This Week in the Mercury
Friday, January 6, 2012
SLURPEEWATCH / Neighborhoods St. Johns Residents Vow to Protest New 7/11
Posted by Sarah Mirk on Fri, Jan 6, 2012 at 12:29 PM
The 7-Eleven is slated to open its doors at 8157 N Lombard—currently an empty lot just on the edge of St. John's downtown. Neighbors are mad because the market would be the neighborhood's third 7-11 and will be "blight at the gate of our neighborhood," in the words of one resident who signed the neighborhood's anti-7-Eleven petition. Residents also worry it will hurt the business of St. John's Deli and Grocery, a little locally-owned shop that's been located two blocks from the proposed site since 1979. Deli owner Kevin Lee says he will have to cut back his employee's hours if the new 7-Eleven opens up.
7-Eleven representative Tom Noble met with the neighborhood association to discuss the new shop, but residents upset about the new store say they were "disappointed" with the discussion and now organizers of Occupy St. Johns are calling for a picket of the proposed site at 3pm on Friday the 13th to call out the "surplus of convenience stores" in the area.
1
There's a surplus of convenience stores on North Lombard because there's a surplus of alcoholics that need their Steel Reserve. You haven't seen Portland street drunks until you've hung with the folks at Trimet stop #3465. I can't stress the need for malt liquor out here enough.
There's been some signs of life with East Side Deli, Cha Cha Cha and some other new openings, but St Johns and Lombard needs more empty storefronts filled. 7-11 stores are franchises, meaning it would be locally owned and operated -- just as much as the St. John's Deli is.
There's been some signs of life with East Side Deli, Cha Cha Cha and some other new openings, but St Johns and Lombard needs more empty storefronts filled. 7-11 stores are franchises, meaning it would be locally owned and operated -- just as much as the St. John's Deli is.
2
Hey neighborhood associations, presumably you know business-minded people in your neighborhood. Maybe you could convince them to open a business before someone else comes in and tries to open a 7-11.
I'm sympathetic to the fact that 7-11 has a pretty lean supply chain, they have lower variable costs in running a convenience store, but if people really love the deli so much, they'll keep shopping there, right?
Also, what #1 said. Franchises are local businesses, even if they don't look like it.
I'm sympathetic to the fact that 7-11 has a pretty lean supply chain, they have lower variable costs in running a convenience store, but if people really love the deli so much, they'll keep shopping there, right?
Also, what #1 said. Franchises are local businesses, even if they don't look like it.
3
I love the difference in reporting between this story and the New Season's story one post up. Grocery store owned by white folks, catering to white folks, in a historically black neighborhood? Hooray! Convenience store franchise, largely owned by minorities, catering to lower income people in a historically lower income neighborhood? BOOOOO!!!
4
7-11s are cropping up everywhere lately. One just opened in the old Blockbuster on Fremont and another out on Woodstock where the Arby's used to be.
One plus is that their ATMs are surcharge free, at least for most credit union users. (http://www.co-opnetwork.org/)
One plus is that their ATMs are surcharge free, at least for most credit union users. (http://www.co-opnetwork.org/)
6
@Chuck Are there any data to back up the assertion that 7-11s are largely owned by minorities?
And what difference does a neighborhood's history make when investing to serve the current demographics?
And what difference does a neighborhood's history make when investing to serve the current demographics?
7
@Oregometry - Gotta love it when people demand data to "prove" things that are basically common sense to anyone whose been around the block. Have you been in a few 7-11s around the country? The stereotype of the immigrant connivence store owner was derived from reality, particularly in lower-income neighborhoods.
The above commenters hit the nail on the head, but if you require formal demographic data on connivence store franchisees, I'm sure it's out there (eye-roll).
The above commenters hit the nail on the head, but if you require formal demographic data on connivence store franchisees, I'm sure it's out there (eye-roll).
8
Most of the 7-11 cashiers I see are young people who presumably don't own the store. I stopped reading after "connivence."
9
The link for above "petition" is closed, but there's a hard copy to sign at St John's Deli on Mohawk/Lombard. Or write your own letter to Bureau of Planning & Sustainability:
http://www.portlandonline.com/bps/index.cfm?c=45457
The design review process doesn't require public input, "so opposed neighbors' only recourse is to write their city planner with land-use zoning specific arguments: building versus lot coverage, crime, or traffic issues."- from link below: http://www.neighborhoodnotes.com/news/2011/12/another_7eleven_in_the_works_for_st_johns/
http://www.portlandonline.com/bps/index.cfm?c=45457
The design review process doesn't require public input, "so opposed neighbors' only recourse is to write their city planner with land-use zoning specific arguments: building versus lot coverage, crime, or traffic issues."- from link below: http://www.neighborhoodnotes.com/news/2011/12/another_7eleven_in_the_works_for_st_johns/
10
If a "mom and pop" convenience store owned by Koreans or Nepalis who send every available cent home or keep it to themselves without circulating it locally, and especially not at the local businesses people here get their panties in a bunch about (not that there's anything wrong with that--it's their business and they can do whatever they want with their money), is it still a "local" store worth crying about?
11
And 7-11 is a Japanese owned chain. Those fuckers! Except when you want to send us cute cat shit, cuisine, or the crazy noise music loved by NOfest attendees. How dare you be our corporate overlords!
13
Extremely disappointing. Grocery Outlet, Dollar Store, 7-11. What are we becoming? Another 82nd street?
14
seven eleven can open a store any damn place they are legally allowed to. All they have to do is adhere to legal requirements of operation. Whether they succeed or fail depends on their ability to operate profitably, or a willingness to continue at a loss if they aren't successful.
The discussion that is missing is zoning. While the property a developer wants to develop for 7-11 is zoned for commercial use, that same property is in a design overlay area regulated by the St Johns Lombard Plan. The "plan' has been adopted by city council and was developed several years back after much work by the bureau of planning and SJ neighbors and businesses. Long and short of it: the proposed design of the property in no way conforms to the plan. At all. The battle will be between the developer and presumably, the neighborhood assoc. and any other entity with standing in this. 7-11 is a straw-man in this: it is between the DEVELOPER and authorized opponents. 7-11 is portrayed as the bad guy, but should they decide not to open a store in St Johns, the developer is free to offer the store to anyone.. from a business that the residents approve of, to one that they don't like,but is legally allowed for that zoning ( think adult bookstore).
The argument is NOT what business goes in there, but the design of the development and how it meets, or does not meet, City planning requirements.
If I don't like 7-11, I don't have to shop there. But that building had best meet the same requirements as neighboring developments do. No favoritism.
The discussion that is missing is zoning. While the property a developer wants to develop for 7-11 is zoned for commercial use, that same property is in a design overlay area regulated by the St Johns Lombard Plan. The "plan' has been adopted by city council and was developed several years back after much work by the bureau of planning and SJ neighbors and businesses. Long and short of it: the proposed design of the property in no way conforms to the plan. At all. The battle will be between the developer and presumably, the neighborhood assoc. and any other entity with standing in this. 7-11 is a straw-man in this: it is between the DEVELOPER and authorized opponents. 7-11 is portrayed as the bad guy, but should they decide not to open a store in St Johns, the developer is free to offer the store to anyone.. from a business that the residents approve of, to one that they don't like,but is legally allowed for that zoning ( think adult bookstore).
The argument is NOT what business goes in there, but the design of the development and how it meets, or does not meet, City planning requirements.
If I don't like 7-11, I don't have to shop there. But that building had best meet the same requirements as neighboring developments do. No favoritism.
15
Everyone who attended the neighborhood association meeting was told that the proposed Sev is to open as a corporate store. There is a franchise Sev just blocks up the street with a very nice franchisee running it...so 7-11 puts in another convenience store at the expense of not only a local mart, but also an existing franchise location. And the developer is taking advantage of all the grandfathering and loopholes he can find in city code, to evade years of effort that residents and local business people have put into planning for a healthy and attractive neighborhood core. More places to buy cheap beer, cigs, and Twinkies? Got plenty, thanks; this St. Johns resident and shopkeeper can think of lots of other things she'd rather buy with her money.
16
You jabronis live in ST JOHNS for gods sake, until ten years ago it had (still does) a shady reputation for a reason
17
Hey Showstopper - That reputation is exactly WHY residents are upset about 7-11 opening more convenience stores. Most people in St. Johns would like to see the neighborhood outgrow that description.
18
Ugh, I used to live on Richmond a block or so from there and would have welcomed a 7-11. So not on Lombard, eh? I bet if it was on Fesseden it would have been OK though, right?
20
Well, seeing as how 7-11 franchises are run entirely offshore by Chinese robots who don't put any money back into our community, this must be stopped...
... also, I'm sure two-dollar bananas and shitty flavored energy booze is all it takes to shut down support for a "local" store that features weed pipes and porn, right?
Must be a slow week for news
... also, I'm sure two-dollar bananas and shitty flavored energy booze is all it takes to shut down support for a "local" store that features weed pipes and porn, right?
Must be a slow week for news
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