| Author | Message | ||
     Lydia Citizen Username: Lydial Post Number: 835 Registered: 5-2001 |
Actually, I don't have a problem with immigrants working at Nail salons - documented or not. How many people pay their nannies in cash? I doubt that a majority of the lawn service people have green cards, same with a lot of housecleaners. I'd like the people who mow our lawns, do our nails and tend our children to be paid fairly, to have unemployment insurance and make living wages. I'm re-thinking my initial impulse to boycott the business and I think I was wrong. The problem isn't the business. I agree with Dave that the landlord is the one who seems to be the opportunist in this situation. Hopefully we can learn something from this and try to attract businesses that compliment each other and bolster the walkability of the village. Meanwhile, I think Kim's is a good business - the owner donated the huge 4th of July flag this year to the town and he is a good businessperson. The place is always packed and I would hate to see them suffer because of any calls to INS, etc. The problem is that people don't like to pay a lot for their luxuries when supplied by people without a company behind them. Ironically if a Starbucks had moved in we'd be paying $5 for a cup of coffee, which I am fine with, but why do we scrimp on manicures and not on branded coffee? I don't know the answer BTW. | ||
| Dave Moderator Username: Dave Post Number: 4957 Registered: 4-1998  |
Indeed, there may be no answer. Even if Starbucks did sign the lease, they would have put Village Coffee out of business, which would then, of course, become a nail salon. | ||
| sbenois Citizen Username: Sbenois Post Number: 12945 Registered: 10-2001  |
The answer is simple... The Cafe Sbenois Deux | ||
| eliz Supporter Username: Eliz Post Number: 943 Registered: 5-2001 |
Dave - how do you figure? There is a Starbucks in South Orange right next to Cait and Abby's. No offense to Village Coffee but I don't go there for the coffee - I go for grilled cheese. I'm also uncomfortable with Lydia's third hand account of how nail salons are run and the ensuing gang mentality. I've sat in Kim's several times waiting for my nails to dry and looked at the licenses on the wall and was able to identify everyone on the floor. Down people - we may want to work on zoning issues but it is not productive to cast aspersions, make insinuations or assumptions about how people run their businesses and the legal status of people working there. | ||
| kmk Supporter Username: Kmk Post Number: 376 Registered: 5-2001 |
Guys, The Starbucks people looked at the Cornercopia site almost 7 years ago! After the attempt in Maplewood failed then they opened in S.O. instead. We have an entirely different downtown Maplewood today. | ||
| Lydia Citizen Username: Lydial Post Number: 836 Registered: 5-2001 |
Eliz - I went to | ||
| eliz Supporter Username: Eliz Post Number: 944 Registered: 5-2001 |
Lydia - I was referring to this
Then you proceeded to spread a rumour which may or may not be true that the owners of Cornercopia basically tried to extort money from Kim's. I don't agree with another nail salon either but I'm uncomfortable with the above. | ||
| bottomline Citizen Username: Bottomline Post Number: 144 Registered: 8-2003 |
Lydia wrote, "The problem with the nail salon locating on prime corner property raises a lot of issues about who is running things in the village."Answer: The free market economy is running things in the village. I don't see how a "village manager" can keep a landlord from renting to the tenant of his choice. My personal preference for this space would be something other than another nail salon, but then my real preference would be for no nail salons at all. Others among us may be happy with one or more nail salons. Personal preferences are like that. Business recruitment and retention are difficult in a capitalist system. Business owners and landlords are entitled to due process. Zoning is a blunt tool (and existing establishments would be grandfathered if the zoning were changed). The good news here is that the citizens of Maplewood care about their downtown. Whether public concern can ever translate into micro-management of business recruitment is another matter. | ||
| Lydia Citizen Username: Lydial Post Number: 838 Registered: 5-2001 |
Eliz - OK, so the gray-area side of nail salons makes you uncomfortable. A lot of the services that we use in Maplewood rely on people working on a cash basis - not working off the books, but not entirely on the books either. Do you know anyone who pays their nannies' withholding taxes? I'm sort of surprised that this surprises people. | ||
| Bobkat Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 7175 Registered: 5-2001 |
It is hard to believe that we will have our own "Bermuda Triangle" of nail salons centered at that corner. All three will be visible to the others. This is insane. There has to be a way to zone against this sort of thing. | ||
| Hank Zona Citizen Username: Hankzona Post Number: 1905 Registered: 3-2002 |
most folks who have been around this town know people from inside or outside Maplewood who have considered or wished they could open some sort of store in the Village. I know someone affiliated with the Farmers Markets in NYC who wanted to open an artisanal bread bakery..he doesnt live here but loves the feel of the Village, but when he poked around, he thought the rent was too steep. I know a resident who has considered a different sort of business...he tends to hear about spaces that have opened up after theyve been rented. So there obviously is a problem with rental rates..there may be a problem with communicating when space comes available or who to go to if someone does want to consider opening up shop. That doesnt mean it doesnt exist..just that folks may not be aware of who to go to. A couple of things I said that didnt get quoted.."I cant begrudge the landlords getting their $6000 a month, and they did say they tried to find 'the right business' for that spot, but I wonder just how hard they tried." and I also said that "another nail salon on such a visible corner in such close proximity to the other two will look pretty cheesy." | ||
| Phenixrising Citizen Username: Phenixrising Post Number: 282 Registered: 9-2004 |
I'm waiting for the Tarot Card/Palm Reading store front to open up. That's when we'll know we've hit the big time Marvin, yah gotta go to Springfield Avenue for that. There is a palm reader there. And there's one on Valley Street too! | ||
| Tom Reingold Supporter Username: Noglider Post Number: 5052 Registered: 1-2003  |
I agree it's odd that the guy interviewed me, since as I told him, I don't have much insightful or intelligent to say about the subject. But there you go. I agree, a Starbucks would have been better than a nail salon, and I don't even like Starbucks that much. And as Deanne, owner of Net Nomads says, it would help her more than hurt her. Maybe the "no chains" rule is too stiff. Can anyone save me a copy of the article? I don't get the Times delivered. | ||
| mantram Citizen Username: Mantram Post Number: 105 Registered: 8-2003 |
So is the nail salon at cornercopia a done deal? Is it worth bringing the article and the townfolks feelings about this to the attention of the landlord? Is it too late? And can someone post a link/scan of the article please? | ||
| susan1014 Supporter Username: Susan1014 Post Number: 331 Registered: 3-2002 |
Lydia, I pay my nanny's witholding taxes. So count me as one! It is the right thing to do if you can possibly swing it -- I don't want to discover someday that someone I employed is destitute in her old age thanks to lack of social security. Also, we have career reasons to stay squeaky clean (it is the law, you know). | ||
| Soda Supporter Username: Soda Post Number: 2314 Registered: 5-2001  |
I'll bet Bernie Kerick wishes he'd followed your example, Susan. -s.  BTW: We may ALL be destitute in our old age if we rely on George Bush's idea of social security... | ||
| trapper Citizen Username: Trapper Post Number: 117 Registered: 8-2002 |
This new nail salon, "Our Emery, Your Carbunkles" is not Asian! Shame on Dave for stereotyping all nail salons. It happens to be owned by an American - born in Pusan. And it works like this for all you rumor mongers. Owner pays rent to landlord. It's not anyone's business but the landlord's - they can charge whatever the market will bear. Owner must collect enough revenue to pay rent or owner loses lease. Revenue is generated by selling services (mostly) and goods. There is very little "documented" overhead - i.e. traceable transactional commerce. Nail polish is cheap and most supplies are purchased with greenbacks. There are no "employees" to document or pay taxes for. Only contracted BT's. The BT's get no salary, and must rely on tips. This income is not all theirs to keep. The BT's must pay the owner for the right to sit there and perform acts of beauticiousness. The owner collects the customer's money, plus 40% of the BT's tips. Cash business. Here's some applicable math: Average Treatment (from manicure to the works) is $36.45. At 70% capacity, the store will accomodate 25 customers per day on average. Works out to $911.25 per day or $4,556.25 per week. A 4 week month nets the owner $18,225. Plus 40% of tips (18K x 15%) x 40% = another $1,100. You take in over $19K. Fixed Costs: Rent $6,000.00, Ins., supplies,etc. 4,000. Owner clears $9K per month. So what? BT's make 60% of tips or $100 per day cash, or not bad money, considering. I know people who make more than the owner and less than the BT's. What's the problem? Trapper trap1234 | ||
| Dave Moderator Username: Dave Post Number: 4963 Registered: 4-1998 |
Please re-read my post. I said "may" be Asian. I have no idea who the owners are. Indeed, if you read through the entire thread, you may get a better idea of where I'm coming from. | ||
| mtierney Citizen Username: Mtierney Post Number: 726 Registered: 3-2001 |
There's a potential for two more nail salons in the village! Centanni and Water Lilies.  Both sites would be wrong for Starbucks I guess - off the main drag or too small. | ||
| Earlster Supporter Username: Earlster Post Number: 845 Registered: 8-2003  |
I thought I heard a rumor that Samurai Sushi is taking over Water Lilies. As long as Centannis liquor license is put to good use. As in Gate II on SA, within walking distance from my house.  |
