Top Pot Doughnuts’ Post

The Wall Street Journal depicted Downtown St. Louis as a modern day Gotham made famous by the comic book Batman; they are not wrong. “The night is darkest just before the dawn.” Although the above quote from the Batman movie Dark Knight is not scientifically accurate (see 12 am), it succinctly describes the glum chapter we are on in our City’s history. The WSJ writer accurately paints a picture of a once vibrant ecosystem that is almost devoid of any pulse with its numerous vacant buildings, boarded-up businesses, scant foot traffic and rampant crime. Through compelling data, the story describes our Downtown’s descent into a doom loop Post-COVID with an inability to reinvent itself for a 21st Century remote-work world. Based on its research, we are near rock bottom compared to other major U.S. cities. We need St. Louis’ leadership to drastically change the spiraling trajectory of our Downtown with policies that reinvent how our lodestar and its residents/businesses co-exist. Other Rustbelt cities like Detroit have done an amazing job transforming their downtown’s into vibrant livable spaces again. I firmly believe we can do it with the public and private sectors working together to formulate a revolutionary strategic plan. The leaders of the City have been copied/put on notice with this LinkedIn post. Let’s see if they engage their constituents in a joint effort to rehab the face of Downtown for the betterment of our community. Show us the light! “And I promise you, the dawn is coming.” #community #rebirth #change #hope L. Jared Boyd Sara Baker Conner Kerrigan Charles E. Coyle, Sr. Megan-Ellyia Green Cara Spencer Neal Richardson, MBA Jason Hall City of St. Louis Greater St. Louis, Inc. St. Louis Post-Dispatch Alan Achkar St. Louis Business Journal Erik Siemers Konrad Putzier

Don't miss the latest issue of California Centers – A Great Combination  In a robust retail environment, some may argue that it takes less e­ ort to succeed, but those who want to maximize their results realize that landlords and tenants must work hand in hand to achieve the best possible outcome.  By Nellie Day; insights from – Brian Sheehan, Phillips Edison & Company; Ryan Ash, Vestar; Wayne T. Williams, Lewis Retail Centers; Sandy Sigal, NewMark Merrill Companies, Inc.  Inside this Issue: New Attraction  The Port of San Diego has plans for an entertainment district on East Harbor Island, opening a new hub of activity.  By Randall Shearin; insights from – Shaun Sumner, Port of San Diego. Pretzels to the People  Wetzel’s Pretzels o­ffers a familiar favorite with a growing portfolio featuring new formats and locations.  By Hayden Spiess; Jon Fischer, Wetzel's Pretzels, LLC. Stay up to date on: -Corporate Actions  Hirings, Promotions, New Business, Relocations -Real Estate Transactions Leases, Purchases and New Projects Read the issue: https://lnkd.in/ectW_Cir #ShoppingCenters #Retail #CaliforniaCRE #CRE

See the latest issue of California Centers ⤵ High Costs, High Demand Defines Today’s Retail Reality  Many of California’s retail spaces are still sought after by tenants, but the high-cost environment proves challenging when it comes to making actual moves — whether you’re a tenant, landlord or investor. By Nellie Day; insights from – Brad Umansky, CCIM, Progressive Real Estate Partners; Scott Agajanian, City of Murrieta; Chris Premac, Coreland Companies; Kimberly Wright, Riverside County Office of Economic Development; Todd Nathanson, illi Commercial Real Estate; John Hickman, NewMark Merrill Companies, Inc. Inside This Issue: South Coast Metro  Retail destinations distinguish California’s South Coast Metro as urban center.  By Hayden Spiess —˜insights from Diane Pritchett, South Coast Metro Alliance. Maintaining Sidewalks  Can you be forced to pay for public sidewalk repairs?  By Chris Taylor - a certified access specialist with Folsom-based ADA Compliance Consultants Read the issue: https://lnkd.in/eWQVfrCN #Retail #ShoppingCenters

Texas’ major cities are vibrant (though not without their problems), but with generally good near-term prospects. That’s why it’s hard to conceive of experiencing the “doom loop” as depicted in this article about St. Louis which was once a jewel of the Midwest.  This is the counter to Austin and Fort Worth, as two examples.  It reinforces that prosperity is neither inevitable nor perpetual.  It requires thoughtful, multi-generational leadership and sound economic policies, among many other factors.  From WSJ: Cities such as San Francisco and Chicago are trying to save their downtown office districts from spiraling into a doom loop. St. Louis is already trapped in one. As offices sit empty, shops and restaurants close and abandoned buildings become voids that suck the life out of the streets around them. Locals often find boarded-up buildings depressing and empty sidewalks scary. So even fewer people commute downtown.This self-reinforcing cycle accelerated in recent years as the pandemic emptied offices. St. Louis’s central business district had the steepest drop in foot traffic of 66 major North American cities between the start of the pandemic and last summer, according to the University of Toronto’s School of Cities. Traffic has improved some in the past 12 months, but at a slower rate than many Midwestern cities.Now, it stands as a warning to others: This is the future for America’s downtowns if they can’t reinvent themselves and halt the downward spiral.  https://lnkd.in/gfTReGix

Westside of Manhattan

Chicago. The city of broad shoulders seemingly was and shall forever be ensconsed in its predictable perch. Unimpeachable. Cosmpolitan but Approachable. Affable yet haute. Quaint (to New Yorkers). Clean (to Angelino’s). Razzmatazz (Ole Blue Eyes). A place to sell mattresses and lay low with the ole lady until things blow over (Jacksonvillians). It could be the best kept secret to some, and they were right, while also being slightly overrated to others, and they weren’t wrong. Chicago was Inevitable to investors due to its set-your-watch steadiness. And always had been Validating to BRANDS, carrying sufficient cache and density that ensured that Starbucks or Pinkberry would land in the Second City, within, at worst, the first four. Beyond those pesky winters, the Investors and Brands knew what so many knew before, stockyards to the ports. Chicago’s unique lat/lon and blessed geography would always provide logistically, demographically, strategically. Today, that perch may be at a precarious tipping point, a confluence of crime, grift, graft. Confidence and Creativity stymied by the cons and cretins, a gamble now unworth the risk. Making matters worse, the considerable bright spots are muted by malaise, marred by a fatalism unbecoming to this great city. Blame is not action though. For that reason, I am relying on the commercial real estate industry to take the mantle. Rehearse your best Chamber of Commerce speech and leave it in the comments. 👇🏻 You are hereto deputized as the frontline ambassadors to reclaim this story, reverse the river’s flow once more. Please note: This is not a call to unionize, nor is effort expected within our swollen masses for they know not what they do. But for godsakes, in a market where trampoline parks are competing against migrant camps…and a Salt Lake 5.5 cap is 6.75 in Chi-Town, we might need a few other bullets in the chamber (pun intended, booked, released back to the post) beyond the proximity to fresh water. #trep #medtail

While we search for more traffic-friendly ways to improve the walkability of our cities, we can't forget about the accessiblity that comes with having drive-thrus, and the safety they provide hospitality workers in late night hours. Let me know what you think Saint Paul should do to better traffic congestion in the comments! For my fellow urban-planning nerds, check out this great article by Nicole Norfleet ⬇️

Open question to #KonradPutzier. How does a city with a declining population of 276K, a horrible crime image, and decaying buildings attract over 10 million annual visitors who support the city's arts and entertainment? Can any other city even come close to attracting visitors 33 times its size?  Maybe Mr. Konrad should have written an article about St. Louis's P.R. Problem. Then, explain how St. Louis can overcome its P.R. Problem instead of repeating the same story all urban cities face today. Then again, I'm just one of ten million people enjoying all St. Louis offers.  #WSJ #STL https://lnkd.in/gJFz6J6r

Located in South Suburban Chicago

Definitely one of our favorite 5-star reviews we've gotten ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ From General Manager Mark Nudelman with Bellevue Pacific Tower: "Fikes handles our trash chute rooms on all the floors (24) and my dumpster room. You could spend all day in any of these areas and work from there, have lunch and never know you were close to garbage. Their odor eaters don't just cover the odor but actually eliminates it. The chute cleaning is the best we've ever encountered. I'm going on 5 years with them with zero trash smell complaints from 300 residents--ALL FROM A COLD CALL in 2018." Such a huge testament to our trash chute cleaning service's impact 🙌 Not to mention that cold call from 2018 resulted in a great partnership filled with growth, and we're now their scenting provider as well! Appreciate the trust, Mark Nudelman, and here's to many more years of partnering together 🥂 Check out more of our Google reviews here: https://lnkd.in/de5nbVZN #googlereviews #clientreview #customerreview #googlereviews #clientsatisfaction #clientrelationships #partnership #propertymanagement #multifamily #facilityservices