs, and allow new businesses to enter the arena. weneed options, competition, and full use of availableretail area. why is that weird area next to the postoffice empty? why is taliano’’s empty? what’’s the deal?
1859481	specialize in niche products and services and promote them clearly (e.g., I don’’t know what distinguishes Everyday Gourmet from any hole-in-the-wall sandwich place)
1859482	Advertise the unique nature of their businesses
1859483	Advertise with different discounts and deals withlocal newspapers
1859485	longer hours during the work week
1859487	More variety (like books, coffee shops), continue the holiday shopping ideas year round
1859492	For the eating establishments, providing bettervariety and a quothipperquot environment The shops couldhold sidewalk sales (real ones, not the current ones),during the Farmer’’s Market the shop-owners couldstand to be a tad friendlier.
1859497	I go to them and don’’t need a lot of pushsome whoput items on the sidewalk seem to draw people (like ReRun)
1859498	We need stores that meet the every day needs offamilies by stocking things that we buy regularly.We buy books, music, toys, games and outdoorrecreational equipment all the time. Stores in Takomastock some of these items, but only in narrow niches. If stores stocked a broader ion of items, wemay be able to patronize them more frequently for ourregular purchases.
1859499	sales email events to mailing lists
1859501	I think some businesses could really use a fresh coat of paint and windows that are more attractive. Some are too junky and others are too bare.
1859503	NA
1859505	More useful stores like a barber shop or a deli evening hours (Everyday Gourmet is never open when I would use it). Far better ion of restaurants: almost anything new would help a good craft shop (quotThe Beadquot is too expensive) like A C Moore Stores need to have sales once in a while. More parking: the lot behind the P.O. is often full and so is the one next to Bank of America, otherwise one hopes for on-street parking. Are too many stores selling esoteric items like antiques, cutesy stuff and used clothes and not enough stores selling things that one can count on finding when one goes shopping. Need a Baltimore-style Tavern (like Alonzo’’s in Roland Park) where folks can get a beer and burger or sandwich and sit and talk and see familiar faces.
1859511	Other than restaurants and a few other shops, I’’m not really sure what businesses are in Takoma. I come to the Farmer’’s Market on a regular basis, but I haven’’t really checked out the businesses. The market, particularly in during warm weather, is the perfect opportunity to get people into the shops.
1859514	Offer something I want to buy. Better food, more practical goods.
1859517	Some older shops could make their store fronts more attractive, offer less quotgiftsquot and more practical, everyday items to compete better with downtown silver spring.
1859518	Small gourmet food shopfloral shop
1859520	Well, fpr startes, open shops that fill a need, not a want. I might want jewelry, funky clothes, and antique gew-gaws, but what I need are groceries, drugs, and hardware, and decent restaurants, not the half-assed diners that are currently in operation. Also, do any of the stores currently in downtown TP advertise anywhere except in that free monthly Takoma newspaper? Could the store owners band together and hire a van to run people from the Metro to downtown TP? I know it is only a few blocks, but apparently, people will not walk up that hill to see what is there. Also, are any of these stores open after 6 PM on weeknights?
1859528	Have somewhere interesting to hang out (like Mayoraga) with free wireless and where it’’s o.k. to sit around and read and use the bathroom (need public bathrooms!). There are times when I need to use the restroom and so just go on home rather than keeping shopping. I love the main Takoma shopping area and would love to just hang around there from time to time rather than going there, eating or shopping and leaving. I’’d probably spend more money if I did!
1859529	Sell things I want or need: clothing or restaurantsthat aren’’t in malls, fewer but more interesting orive things, eg household items, which are in malls.
1859530	beats me
1859531	Get more shops. A larger number of shops would allow people to go to downtown TP and go to two or more stores in one visit.
1859532	I dont know what the current situation is so I can’’t say
1859540	More critical mass is needed, so that a stroll through downtown is an all day destination. The new storefronts that will be built along Carroll Avenue will help make the lure greaterand seem more Metro accessible
1859542	Food establishments are somewhat run down, littleambiance. Hours should be posted and every storeshould have voicemail with hours.
1859551	Takoma Park would need to be more of a destination point, and try to draw more people via Metro. the path from Metro to old town should become more interesting, with shops of various kinds along the route to Old Town, rather than the funeral parler, etc. there should be more outdoor seating so people can feel like they can cruise and be cruised, or more politely, quotpeople watchquot. People need to feel that they ARE somewhere. except for the short section of old town there is not a sense of a quotthere therequot.
1859554	Add a brewpub!! More evening entertainment, more kid friendly places ( how about a Children’’s Museum? that would rock!!!!)....
1859555	parking is very important to people coming from further away, ditto safetypeople percieve TP as unsafe, more shops and restaurantsespecially near metro,
1859559	increase the variety of businesses, reducew the niumber of consignment/used clothing shops
1859562	advertising campaign: quotJust a metro stop awayquot Draw some of the silver spring action by offering free metro service from SS. keep Greenwich Village hours- open late and stay open late so people know that they can quotalways get it in Takoma Parkquot Always be open during the Farmers Market hours, perhaps a little earlier. Stores which open late on Sunday are just being stupid. Find a reason/way to make metro riders stop in Takoma Park. Will probably involve subsidizing their increased metro cost. Offer better quality and more interesting merchandise.
1859564	I agree we do not have critical mass in any category,we don’’t need one new restaurant, we probably needfive to make it a destination. Likewise, we don’’t needone or two new attractive shops, we need 5 or 6. Moreevening hours would also help alot. I recongizeparking is a big issue, it just isn’’t for me as I canwalk to Old Town.Can I add an answer I forgot under quotnew businessesquotabove. A Spa!!! A nice little spa, a lot of us wouldnot enjoy Eve Arden but still like pedicures, massage,hot stones, etc. Do something in the middle, not tooNew Age cause that excludes some people, too.
1859568	better hours
1859573	more music, live performances, book signings, open houses with food, doors open in nice weather, merchanise on sidewalks,
1859576	Don’’t know
1859577	more useful items for sale fewer novelty items
1859582	More diversity. All or most stores seem to be alike to me...
1859586	?
1859589	Have a once a month Friday night event where local shops stay open later (until 9 or 10 p.m.).
1859592	more sales (and I recognize how hard it is to offer sales when inventory is small)
1859595	First, evict whoever it is that runs the gated storenext to the post office. It is always closed and thuscreates a hole on the street that can attract nopeople. Second, do not be so hostile to developers,since they are the ones who will build the types ofspaces that business people can use and customers willpatronize. Third, do not immediately condemn chainstores. Few people in Takoma Park want to becomeanother bland location, but a couple of well-knownstores could be a magnet that help support our moreunique stores by drawing customers.
1859597	be friendly and reliable
1859602	more unique storesmore parking or ease of public transportation
1859606	variety
1859610	Stop trying too hard to be quaint little over-priced specialty shops that only appeal to a small population.
1859611	n/a
1859618	don’’t know
1859624	I think there needs to be a combination of main streamstores and services mixed in with the funky, uniqueservices and products that exist there already. Outdoor craft markets, town sidewalk sales in whichthe businesses all work together might attract folksfrom outside of the Takoma Park area.
1859627	Spruce up, be more inviting (outside tables for cafes, etc..), later hours
1859628	Sell more things people want e.g. Coke and Diet Coke at the food stores, toys at the other stores.
1859631	If the businesses grow in number, downtown will beviewed as worth the drive for patrons outside theimmediate neighborhood. We need an identity as acharming place of many interesting locally owned shops, restaurants and cafes that have products whichcannot be found in malls.
1859633	higher-quality food and products products aimed at younger and busier demographic
1859634	Continue to improve the appearance of the outside and the street area. Expand product availability to include more practical items.
1859640	Have more goods that people actually need.
1859641	lower prices
1859643	More variety.
1859652	Sell everyday goods, not just used or gift items.
1859653	nothing. Parking is an issue, but I dunno if the business can help with that...
1859657	Parking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Better Restaurants
1859660	not sure
1859662	Try to generate more quotcritical mass.quot The corridor between the clock tower and the metro Station is woefully under-developed. Compare it to say, downtown Hoboken, NJ. There is great potential to have a mix of residences, restaurants, coffee shops, and other entertainment activities to sustain an evening out in a neighborhood corridor.
1859676	paint and spruce up, some of them are a bit down in the heel
1859679	sidewalk sales
1859683	Stay open later.
1859690	maybe have later hours one friday a month? (again,new to the area, so maybe they already do this?)
1859693	Open earlier on Sunday.
1859696	better hours
1859699	There just aren’’t any shops in Takoma Park that interest me.
1859702	Advertising that clearly indicates what is on offer.
1859703	Have more sales/discount opportunities, give parkingtips to people not familiar with the area, offerhigher quality food, vary merchandise more
1859710	services along with retailLocal quotcurrencyquot i.e., actual currency (like Ithaca Hours) discount coupons, Takoma Credit cardInclude residential living space - apartments on a second floor to the Retail spaces.
1859711	get out of the sixties.
1859728	Better quality restaurants
1859730	11:00 seems late to open especially during the Christmas season.
1859734	have more restaurants in the area to draw in more people
1859739	Part of the charm of Takoma Park is that it is outside the mainstream, but I don’’t know if this results in less business (because the non-mainstream market is smaller than mainstream). Maybe unusual restaurants are the best bet for attracting more business, since lots of places in Silver Spring have overly long waits. We’’re definitely looking for new places to eat
1859748	Co-ordinated marketing campaigns, bonus shoppers card, door-delivered flyers
1859756	Be cleaner (I’’m thinking Savory, Middle Eastern Cuisine)Customer service (I’’m thinking Rerun, Co-op, Savory)Be clearer about their purpose/niche (I’’m thinkingSangha, Now and Then)
1859757	people aren’’t always looking to shop. it’’d be nice tohave a place to hang out with friends, play pool orhave an independent theatre in the area
1859765	I find the restaurants both not a good value, and unusual in how they serve. How about a restaurant where you go in and sit down and a waiter/ess comes and takes your order? In a nice, clean setting with interesting decor? And serve alcohol.
1859775	advertise
1859780	I think that we need more restaurants to lure people here in order to do more shopping
1859786	Parking would be ideal, but I understand that isdifficult. More neon? (Just kidding.)
1859789	Have more events like now at the holiday time. Maybe at the summer solstice time or Old Takoma days etc.
1859792	Advertise more, run sales/specials.
1859793	stay open later
1859795	Advertise to new home owners
1859797	parking
1859798	not sure. maybe stay open a little later in the evenings
1859799	No idea ...
1859800	we need a cool food and live music venue that would keep some stores open latera nice but used kids clothing store would be great too
1859802	Post a map at the Metro with paper maps perole can carry that show the key streets, businesses, and other features.
1859806	They need to be more mainstream- have more food and restaurants, not be so sleazy, quaint is one thing but people need to feel sae walking from the metro to downtown takoma park....if takoma park was to become like a small european village with a pedestrian street, sidewalk cafes, interesting shops plus useful shops like a greengrocer, bookseller with papers from around the world, a coffeehouse with talks and music people would think it reflected the culture here and was special, not just a collection of kind of way out shops from the 60s, look at Toronto or Bruge or even Middleburg, VA or Annapolis
1859807	Local shops could have more of a boutigue customerdriven atmosphere. The employees at Summer Delight,Rerun, and some of the co-op employees are rude, anddon’’t seem interested in hepling customers. It isvery disappointing and makes it hard to make a day outof old town Takoma Park. There doesn’’t seem to be acohesive vision either. It is a strange thing tothink but I spend more time in downtown Silver Springwhen I go there than I do in old town TP, even thoughI like the stores in TP better.
1859811	The Culture Shop is doing everything right - artists, special events, etc. - just need Takoma MD people to patronize it. Holiday events are good, as is street festival in Oct - brings new people in. Maybe there should be a spring event.
1859814	Have more practical businesses (grocery, dry cleaners etc) to keep people coming back, and getting a critical mass (enough) restaurants to make it a destination for people to eat. They’’ll walk around after or before dinner/lunch, and then businesses will get more customers.
1859816	Not sure. I think having more restaurants wouldattract more people who might then browse in the shops.
1859818	clearance sales
1859820	not sure.
1859824	The problem is mostly beyond their control. TakomaPark needs to be findable. Getting off the Metro, youdon’’t know where to go. Driving along 410, PineyBranch, or FentonEastern to the Metro, there is noindication where to find downtown Takoma Park. Alsowhile Parking is pretty good, it could be bettermarked. It has to be easy to find, park, and shop. Then people come back over and over and bring theirfriends.
1859826	More competitive pricing, more marketing of what makes their local products worthwhile against the larger competition, more welcoming attitudes, and, when it comes to eateries, much better food/pizza/ice cream, etc.
1859830	don’’t know
1859832	tell people they are there
1859833	don’’t know
1859835	have some variety! and provide places where people cancongregate. Savory doesn’’t cut it.
1859837	Add parking advertise sales
1859840	I don’’t know.
1859843	More variety, better restaurants
1859848	x
1859849	attractive interiors (Middle East Restaurant, Mark’’s,Everyday Gourmet are nice, but not great ambiance you can do a lot with a modest budget see Keva Cafein Silver Spring much more attractive and cozy inmy opinion).
1859850	offer better services some are second rate (a dry cleaner who lost something, opens late, etc) or have poor service (a sandwhich shop where you’’re made to feel unwelcome) I go to the shops that offer the goods I can use and the service I expect. Otherwise, I go to shops in Silver Spring
1859858	Less quotgiftquot oriented productsLess daytime/week and more evening/weekend hours
1859860	Provide a broader array of merchandise, maybe have a ’’takoma park shopping day’’ - without a huge street event at the same time
1859864	Stay open later. I commute to DC and the store arenever open when I get back to TP at 7pm. If they wereopen until 8pm, I would be able to do more business in TP greater than
1859865	don’’t know
1859870	more events concert or author discussion, cityrelated event (mayor’’s gathering)
1859871	Good customer service!
1859872	arrange for more parking that would be free eveningsand weekends
1859873	The area needs to expand. The current shoppingarea just isn’’t large enough to attract lots of folks.
1859875	I can’’t think of anything.
1859876	have better hours,
1859877	more publicity
1859880	advertise, have sidewalk seating with music. Play music in the streets?
1859884	Stay open on Fri and/or Sat nights, and play music on the streets through speakers, add activity. Hold art festivals in the street. Have a jazz trio play on Sat nights so people can stoll around. Add benches to sit on. Join with restaurants to make Sat nights a quotnight outquot for dining and shopping.
1859886	.
1859887	n
1859890	?
1859895	it depends on the shop, but as a general proposition it would be great to have store hours be complementary (e.g. a little preliminary shopping/looking around while waiting to be seated for brunch and then hitting those stores afterwards).
1859896	don’’t know
1859901	don’’t know
1859904	Improve ambiance. Better products. Bettermarketing/positioning. Emphasize local/uniquecharacteristics - what do you have that no one elsehas? Why should I return to your shop? Why should Itell my friends and/or bring them by? What is theowner’’s passion and how do they show it in the shop?
1859906	Signage, traffic flow, indications of where to findthem from major roads
1859913	more variety
1859915	More shops closer together that offer a variety of services. Possible window shoppers may purchase something
1859925	none
1859946	advertise in silver spring. stay open later. provideand market more exquisite vegetarian cuisine. add morenightlife outdoor concerts? lit patios and porchesat restaurants? on street dining...
1859993	Real, not fake community involvementKids friendly (look at the demographics in the last 5years!!)Don’’t try to copy Bethesda or Silver Spring
1860009	wider range of goods -
1860013	be more diverse, too many new age fare type shops. I hate Starbucks, but a hardware store would be nice, there used to be Mark’’s for years. And maybe a diner. Go take a peek at the coffee place in Silver Spring. Does anyone have seafood, or maybe a new version of the DGS stores of old? But no wine or beer or tobbaco please.
1860014	Open earlier on the weekend
1860019	Open earlier in a.m.
1860025	Don’’t know
1860029	Sell things that people need year round. (Oh, I love the quotfair days playquot store too! Great for buying for kids.)
1860035	?
1860045	The existing ones do a pretty good job. Findingparking more easily would definately help.
1860048	?
1860050	bring in services that draw people
1860062	NA
1860065	Share open hours more
1860066	Fewer vintage shops would mean more variety and moreof a reason to come there.
1860067	More advertising
1860070	Not try to reach out to a small specilty group, diversify. Get in products that will turn quickly. Keep it inviting, not messy or dark.
1860071	more businesses would attract more traffic and business
1860072	Additional shops would benefit all shopowners, because they would bring more people who would shop more frequently and for a longer period of time.
1860073	Not sure how much they advertise outside the community
1860079	Again, with stores up there that people patronizeregularly - grocery/Trader Joes that would bring morefoot traffic.
1860080	Address parking issue have a different mix of busineses. Stores like House of Musical Traditions and Finewares attract people as do the restaurants. Not sure Vintage Clothing stores attract that many people.
1860088	not sure
1860090	Offer me goods and services I cannot easily obtain elsewhere.
1860107	are all the godam questions required?
1860117	Need more interesting goods, less recycled stuff
1860119	Work together to become a destination
1860120	offer more quality
1860124	If there was more convenient parking, people who drive would find it easier to park and it would probably encourage them to stay longer and then shop. Also having a variety of stores so that numerous needs could be met on one shopping trip. I don’’t know about other people, but I don’’t shop just for myself often. It is usually for other people. If I could come to Old Town, park easily, complete several errands (post office, drug store) and then look for a book and have a nice lunch with my 4 kids, that would make me stay longer and probably spend more money. As it is now, Old Town is a brief stop for me and then I keep on going.
1860125	Keep cleanFair PricesAppropriate Stock
1860127	advertise via home circular, coupons, special events
1860130	specialize. stay open later. spend more on creative marketing strategies.
1860140	Good question - hard to answer. I don’’t frequent takoma park shops that often just because they seem so hidden.
1860141	Open earlier and stay open later
1860143	Not much.
1860147	more advertising. I think this area is little-known gem
1860152	advertise more
1860160	Become more relevant to people’’s daily lives. e.g.,Iwas quite frustrated to learn that some of the retailspace at Takoma Junction will now be home to thehistoric society. Nowthere is yet one more retail space in that block that I’’ll enter rarely, if ever,but will walk or drive by daily wishing it was a nicemoderately-priced restaurant.
1860161	attact a greater diversity fo businesses. I amlooking for a green store to purchase lighting andother supplies, where is there one?
1860166	Provide parking
1860168	Diversify offerings
1860169	have more competitive prices have better parking
1860174	better hours, more focus on real shops and busnissnes
1860177	the bakery that’’s there now has terrific baked goods, but the tables and chairs and sitting area is inadequate / cheesy
1860178	There really needs to be more parking available for folks outside of Takoma Park. Also we do NOT need any more used clothing stores!!
1860181	not sure
1860182	not sure. I think they need more local busineses which might create greater camaraderie, foster support between them.
1860183	Mass-mailed newsletter?Joint promotions?Emphasize what’’s already distinctive about Takoma Main Street?
1860188	Become more relevant.
1860189	advertise more
1860193	parking
1860194	Better prices (thrift stores are oh-so-expensive),evening hours, simply having more stores would bringmore business!
1860204	live music, vegetarian/vegan options, promote socialresponsibility
1860205	Decide what Takoma is to be known for as a cohesive theme - for example: antiques, crafts, speciality foods, etc
1860213	Have resident days/sales (for example - a set pricemeal on a Wednesday night for TP residents) or a saleat a clothing store only for TP residents - do thingsthat make people care about your businesses as theywould about a friend or family.
1860215	don’’t know
1860222	Offer more widely popular services or goods
1860223	I like the shops in Takoma Park we need more anddiverse businesses that would make a quottripquot to TakomaPark worthwhile for people who live in the surroundingareas. While development in SS has brought people out and that’’s terrific most of the businesses arechains. A greater diversity of More locally ownedbusinesses might be more attractive to residents whowould otherwise go to Bethesda and Silver Spring.
1860227	More attractive store fronts.... also, I think downtown streets and sidewalks could use re-paving. Looks a bit dumpy, and some of that quality of part of the charm, but it could all look a little bit quotsleekerquot
1860231	I think the burden is on the city to attract more businesses and to attract shoppers that way. The business community seems to be doing quite a bit.
1860238	better businesses.
1860239	We need to create a critical mass of retail opportunities. Just nothing to attract people from outside the neighborhood for more than an annual 15-minute stroll, with the notable exception of the farmer’’s market. Also, the overall aesthetics of downtown could be improved so simply and inexpensively (sweeping walks, removing trash, painting facades, planting flowers, mowing grass, fixing potholes, etc) that I would start there. (Could someone pls alert the House of Musical Traditions to the idea of a quotcommunity ethicquot? What’’s wrong with these people???) I would also try to address the traffic problem. The signals at the firestation interestion and at Takoma Junction are so slow and poorly timed that I know people that simply avoid the area rather than getting stuck. There also needs to be a left turn lane added to the interestion in front of the firestation to allow people to turn off Carroll onto Philade
1860241	Provide more variety in their goods. Books, typicalhousehold items
1860242	More frequent quotspecialty daysquot (like the decemberholiday shopping day, quotspring fling dayquot or something...)
1860243	More parking more attractive and safe passage fromthe Metro cleaner, more renovated interior designlater hours for both stores and restaurants morecomplete inventory (e.g. Fair Day’’s Play doesn’’t BEGINto meet the need for a sporting goods store, butprecludes ever getting one). More NEW inventory, likemen’’s and kids’’ clothes, books, furniture.(Note: I forgot to mention how much I like Takoma ParkBikes. It’’s a great addition, even though the hoursare spotty.)
1860247	PARKING!Also visitors coming from Metro have nothing to draw them into Old Town. We need a kiosk at Metro and banners and street side shop or two to pull people up hill. I ran into young couple sent here from DC to quotcute little townquot. They said where? From Metro is dismal looking.
1860253	Book Store/Cafe
1860255	Offer wider range of goods and services, including more of ones needed on an everyday basis, i.e. hardware, groceries
1860257	Sell more household goods. A grocery store would be great
1860261	Get a good eatery
1860268	Start with adding 3 good new restaurants and peoplewill start spending more time downtown and will go toother businesses.
1860275	If businesses feel they need more parking, I wouldsupport a garage at the end/behind the strip (at thepizza place on Laurel) IF it were free onevenings/weekends. Get Video Americain to rethink their dire fines :)Bring back a book shopit seems to me it’’s essentialto the intellectual mix. Help Sangha and the other shops in that stripintegrateprovide more signage for them somehow.
1860284	Enforce hygeine standards. I can’’t go to restaurants or food co-ops in which the staff clearly doesn’’t bathe or wash their hair on a regular basis. It’’s just nasty. Also how about losing some of the smug self-importance about being all organic, fair trade and free-range in everything. It’’s so obnoxious.
1860285	To attract MY business, existing shops need to bring their prices down. Even w/ that, they don’’t offer most of what I am looking for. The food options are far below my target customer service not great (Mark’’s) prices are a little high for the offerings. Mostly, I want DIFFERENT businesses. Sometimes I think the window fronts on Carroll/Laurel are a bit too cutsie. I love artsy fun, but some of the the storefronts are simply too silly to draw me in. The Bead Shop really comes to mind. On the other hand, Everyday Gourmet’’s storefront (while I like the Zen Garden) is far too blah.. I am drawn to coffee shops with either a dark, crowded feel (ala Vienna or whatever) or perhaps someing brighter more modern.. but that place ( others) looks far too minimal in its presentation. Not stark modern not cramped old - just plain white. Without going into the Mid. East place, it, too looks boring - ah, but the
1860288	give discounts every so often
1860291	Have longer hours.
1860300	Offer specials and coupons in local newspapers, e.g. 10% coupon for Mark’’s, 1 free video at Video American
1860303	There is a need to diversify the types of businesses.
1860307	at present there is not enough diversity in the type of stores in our town.The stores all offer very similar products. Need some useful stores like Wine / book / baker / grocery that would attract me away from jhaving to run out to SS or Bethesda. You can only buy so many tie die shirts.
1860314	Inviting, CLEAN store fronts, discounts for neighbors
1860318	its attractive, and it has ice cream
1860319	Rotate inventory more often - seems they all pretty much carry the same stuff they had in there the last time I was there - only Now and Then seems to really get new stuff in. Adamo (sp?) is too cramped with stuff - I hate trying to dig through there for stuff. and I just don’’t buy quotvintagequot clothes. It is not a pleasure to shop in most of the TP stores -
1860321	I don’’t think there is anything the local shops can do to attract more business except attract more businesses! There are far too many empty storefronts...or seemingly empty storefronts in the neighborhood.
1860328	no comment
1860330	More advertising
1860333	Respond to what consumers want to see in the shops. Better service. (Artful Framing has excellent service) The restaurants have NO ATMOSPHERE. There is no place I’’d want to go out in the evening with my husband. There are plenty where I don’’t mind taking my kids.
1860337	they need to keep using the business association and continue to attract an anchor. Now, unless I need guitar strings, fresh produce at the farmer’’s market or a haircut, there’’s no reason for me to go to Downtown Takoma Park.
1860366	maintain whatever local charm we have while recogizing that we no longer live in the 60s. sorry -
1860367	More mainstream, less quotquirkyquot
1860375	I don’’t know.
1860377	don’’t know
1860402	Food establishments need to be much cleaner and display food in a more appetizing way. Marketing is crucial. Also, defining image of the Old Town area and promoting it. Regular events (monthly or at least quarterly) to highlight some aspect of unique character.
1860404	more advertising maybe special quottakoma daysquot where bargains run in all stores
1860420	I think they are doing a good job, they have great prises as well as personality
1860445	Less specialty boutiques and diners and a few more mainstream businesses. Also an actual dinner restaurant that doesn’’t have a deli or diner flavor
1860463	I don’’t know
1860465	There is nothing wrong with the shops that exist. Someare neighborhood only shops, like the Ice cream shop.Some are unique and draw customers from around thecity, like House of Musical Traditions. If you want tobring people from outside TKPK, you need more uniquestores and restaurants. If you want to bring in morelocals, you need to provide more of the services thatpeople leave the neighborhood for. Right now, thereare simply too few of both types of business.
1860468	Charge reasonable prices (ie - value for the $). Restaurants, coffee shops bars could provide free wi-fi access.
1860470	I think that there needs to be a critical mass of things you’’d like to do there. I think the idea is right, but the restaurants and shops that are there are not quite there. For example, I’’d be inclined to walk down there on a Sat. night with friends if there were a good, clean, fun restaurant to go to and a nice ice cream shop then I might browse the shops more. There needs to be an anchor destination something with buzz.
1860475	A mix of national chains and local stores, dependingupon the chain, might help to increase foot trafficgenerally down town, helping all merchants. Theresistance to chain stores is counterproductive towardreaching the goal of a viable downtown.
1860476	Weekly specials advertised in circulars to local households w/coupons Signage that promotes weekly specials frequent buyer discounts for shops in OT valet parking partnerships w/Middle School High School students/parents (shop where you live).
1860488	no suggestions
1860500	there’’s an overwhelming quotalternativequot feel to Main St. More quotmainstreamquot businesses and restaurants mightattract a broader range of people.
1860504	?
1860514	restuarants should change their menu from time to time and listen to their repeat customers. I cannot tell you how many times I have dined at Marks and Middle East, and had inconsistent quality meals... When I try to alert the ownership, they just say sorry. They are unwilling to ’’remake’’ the dish or offer a future meal on the house. It is maddening. As for savory, I see the same dishes on the menu, day after day, week after week, year after year. So I don’’t go there much anymore.
1860524	More events. More entertainment. Gets back to my first comment, TP needs another (or two) destination spots, don’’t another restaurant or anyhing else at this time.
1860531	all are my friends, I’’m there already
1860545	have more diversity...there are too many antique shopsand used clothing stores. And too many empty storefronts. And what is that Cow Palace wooden lookingplace?!? And not everything has to be organic/veganin order to attract customers!
1860570	Offer vegetarian/vegan options.
1860585	Add more color, create a quotmarketquot feel. It’’s too bland.
1860598	don’’t know
1860601	Don’’t know
1860604	longer hours especially weekend nights
1860608	Charge less
1860610	- Recognize that the demographic of TP has changed. We’’re not hippies anymore! We’’re progressive professionals that make money and are spending it.- Have things we need everyday, not once or twice a year.- Serve alcohol at restaurants and the menu!!
1860616	Have competitive neighbors with similarly pricedmerchandise. At the moment, there are higher pricedplaces side by side quotjunkyquot shops.
1860620	Allow more residences, denser residences, to be built within walking distance.
1860622	host open houses,send out announcements about special events
1860635	A lot of the shops are a little.. well, wierd. Their windows do not look very professionally done, they are messy, merchandise is a little odd. Not upscale, or charmingly eclectic, but just kinda odd. The area is very university-campus like, which some may like, but it not what I am looking for. Don’’t know how to change that!! Favorite shops are the pottery shop, Big Bad Woof (tho pretty expensive). I love Savory Cafe, but it is really dirty, the temperature is frequently wrong, only take certain people there. But, you can’’t legislate taste! More obvious signs for parking!! When one is driving by one can’’t see a little sign, and thus may decide to keep going. Better signage that indicates the value of each shop. Additional idea for shop:Tea and Coffee shop.
1860637	pass
1860641	they already do so much!
1860649	d
1860656	unknown
1860658	We need more businesses that meet the needs of the community. An upscale grocery/market would be nice, as would a bookstore, a toystore, and a hardware store (all of the stores have begun to carry some children’’s items, I have noticed). A more upscale restaurant with a liquor license would do well. It would be good to have more quotthemequot days and nights. Greater density of shops would help, too.
1860689	I think longer business hours might help some of the restaurants. Also, service at everyday gourmet and savory tends to be really slow some times...that’’s kind of a hassle and makes me avoid these places when i’’m in a hurry.
1860696	not sure
1860711	I think a good restaurant or two would encourage people to come more to Takoma Main Street. Clean up appearance of empty storefronts and get them rented to vendor asap. Clean up appearance of some opened storefronts- Rerun, eg. Have some rules about what your storefront can look like.
1860712	offer more bread-and-butter goods, i.e. books, kitchen goods
1860713	If there were more choices (aka, fewer shops specializing in vintage clothes and crafts) there would be more demand.
1860730	don’’t know
1860733	Change the facade of the storefronts. The faux-artdeco looks very dated and doesn’’t match the nice newarea between Laurel and Carroll. Also, bettercrosswalks. Crossing Carroll at Laurel is kind ofscary. A better variety of businesses would attractpeople as well. And better restaurants.
1860739	Have more cultural events (poetry readings, music), such as a once-a-month evening event where fun things happen and stores stay open lateAdvertise in City Paper or Post WEekend section as a fun destination with unusual offerings (vintage clothing, HMT, Middle East, Now THen, SA Beads and Mark’’s Kitchen etc.)Think of a clever marketing campaign that riffs off the idea of what we’’re NOT not a typical shopping mall, not a place where you seen chain stores, not a place that looks like every other strip in America
1860759	More Diverse products
1860767	better parking, different and varied types of businesses (pls, no more vintage stores!) that would draw different types of people for different reasons.
1860772	I don’’t know.
1860775	Provide more needed services - not just gift shopsSome of the store keepers are not very friendly or customer oriented. They need to remember that they’’re serving a small town clientele that wants personl treatment and friendliness.
1860783	offer bigger and more variety of menus
1860795	Make it more attractive to linger in the area and browse. I’’m not sure how this is accomplished. More places to sit down outside and walk or bike with more distant from the main roads??
1860796	Larger community parking lot a larger good restauarant or two
1860805	Advertise in Washington City Paper
1860819	don’’t know
1860841	Close up and allow more interesting stores to open. Seriously...the stores are anemic and the whole concept of downtown TP needs to be re-thought.
1860843	Please, cater to vegetarians. There are so many in Takoma Park that it seems like a huge untapped customer base.
1860854	takoma park is really small.. i no for sure more eating places
1860861	dont know
1860875	Coupons and sales events. My favorite is the wear your pjs and get 20 percent off that Now and Then started.
1860882	First, many of the shops are downtrodden, and the restuarants look like the health department should shut them down. So clean and nicer would be a step in teh right direction. Second, actually meet the typical needs of people in the area. We have lots of esoteric and quothead-shopquot type stores that just don’’t appeal much beyond a certain cliente. Third, make parking feasible.
1860889	Less speciality/boutique shops
1860914	Not sure
1860940	attitude
1860992	don’’t know
1861022	not sure
1861029	There needs to be more quotlifequot in downtown. Right now, you probably get foot traffic with folks going to/from home and the Metro. There needs to be more quotdestinationsquot, like interesting restaurants, that will cause folks to go to TP and then stroll around before/after.
1861036	don’’t know
1861048	1) Offer goods and services we need. How many beads and knick-knacks can you stuff in a house anyway?2) Offer more community events (best are Street Festival, Farmers Market).
1861066	not sure
1861067	lower pricesprovide things people need on a regular basis- a lotof the interesting stores are so specialized that whatthey sell is not useful to consumers most of the time
1861078	don’’t know
1861079	have better, more diverse businesses that generate more traffic there isn’’t a lot of variety in the current businesses - they’’re mostly artsy and peace/beads stores. It’’s too small of a niche to attract more people.
1861085	I’’m not sure.
1861087	I think better restaurants would draw the people in.Also, concerts in the park, free music, a venue for entertainment
1861113	Have a wider variety of goods that attract all ages(they have lots of clothes and toys for toddlers andlittle kids not as much for teens would be goodto have more clothes for teens.)
1861125	Spruce up interior and exterior of stores, stay open later
1861128	fewer gift-type stores
1861157	Sad to say, but without better and more parking, it will be hard to attract people from other parts of the area. It’’s fine for people like myself who can walk to the nice area of TKP but others may not want to take the Metro and walk to the stores from the station and if you add the carrying of bags, it’’s sort of a disincentive.
1861164	Be open more hours, both later at night and earlier in the dayAlso need more restaurants
1861173	longer hours and more resturants to draw people in-plus downtown music on Saturday’’s and Sunday-not in the gazebho but more in the center of town
1861182	Stay open later, provide better parking
1861183	Participate with the Farmers Market?
1861187	111
1861188	open more better stuff (ie stuff that I want)
1861193	Carry merchandise that would attract quotregularquot people, not just the offbeat type Takoma Park is famous for. Be more friendly.
1861196	h
1861203	lower prices
1861204	Not have the chain type stores, continue to be different.
1861260	provide better service
1861267	I don’’t know
1861270	advertise to a wider audience
1861279	Do they need more business?
1861280	provide more necessity stores for local traffic,provide good restaurants that stay open over the weekend
1861288	Have more African-American items
1861290	I don’’t know, I am a local business.
1861291	Don’’t know
1861302	Its not the shops, local residents need to patronizethe local shops.
1861303	Advertise
1861307	advertise outside of Takoma Park
1861318	More musical events with more advertising of such events.
1861319	not sure
1861321	stay open later, dress up the exterior and do more events
1861341	Night business hours more regularly.
1861365	Stop selling ONLY vintage items, staying open longer(especially on weekends and during the spring/summer).
1861366	Learn about customer service. They quotfilterquot people out. If you don’’t look the Takoma type, they despise you, they ignore you as a customer and they don’’t appreciate you.
1861367	Advertise
1861369	sidewalk cafeone night a week open late as a group
1861371	keep OLD TOWN conceptunified so people understand howmany different kinds of shops are here they’’ll goout of their way if they think there is lots going on,but not for just one shop.
1861378	advertise door to door
1861392	Offer unique products worth driving for
1861404	have better parking
1861408	Start/join a campaign to buy locally and support Takoma Park businesses. Having more choices downtown will also help draw people down there and therefore more likely to go into the stores. Having another and better coffee shop downtown would also help.
1861414	, new services
1861415	advertise
1861416	I think part of the problem is that there simply aren’’t enough establishments to attract people. A person could go through most of the existing shops relatively quickly, and then there aren’’t many places to sit and relax, particularly to have a drink. I think convenient parking is something that could be done to help a little bit.
1861417	Greet customers. Offer to help them and be proactive and determining what they want, rather than taking a kind of noncommunicative quoti want to sell thisquot kind of approach. Also, a good restaurant/bar that had broad appeal and good service would allow people to visit a few shops at a time providing a rest stop and break between shopping experiences.
1861444	Clean up. Much of what is here isn’’t all that great. There have to be some basic staples in order to draw people to the downtown. Coffee shop in the main square? Couldn’’t be any less friendly. Retaurants? Most are so dirty I don’’t even want to touch anything, let alone eat in them. Shopping? What shopping. Oh, and parking? What parking.
1861450	better promotionsome businesses don’’t list hours or have irregular hrswork together - like Winter Festivities
1861451	increase quality, and cleanup/ remodel
1861460	A directory of local shops would be helpful.
1861477	Parking is a BIG problem in downtown. You can onlywalk so far with a sack of apples from the Farmer’’sMarket. Bite the bullet and get a parking garage inthere. We also need to be a little more pragmaticabout downtown (DC side too) development (my opinion). Yeah, the Metro housing deal did not start off sowell, but transit oriented development, in principle,should be supported. That will also help increasefoot traffic.And how about spreading out the Folk Festival andStreet Festival in the calendar. They are less than amonth apart - that is too close. See if CUC iswilling to move Taste of Takoma to Downtown - have itafter the Farmer’’s Market. Think regionally - Workmore closely with DC - try to logically connect themini biz district across the line where TakomaJunction is. See if the DC council could do somethingwith that area - tax incentives or something for biz.
1861518	I do my best to support local shops. A better mix of stores and a better restaurant would be terrific.
1861522	encourage denser mixed development make connections to local cultural activities such as AFI and Roundhouse
1861532	Be more professional in sales approach, open earlier in the morning (before 11), provide more parking, provide more variety of shops
1861542	They could provide more speciality items. Why some many vintage shops?
1861655	Provide tokens to patrons for parking metersSell things that we use on a regular basis (we don’’tneed another fancy gift shop)Continue to press for a natural, attractive, enticingwalk up from the metro to Downtown Takoma Park
1861671	unsure
1861738	advertise in local periodicals, assuming it was cost effective. Have certain quottheme daysquot or open houses.
1861749	I go to old town for interesting gifts when I don’’twant to drive... not sure but more choices or morefunction and less artistic?
1861750	better parkingless low-end shops (do we need more used-stuff?)a better restaurant with a liquer license
1861758	parking,prices typcially too expensive and not comptetive, willing to pay a little more but not that much
1861793	more kid-friendly
1861794	?
1861830	Offer more practical items, whether it be food products (such as at a bakery, or the current deli/restaurant) or everyday use items (such as a range of greeting cards or basic office products). Put together a Main Street Takoma flyer with all of the businesses advertising monthly specials, etc. Have one day a month where all stores are 5% off (like the Co-op). Have weekday hours until 8 pm (like the Big Bad Woof I know I can go there on a weekday evening and they’’ll be open.)
1861850	Support social venues/destinations to increase foot-traffic.Like for example the Noodle Co. in Downtown Silver Spring is right across from the Majestic 20 Movie Theatre. They have a purchase deal to get discount tickets from them, with a meal purchase. This cross over support can draw business from locals that frequent the area.
1861867	Offer better, cleaner products. Most things just feel ’’old dirty’’ in TP.
1861874	Better quality and more choice
1861976	advertise,advertise,advertise
1861988	Clean areas around their shops, sell things you can’’t find elsewhere but choose items that are desirable
1862000	The food shops and restaurants in Takoma Park are not clean and do not offer quality foods for the money. It is really sad the lack of options available for food.... subway. the other restaurants are better but are generally inconsistent and overwhelmingly dirty.
1862030	more of themmore diversity of shops
1862061	?
1862105	the downtown seems very run down. they need to work on curb appeal.
1862129	Stay open later in the evening. Host more events: open house - contests (like Jude’’s Easter Bonnet contest)
1862132	fix outside look, have marketing/advertising plan, offer specials, be active in community
1862145	be more diverse in their offerings. have better hours (closing at 7 is too early for most working folks).
1862199	Visibility
1862228	Remain open later at night, offer a broader ion, renovate make the exterior and interior attractive and charming most buildings are drab and dull, especially on the inside.
1862295	Stay open later. More diversity (how many vintageshops can one town support?) in goods sold. We reallyneed a local place where neighbors can meet over abeer or wine!
1862326	Stay open in the evening on weekdays and Saturday andopen when the Farmers’’ market opens on Sunday. Havemore affordable goods (like Fruit of the Loomunderwear and normal pairs of socks).
1862345	Improve service. There is very little competition inTakoma Park, so some do OK, but the quality is notenough to draw people from outside. The cleanlinessand consistency in TP restaurants is shockingly poor. It is ok for us locals, but truthfully, I would notbring guests there if it wasn’’t so close.
1862360	I have no idea
1862369	Sell things that people need to buy regularly. For example, a wine/cheese/gourmet grocery store/take-out emporium would get my business once or twice a week, and I would probably wander into the other stores while I’’m in the neighborhood. I’’d definitely go to Takoma Park for good Peruvian rotisserie chicken. (Sorry, I’’m thinking of these things after the appropriate page of the survey.)
1862382	offer wider range of goods and services
1862421	not sure
1862437	sidewalk eventssales
1862463	Get something besides consignment shops in the downtown. A bagel shop, coffee bar, a little more upscale business
1862516	Improve quality. Apart from Mark’’s Kitchen and the Middle Eastern restaurant (and also Spicy Delight in Takoma D.C.), I have not been impressed with the quality of the food options. Also, there are several niche stores that mainly sell knick-knacks or used clothing. How about something useful like a nice wine shop or a hardware store?
1862529	Better hours - its dead in the mornings when people are on their way to work. Where can you grab a cup of coffee and bite to eat as you head to the metro? Options for dinner don’’t make it a destination for me. Its not walking distance for me so why drive there for very few choices?
1862557	I think having better and more places to eat would attract more people.
1862573	don’’t know
1862587	Support the creation of more businesses in the empty spaces. Abandoned businesses look pretty unappealing. Go for retail density!
1862589	Some places could stay open later. For example, theSavory coffee shops in Takoma close very early forthat type of business.
1862785	larger range of goods. Everything is too similar
1862873	improve their facade, they are all pretty ugly. I just wish there was some decent stores with decent prices I would like a good wine shops, and some place people can hang out like a sidewalk cafe, which draws traffic. And not an ugly sidewalk cafe or one with screaming little kids running around (ie, no Marks Kitchen which is really ugly). There are too many busybodies in TP who try to squash and decent businesses and want the place to be solely for children or tee-totalers or people who want to wear sandals and beads or something (ie, they lobbied to be sure no place opened that sold alcohol, I think some billiards parlor wanted to open).
1862883	advertise
1862941	maybe provide more parking Parking can be quite an issue special on Saturdays
1862971	better parking, more dining options, more diversity of offerings (see previous answer re specific suggestions)
1862972	Gosh, turn Silver Spring into organic farmland?We certainly don’’t need more beads, rugs, etc.If one new place created pull then all shipswould rise.
1862973	Marketing the product is good, but market the package.Downtown Silver Spring is a soul-less place, butfeatures a green and a fountain/plaza as invitingcentral hanging out spaces hence, it becomes adestination. Takoma Park has stores, but they are sopacked due to business size that my kids are simply athreat to the goods.
1862988	Special events - joint sidewalk saleBetter marketing
1863078	doing it, already
1863177	Advertise!!!! There are stores in Old Takoma that Idon’’t even know what they sell! If you can’’t tell fromthe store’’s name, they need to advertise! Sales andcoupons really make me more likely to shop somewhere,even if it means going slightly out of my way.
1863197	shorter questionairres... am I finished yet?
1863215	provide more practical products
1863398	Longer hours of operation. Most close at 8 pm, or earlier. A restaurant should stay open til 9 pm on weeknights, and 10/11 pm weekends.
1863422	The current shops are doing all they can. Need more shops to complement them.
1863656	advertise more
1863698	PARKING
1863814	More Parking. More variety of businesses
1863841	showcase local artists on a rotating basis, offer morequoteventsquot like the holiday weekend, with cookies orother nibbles, use coupon books (or perhaps aquotfriends of Takoma Parkquot 10% discount card) more often
1863918	Provide more offerings that appeal to a frequent visitor. Too many antique shops do not work for someone wholives nearby.
1863930	Do a better job of advertising unique TK events to the wider community and surrounding cities. IE: Pajama Day Discount....there SHOULD have been TV crews interviewing kids doing their Xmas Shopping. More Night life events...Caroling, Fire Dancing (Poi), Music Acts, Street Perfomers, etc. Don’’t put down other fellow merchants - Now and Then Owner just told us to buy her spinners b/c the Turkish Guys were not metal...they were metal. We will buy his.)You should have a Flea Market on Sundays like the Georgetown Flea Market (now in Arlington) or like Eastern Market it would compliment the Farmer’’s Market and bring more people to town.
1863963	Stay open later
1863979	no idea
1864026	Don’’t know. I think it would be nice if the traffic barrier down the middle of the street were more park like.
1864046	Form some sort of parking co-op: share and publicize the various commercial parking spots, no threats to quottowquot if you are not at a specific store or group of stores.
1864068	i wouldn’’t know as most of the types of shops in downtown silver spring are the types i nor most my friends wouldn’’t patronize and we would certainly prefer a different type of business occupying the real estate. More useful types and better shops.
1864095	Whoever owns the buildings that the retailers rent from should be ashamed of the condition of their properies. The whole place looks derelict. Repaint, repair, clean!
1864112	stay open longer on sundays til 10pm at least
1864132	Not sure.
1864206	More shops would mean more business for everyone.
1864212	Adding a few purely functional, reasonably priced shops to the area might draw folks downtown and increase foot traffic, resulting in more impulse visits to the boutique shops.
1864214	Unsure
1864260	We need more variety, it is very odd that we have so much antique and specialty clothing and house items
1864276	no clue - there are too many vintage stores and idon’’t frequent them so i don’’t know what would attractpeople to them
1864307	don’’t’’ know
1864366	Coupons?Later hours one night a week with give-aways or social draw.Live music.
1864441	Outside seating for the summer, more variety of shops, more restaurants
1864597	Parking is pretty good, need a grocery store or liqour store
1864626	a
1864716	Mail flyers with promised discounts. Free parking, too.
1864778	?
1864919	We have to have more parking and easier accessibility. Nearby neighborhoods have to be restrained from blocking town improvements. I wish the stores were larger and could offer more variety in their merchandise. I wish we had more businesses to offer more of an incentive to visit and linger.
1864922	parking garage, rejuvinate area between Metro and clocktower
1864940	later evening hours
1864942	provide useful products (i.e. products a personwould need on a regular basis, not just things thatsomeone would occasionally buy as a gift)
1864993	later evening hours, occassional newspaper coupons toentice first time and occassional shoppers
1865157	Work together to sponsor sales and other events develop a joint mailing (emailing) list and send out a BRIEF emailing every week with what’’s new
1865187	Clean it up it’’s looking very run down
1865199	nothing I can think of.
1865267	Encourage more options (tavern), ensure local ownership, ensure walkability, not car-based
1865272	Open longer.
1865283	advertise more
1865588	Monthly mailer/coupon a la Catch Can in Kensington andD.C.
1865785	diversify - enough knick knacks, more food
1865971	Provide basic goods and services to people living in Takoma and less niche products
1866036	Not be quotspecialtyquot businesses, such as vintage clothing, or high-dollar pet supplies.
1866231	I don’’t know. I want another restaurant choice (sit-down). I also want to be able to buy things I actually need, rather than the occasional gift. I don’’t know if TP could support a hardware store, but it’’d be nice!
1866538	parking
1866563	Stay open later. Do more special event type functions.
1866707	Perhaps have a special day where people could come in, have free coffee refreshments look at the merchandise/during a 20% off sale
1866716	There needs to be more substantial (but not chains) businesses there to draw foot traffic.
1866878	Sell more quotdaily usequot kinds of items (one only needs a bead store so seldom), have more free parking or shuttles from the metro have good restaurants (the kind that make it into the quot100 best cheap eatsquot in the Washingtonian). We could certainly do without chains but I only think of shopping or eating in Takoma Park at the Farmer’’s Market - the rest of the town is just atmosphere.
1866994	I’’m not sure they can do more. There needs to be more retail and food space.
1867015	Sell products people want, not just antiques
1867259	Not sure - find ways to capture the traffic going by, with longer hours, outdoor displays/tables, etc.
1867379	Offer more diversity in their ions (please! no more used clothes!) un-clutter the floorspace do a thorough cleaning (HOMT!)
1867414	stop only selling expensive specialty items, higher quality food and ice-cream!
1867567	I dont know
1867570	Attract more shops.
1867786	Offer more products/services that people want. Many ofthe businesses up there I never use. I have lived heresince 1978 and income levels are dramatically higherthan they used to be here. The local businesscommunity does not appreciate that and has notadjusted to it. In general, Takome Park does a very poor job of marketanalysis, targeted recruitment and measurement ofresident satisfaction with the business mix. I applaudyour efforts to solicit input via this survey.
1867810	Easier parking?
1867888	don’’t know
1867899	I don’’t know
1868048	need more parking for shoppers that do not live in Takoma Park offer as broad a variety of goods as possible
1868136	expand variety of shops (different retail opportunities) for restaurants, expand hours for all, focus more on quality (many shops are mediocre)
1868173	Advertise more and more regularly outside of TakomaPark. I think more people from outside TKPK need toshop here to sustain what we have and to sustain more.I really think that whole section of shops in theblock where Glad Rags is needs to get happening that big empty blue shop with black graffiti on it isa huge turnoff. All we have in the nice section aregift shops and cafes, or luxury items. That’’s notenough diversity of products to get people here oreven get TKPK people down there more often. I thoughtHistoric Takoma was moving in to that block... Something for kids to do while parents shop, like anindoor playground or craft shop with a service thatkeeps kids busy while parents shop, would be conduciveto getting people here too. What I hear from othersis that they think Takoma Park is dangerous. We havetoo much crime in our town and people are scared tocome here.
1868239	parking extended hours on some weeknights in a couple of cases, they could be friendlier (a couple of merchants are unfriendly to kids) better merchandise (no more used clothes stores!)
1868255	diversify - too many antique, consignment shops.
1868266	Sell things that are more useful. Less expensive consignment and decorations. A little of that stuff goes a long way. You need nails and paint, milk and crackers more than a new vintage hippie top.
1868282	I believe that parking is a problem for downtown Takoma. There is only so long I’’m willing to cruise around looking for parking, before I’’ll drive to another area to shop.
1868341	Sell more useful things (e.g. hardware) or nicer quality things. Most businesses seem completely irrelevant (e.g. 6 used clothing shops, used chachka shops, unidentified stories that look 60 years old but dont seem to do anything!)
1868352	Locate a good variation of different businesses andtherefore attract more patronage to the whole town
1868441	Good quality merchandise. Savory baked goods are old and stale. Everyday Gourmet looks like no one has thought through new ideas for the store for ages. Coasting by on mediocre baked goods / sandwiches and oftentimes less than friendly service. The florist is expensive and doesn’’t cater to the off the street customer. It too looks like it’’s stuck in a time warp. I know ther is little one can do to force change in established businesses but if a new business with quality and style came to town and did well it may indeed cause the current business owners to rethink thier strategies.
1868458	Not sure. Longer hours? More/better advertising to attract people from nearby DC, Bethesda, College Park,etc.? We recently met a long-time resident of outer Silver Spring who works not far from TP but was unaware of our downtown.
1868466	Not sure. I like the new children’’s toy store.
1868468	Spruce up the appearance of SOME (not all) shops.
1868469	parking, service, quality goods, convenient week-end hours
1868481	attract similar competition
1868484	?
1868493	no ideas
1868513	advertise, have more variety of stores with needed services, not chi-chi unnecessary things.
1868542	Sorry, I don’’t know
1868545	outdoor seating at cafes in good weatherevents at cafes and bookstores, such as readings, meetings
1868560	Advertise more. Update their window displays a little more often (and perhaps their mannequins could use a little touch-up). Have a sign at the Metro station or in area metro stations advertising Main Street Takoma Park as the place to be good times, good prices, good food, good variety, and good for you.
1868565	diversify
1868571	?
1868574	There’’s a lot of traffic along East-West highway, that probably doesn’’t know about the existence of Old Town. To direct attention there, a sign might be in order where Carroll runs into 410, near the firehouse.
1868592	I don’’t know
1868605	I have no idea. I personally make every effort to patronize them because of their quality and because I want them to stay in business.
1868607	Tho I can walk, parking is probably important. Mostly,seems like quality products draw people being closeto retirement myself, I hope we are better (than 20years ago) able to support things I’’d like to walk tolike bookstores and cafes. I’’m looking for to theHistorical Soc museum.
1868629	I think the shops we currently have are great, but weneed more options (a yarn / craft store would be greattoo)
1868647	Carry useful items. How many vintage clothes can aperson buy? Or beads? I’’m still lamenting the passingof Chuck Dave’’s, in any of its incarnations.
1868733	Upgrade signage - and perhaps figure someway to havemore cohesiveness in the visual landscape, withoutlosing individuality. And, honestly, I am not surethere is the best variety of shop on Main StreetTakoma to create an environment where shoppers browse. For instance, where is the book store? Where is thededicated kids shop? And mostly, where is the good,sit-down restaurant with a bar? Also, many of thebusinesses appear to be somewhat run down.
1868747	Advertise, sales
1868900	Improve quality of stock that they sell-shift from used merchandise to enviro friendly new merchandise.
1868948	I don’’t know.
1869055	Offer quality food in an attractive setting, some new clothing stores, a book store
1869167	more upscale more sophistication more geared towardyounger crowd
1869188	The restaurants could go slightly more upscale (revampmenus, dining rooms) they have a cafeteria feel tothem now. I’’m not sure what type of marketingexisting shops are doing outside of local papers, butI wonder if pan-regional papers(WPost), magazines(Washingtonian) and special quotlocal sectionsquot could beused to increase their marketing reach.
1869212	Coordinate special events (Holiday evening concerts, shopping events, local performers on street and in store windows)!
1869393	The problem is not so much with the shops that thereare but withthe factt hat there are not enough of themto generate enough foot traffic.
1869464	OTBA is doing a great job with tree adoption and organized shopping sale days. I’’m at a loss - I think it is more up to TK PK as a whole at this point to establish a destination restaurant (or something) to get people here.
1869558	No ideas
1869593	better hours (especially restaurants)
1869614	more diversity in stores besides used clothing and antiques
1869705	More Parking would be valuable. A greater variety of goods is important.
1869726	not sure
1869959	not sure
1870003	Need more restaurants, bars, taverns to attract visitors from outside TP.
1870025	more going on downtown
1870168	Be better
1870194	tough question. they are so quirky that they arequotdestinationquot stores. those of us who live here justdon’’t really need to use them that frequently.
1870204	don’’t know
1870209	More vibrant variety and mix of services and goods.No more chains.
1870478	I don’’t know their current strategy so have nosuggestion
1870726	Put in some main stream stores alongside the independent shops
1870762	Get rid of the many bead shops, quality of goods being sold, renovate store fronts.
1870793	Execute well in terms of excellent service, visual merchandizing, creating customer experience, and promote together in different markets.
1871163	Advertize special events more (for instance, I had noidea when the special Christmas shopping weekend wasthis year- and we usually try to catch it) the hourscan be inconvenient especially late morningopenings. And I’’ve heard some complain about closingtoo early perhaps coordinate for more specialevents/sales between the stores? The xmas sale couldbe a lot more special- maybe hire street performers,have more food-type goodies for customers- make theday an event- maybe childcare (at TCS, perhaps)? Doorprizes? More raffle items? Get all stores involved?Currently, just a handful of stores with 10% off items (not much of a deal- esp compared tobigger stores elsewhere).
1871395	improve parking situationbeautify street scaping
1872183	I commend what they dopajama shopping in December, street fair, holiday group advertising. A lot of shops I go to use coupons, post cards advising sales--the usual. There’’s the valuse of critical massif we could get a few more shops like quotA Manoquot, TP could became a destination shopping area rather than just an offbeat place to shop.I’’m not sure what would drive the uniquenessTP does not seem to have the economic base that could create an quotart scenequot kind of shopping area. It’’s more just a funny little jumble of different kinds of shops.
1872450	I love Takoma Park, but for shopping, in many ways it’’s more convenient to go to Silver Spring: more diversity of shops and more places to eat and go for entertainment. In the last month, the only shopping I’’ve done in Takoma Park has been buying veggies at the Farmers’’ Market. To anchor residents and attract new shoppers, Takoma Park should develop the businesses at Takoma Junction to encourage people to stop and check out the rest of the community. As Silver Spring continues to develop, it will draw shoppers and revenue away from Takoma Park. No matter how unique its character and businesses, Takoma Park will be eclipsed by Silver Spring unless it does something to draw attention and business back.
1872494	the area needs more foot traffic - a movie house andother entertainment would help
1872515	Don’’t know. I believe festivals like the StreetFestival help, though.
1873194	1. Advertise OLD TOWNE TAKOMA as a place to find unique shops local artists works (such as found in American Crafts Shop)2. Continue to have street festivals and sales and the holiday open house weekends and advertise them.3. Increase the number of shops to make the trip to OLD TOWNE TAKOMA worth the trip4. Offer another choice of restaurant
1873424	better parking
1873709	additional parking, group ads in Gazette Post to draw in outsiders,
1874000	We need critical mass to draw people to the neighborhood. Grocery and hardware stores and a bookstore would help, to draw people coming for the basics and then keeping them for the more optional shopping.
1874383	I think they do a great job. more outdoor displays, flower boxes/ I think it’’s more a concerted effort and identity need by the group. Offering fun things like Now Then PJ sale and the music from house of M. traditons is great. i think ther eare inherent design flaws in how walkable it is. the downtown intersection is weird. Crossing Westmoreland is weird. need more outdoor plaza and cafe opportunities. I stronglt suggest rethinkig the westmoreland Park are to connect the playground to ability to bring icecream foor. it’’s too inaccessible. could be an ampitheater. eliminate the gazebo and terrace for better connection. Put in other type of cafe tables/shelter for semi-outdoor seating maybe even a small structure . could connect to takoma Towers better also
1874557	Fix the darn meters! At least 65% of the time, I park, then find the meter does not work (Carrol/Laurel) Do I move the car? Take a chance? Run to do my one errand, but don’’t walk around and do anything else!
1874918	Actually their prices are fairly high, so I think the rents they must be paying are fairly high. They need to be competitive with chains.
1876131	more events downtown, more variety of businesses, better quality restaurants.
1876311	add more diversity - like a bookshop and a place to relax - like a coffee shop (Gourment Too doesn’’t count - it is not comfortable)
1876373	Well other than a couple- they would need to be different stores- becuase we seldom dine downtown we forget that there are great stores there like quotnow and thenquot quotfair days playquot quotBig bad woofquot quotamanosquot we tend to shop in silver spring (whole foods, strosneiders) for most things we need. But if we came to down town takoma more regularly then just every sunday morning for the farmers market, and there were shops that carried not speicalty items but day to day things we’’d shop there more. Currently we shop at Fair days Play and Now and Then for little items.
1876641	more nightlife, longer hours, more diverse businesses, more bars/cafes
1878432	The later night opening for Christmas shopping was agood idea. It needs to be well publicized. Music inthe bandstand is great (as now around Xmas) and in thesummer. Street garden boxes are great. Just goodservice and personal attention in the shops is thebest attraction.
1878743	Have more businesses that people want to patronize such as hardware stores, book stores, and good restaurants.
1878751	more restaurants or bars where people can go in the evening. currently, everything in TP closes at 7, which is when I’’m just getting home. I don’’t really shop in TP anymore because it’’s more convenient to go to Silver Spring (better shopping, open later, movies, cafes, bookstores, restaurants, bars, live music).
1878823	different hours - generally closed when I am off workless focus on vintage clothing restaurants could be cleanerbusinesses could make an effort to monitor the area in front of their shops (landscaping, litter, etc.)
1878979	Fewer quotcutesyquot stores and more practical stores, e.g., hardware, bakery, more restaurants. I often go to SS to get the things I need and end up doing all my shopping there - even for the few things I could get in TP. In fact, this weekend I went to SS to go to a bookstore and ended up finishing all of my Xmas shopping there.
1879086	pedestrian mall, local currency, Solari local investment
1879128	Diversify! - Old Town TP has enough funky stuff shops! We need a fancier restaurant and a greater diversity of service businesses.
1879324	Better hours of operationlater in the evening, especially.
1881324	sell more mainstream upscale socially and enviromentaly friendly merchandise and less polly sue kind of stores.
1881410	cater more to families needsi.e.books and toys (like Chuck and Daves)
1882589	Resist gentification
1884888	We do not need several antique stores, so, I think to me it is important, how useful are the offerings of goods and services. If I have to go somewhere else to shop I will obtain other services there as well. Lastly I like to stress that quality is important. If, for example, a Cleaners’’ shop does not provide quality service I will go where I get it and go shopping there as well. The presence of the Post Office is important as well.
1884985	have more variety. no more gift shops. I like the ideaof books, hardware, useful stuff we don’’t already have
1885623	Restrooms! Better signs to walk from Metro! Ads in Wash Post (including online edition) City Paper, performances at Gazebo with a dance floor on the sidewalk in front (not too loud, please)Day sponsorships on WAMU, Festival with 3-minute demos on beading, knitting, playing harmonica, playing with dog, some food demo at co-op, passing out flyers at Silver Spring and Dupont Circle Metro stops, also Cleveland Woodley Park, they have some old shops but not enough, TP vintage jewelry, for example, is more affordable.
1886428	Get the word out to people along the red line. Add a good anchor resturant/bar that would entice more people to come.
1887430	make farmers market more like eastern market.
1889758	veg friendnly
1890049	entertainment: live music!more food
1890948	I think the shops are fine, the restaurants need to raise their standards of food, service and atmosphere. Local shops are too focussed on vintage stuff and nick-nacks. If I’’m out for fun I want a good restaurant/coffee shop. If I’’m out to get errands done, I need practical stores.
1891796	I’’m not sure what they currently do. Perhaps advertiseas a group of eclectic, artsy, vintage, original shopsin local newspapers (city paper, uptowner, etc) andcity guide books. A really good bookstore/cafe,orfun,good restaurant (like jackie’’s) would help. orblues, music club for middle-agers.
1891802	Not sure
1891810	?
1892792	For jewelry, gifts, crafts local artists shops should advertise in DC and Bethesda to pull business to this end of town, promote local artists and their venues in a way that makes Takoma a cool and appealing destinationa place that is creative and artsyand not just a consumer destination but an all around arts destination and a place to hang out. the physical layout of downtown is already set up for that. there are some lame businesses and empty shops that need to gobut downtown and the surrounding neighborhoods are just waiting for the right investment and promotionthere is nothing, absolutely nothing like downtown Takoma . It is not Bethesda-THANK YOU! It is not downtown Silver Spring but could and should be connected to downtown Silver Spring. As you get further away from the Ellsworth Avenue center, the businesses start becoming more unique and Takoma should be at the end of that corridor
1893023	I don’’t know. I think if there were a nicer restaurant for brunch or lunch that might draw people. It’’s just not that big and picturesque as some other old towns.
1893285	Have more specials - like the pajama-shopping daybefore the holidays.
1893503	Offer quotsubscriptionsquot
1893508	be wilder
1893509	More diversity (contemporary shops)
1893540	not sure
1893559	That’’s tough - you need more appealing daily use shops along the lines of the video store, dry cleaners, post office - to draw enough traffic for the shops you frankly don’’t need to use that often. We’’ve framed lots of prints, photos at Dilip’’s but none in the past couple years - no need for that on a regular basis. We were regular patrons of Finewares but after we filled our shelves with crafts/pottery and gave presents to friends and relatives we exhausted much of our need to shop there. Now and Then is great but a once ot twice a year kind of shop. My Old Town shopping peaked during the years Chuck and Daves and Park Pharmacy were still in business - those were stores I’’d use every week, often several times a week. I don’’t need to go to arts/crafts/junktique/curio shops very often.A safe parking garage/lot and a couple higher quality restaurants would do wonders. The Farmers Market is a big draw when its open.
1894189	Better windowsBetter signage (its hard to tell which is which whenwalking - there are often no signs on doors)Have more events
1894195	Clean-up/Remodel Architectural Storefronts
1894599	Advertise more widely.
1894932	Good Parking that was reasonably priced. (.25 cents for 45 minutes.
1895178	sell different goods
1895212	sell different stuff - diversify. Nearly every shopin downtown is vintage goods. Unnecessary oversupplyof a niche market
1895499	I don’’t think the shops currently in TakPark can do anything to attract more business, especially considering the competition from Silver Spring. TakPark needs more diverse goods and services to attract more customers to the area. For example, if there were more quotdestination services,quot (e.g., fun restaurants/pubs/cafes, gym, general interest bookstore), other businesses in the area would benefit from increased patronage.
1896398	advertise more in dchave event dayspartner with local artists
1896438	A coherent, attractive facadeA better streetscapeBetter maintained interiorsParking (more of it and more clearly marked)In some cases, higher quality product
1898073	We have lots of very unique GIFT stores, that aredoing fairly well, in part because we have twosupportive landlords in Takoma Park. Without thoselandlords, they wouldn’’t be in existence either. Theproblem is that they are all of one type. We needthem, but we also need additional stores that aretotally different so there are a multiple of thingsyou can accomplish going downtown. The easiest way to have additional stores that have awide variety of goods is to go local. Encouragingchains to come in would be a mistake, since they arenot comfortable situating in a row of shops that isnot quotbrandedquot. And the first chains to come in will bein quotproven marketsquot, meaning category killers whosefirst objective is to compete with stores we alreadyhave because the quotmarket has been provenquot by thosestores existence. So, more local stores, and a greatervariety. Gift stores, we got. But you can’’t even buya card to go with
1905530	Calendar of special events
1914679	not sure
1914944	Actively encourage, as far as they are able, othershops and high-density development around metro. Right now it seems there are not enough shops andpeople frequenting them to reach critical mass. Ithink we need more development around metro so morepeople are out and about shopping, visiting cafes andrestarants, etc. Development should also doeverything it can to overcome the need to walk througha poorly lit, disused gauntlet between metro and mainstreet. Ecco park should help overcome it, but betterlighting and other strategies are also required nearthe 7-11 corner and the adjacent parking lot. I alsofind that there are too many shops that cater to anquotalternativequot client and this is the impression ofmany non-residents of all that TP has to offer. Vintage clothing and such can only attract so manypeople.
1914989	Increase variety.
1915144	better pricingmore attractive frontagemore restaurants making it an evening destination
1915314	Open late one evening a week.
1915346	Not sure. There’’s not enough quotdaily livingquot type stores.
1915350	Not be so pricey!
1915446	I think the area attracts local business and is toosmall to attract many other visitors. It also closesdown completely very early at night and is mostly aweekend-daytime destination. My main concern is safetyand increasing crime in the area which discourages mefrom going in the evenings.
1915495	advertise in City Paper more coordinated events like the artist studios open house before Christmas
1917120	Reduce the number of quotvintagequot stores. They are boring
1918024	Have more diverse stores instead of all of them beingresale shops.
1918119	Increase parking, advertize sales or issue coupons. People like to think they are getting a deal and then often spend more. Sponsor more events like the holiday music you did at the Gazebo this year. Local businesses sponsor kids sports teams but not that much in terms of adult arts or performance.
1918717	* Diversify into new product lines - stop selling so much resale clothing/junk and assuming that everyone in Takoma Park is interested in quothippiequot merchandise. With housing prices escalating, shops should start catering to people with $100,000+ household incomes who renovate, dine out, wear nice clothes, use lots of technology, and pay for conveniences.* Decorate better - especially the restaurants.
1918910	go more upscale, better ion,
1918928	Offer more diverse casual dining options (i.e., not more diners and cafes), offer more appealing businesses and services in town center (i.e., not clothing consignment and pet accessories).
1921251	advertise as much and as broadly as able
1924121	More variety in offerings. We have so few shops - and two of them sell Turkish imports! Three of them sell jewelry. There’’s just no variety. I’’d love to see a slightly more upscale art gallery, more interesting clothes - everything is so quothippiequot here.
1924225	An advertising colletive?
1924226	dunno
1924228	???
1924240	Advertize
1924264	OT needs more shops that carry day to day need. We go1310to the Big Bad Woof frequently because pet food is a1310need. If there were more shops that were necessities,1310I would probably wander into neighboring places. I1310think the new condos going in will be good for1310businesses, but we need more places for quothanging outquot1310like Murky Coffee in Clarendon. It’’s my impression1310that people pass through, but dont always stop to shop.
1924267	Offer something I want, offer good service.
1924284	Diversify their merchandise
1924303	Have a wider variety of shops and restaurants
1924362	?
1924395	Ditto
1924488	Improve on quality and variety
1924509	Follow advice in last window. Seed Takoma Parkl withteachers who make it a powerful destination for folksseeking to understand/learn evolve in alternativelifestyles.. both health spiritual based and socialactivism based. These will bring people to TakomaPark, who will then shop at the stores.
1924546	hold more joint sales
1924551	Add additional retail and restaurant options
1924590	More restaurants and other entertainment
1924623	serve alcohol
1924624	Be friendly, innovative, offer special services
1924654	?
1924673	don’’t know
1924683	don’’t really know
1924694	There’’s an impasse between driving and pedestriantraffic also, there’’s a problem with parking and aproblem with the danger of bicycling through downtown. I think that the institutional buildings take up waytoo much space if they ever move, I hope they will bereplaced by many, small stores. I think CVS must bechanged into several small stores that aremulti-level: that would be a design appropriate to adense, walking-scale downtown parking should not bethe first thing you see. I would like a waterfountainand public toilet near the kids playground.
1924698	If there were a better mix of shops with fewer vintagestores there would be more reason to come to Takoma.
1924701	Offer a better product. I’’m not really into cute or precious stuff which seems to be all Takoma Park has to offer.
1924719	not sure crime detracts, but this is not the local shops fault!
1924730	LONGER HOURS!!!!!!!!!!!OPEN EARLIER IN THE MORNINGS ON WEEKENDS!!!!!!!!!I HAVE AN ACTUAL JOB AND I LOVE THE SHOPS BUT CANNOTPATRONIZE THEM!!!!!!!!Apologize for the capital letters, but want to conveythis message VERY STRONGLY
1924735	Be cleaner, be more mainstream (even in Takoma Park),create more of a quotcenterquot
1924741	Sell a wider ion of things people might actually buy at a moderate income level. You can’’t shop on the main street if you are looking for something specific. The toy store’’s ion is awful and expensive. Too many antiques stores. There just isn’’t enough variety to attract customers right now. The ice cream is awful, and the local food isn’’t very good. I never eat on the main street, only at Savoy or the Red Line Grill.
1924762	Advertising, better prices
1924774	A few shops downtown just need to increase teh quality of their foodlike everyday gourmet. some promotionals to try out some of the newer businesses (liek Salon Jam or the middle eastern place) might be a good idea as well
1924778	I have to stop answering this survey
1924804	more musical events, more advertising/publicity,
1924812	More attractive storefronts
1924813	Sell things people need. Love the new bike store andgame store. Like some of the other TP establishmentsbut only go occaisionally b/c on the whole there is noplace that I need or want to go in downtown TP morethan once in a while (ie Now and Then, Mark’’s Kitchenare both places I like, but it’’s not enough to draw methere every day or even every week.) Whereas a bookstore/cafe that had a story time or other kidactivities or even just a kid friendly section wouldbe frequent destination for me as would a good quotdatenightquot restaraunt and/or music establishment. If Icould avoid downtown silver spring chain hell and havea close by alternative, I would use it!
1924815	Put on Takoma Park days/nights to draw in out of town visitors. Bring in a high-end but casual restaurant (something like Pizzeria Paradiso or Two Amys or Cactus Cantina) that will draw customers from outlying areas. Set up a chamber of commerce website featuring items for sale from goods businesses and specials from services businesses. Make it easy for customers to see what’’s in TP before coming in. Update the website every week.
1924821	hard to know - they advertise, they have unique merchandise - perhaps blend in some more hard market services, like groceries, hardware or a liquor store
1924838	Strongly encourage more density of development with residential over retail. Stores need people to survive and if they live locally, they will patronize locally. Advocate for stronger visual link to the Metro by encouraging high density development along Carroll Ave. In conjunction with densification, they should be working on a coprehensive long term solution for parking as businesses cannot rely on only pedestrians from neighborhood and Metro to frequent their businesses. Customers do need to drive there as well. Avocate for a municipally sponsored multi-day charrette for the whole area where ALL stakeholders are included and their input is valued.
1924846	Advertise more broadly. Be friendlier to all types of customers.
1924849	Have better coffee shops and more restaurants to go to before and after shopping at stores.
1924854	Some ideas: Marketing. Better pricing and/or betterservice relative to the competition. Identify anquotanchorquot retailer who would draw more people to thedowntown area.
1924859	?
1924954	stay open later.
1925085	Be open on Sunday during the market. Sidewalk cafe tables. Make consistently good food. Better service at restaurants.
1925089	Encourage live music every weekend at the local parks (that spot right past Westmoreland on CArroll), Open and close at the same time (so I can go from one store to another easily) and have longer evening hours so more people will be on the street. Have a free shuttle bus from the metro to downtown to the coop every hour on the hour on the weekends for the elderly and others who may not want or may not be able to walk so far.
1925104	Maybe open their doors and have signs, etc. posted outside (such as Big Bad Wolff). Most shops look like their closed unless they have a parking lot outside of their business (CVS, Post Office).
1925113	specials/coupons, etc.
1925196	Sell different stuff! :-) Personally, I have little to no interest in overpriced knick-knack gift places and vintage clothing stores (I get my used clothing for far less at Value Village!). How many of those type places does TP really need downtown? Gimme a good indy bookstore, cafe, or garden shop and I’’d patronize them as much as possible.
1925246	better storefronts and store interiors better food more sidewalk cafes
1925261	Sell things that people want, increase the number ofrestaurants.
1925310	have more interesting things to sell
1925354	More cross-promotion
1925450	No opinion
1925481	Seasonal promotions, mailing lists, web enabled...
1925491	x
1925636	an ad at the metro station(s)
1925656	Focus on niche marketingmake sure people who want to shop at the stores know those stores exist.
1925719	coupon mailers
1925730	extend hours, advertise more widely, cater more to families
1925911	Outdoor eating guards
1926132	Advertise/market outside Takoma Park area. Some prices are a bit high. I’’d suggest expanding store size but doesn’’t seem feasible.
1926472	Parking parking parking-the city and county need to step in.Also need more variety
1926475	I think that there need to be more good restaurants, and more diverse restaurants to draw more foot traffic.
1926482	Market their products outside of Takoma Park
1926605	become more modern/fashionable ( get rid of those incense sticks!)
1926606	Open earlier, stay open later, more promotional events
1927137	.
1927420	Become more involved in the community AdvertiseOffer incentives - discounts
1927566	advertise sales in the gazetteput out a joint catalogue once in a whilehave evening hoursbring music to downtown
1928108	Many seem like clones of each other. Offer specials days/nights, offer diversity of services/goods.
1928323	Be less quirky. Clean up and organize displays and shelves to remove clutter. Offer some mainstream products at REASONABLE prices.Focus on service,a dn be open at reasonable hours if a store sells bagels, it should be reliably open by 6:30 every morning if a store sells garden supplies, be open on the weekend and holidays if a resteraunt sells alcohol, be open until at least 11PM and don’’t play the music too loud or offer live entertainment.Sell wine, books, and CDs.
1929454	Don’’t know.
1929474	Support development of downtown spaces. What the heck is that deck thing anyway? It’’s taking up useful space!
1929753	I think filling more of the empty spaces would be great to increase foot traffic. I think we need more businesses that cater to everyday needs hardware store, bakery, bookstore, wine store, for example, as opposed to just specialy/crafts type stores (which are great too).
1930289	Offer more sales. In nice weather have sidewalk tables.
1931677	Spiffing up streetscape and parking lots might help.Providing more necessities at decent prices that people need.Improve security (not sure how shops would do this but I know it would help if people felt safer walking, esp. at night). Maybe a free shuttle (or free ride-on coupons?) from metro along Laurel/Carroll and then along Ethan Allen? I think the street fair and folk festivals are great.
1932755	Better quality, overall. Prices can be higher for decent goods. A good restaurant would be so very nice.
1932787	add more local stores and restaurants
1933039	Provide more parking areas.
1933972	advertise sales
1938003	Advertise, for starters! I was thrilled to see the OldTown ad in the metro station (Gallery Place, I think).That’’s a great strategy. Just emphasize that it’’s only15 minutes away from downtown. Promte the fall streetfair more, that’’s a great event. Add some night life and you could really grow. Also, Ilike the longer hours that you do in the holidayseason. I liked the musical events too, though pity itwas soooo cold then. Off to a good start. I think the retail stores will behelped if there are reasons to come other thanshoppinge.g. cafe, live music, restaurants. If theretail is open, then customers ought to spill over too. One point in case you don’’t ask later: I’’m wary, as aTP taxpayer, of city money financing a parking garage.I already feel like a lot of my taxes went to thatboondoggle of a city hall. I pay though my taxes andthen I have to pay extra to use a room there. Bah!
1951061	lower prices, better stock shelves and supply better service(CVS)
1955617	Extended hours, but I think that the majority of people I know are not interested in consignment which is the majority of businesses in TP - most people I know shop at Now Then, Amano, and American Craft
1970626	sell products that people need on a regular basis rather than kitsch. Ironically,the most useful business in TP is CVS because it sells what people need.