Coda: we got thinking about economics. If a table is available for sit down diners and is turned over five times with an average ticket of $60, that is $300. Profit margins for restaurants are quite low between 3% and 10%. So for that $300 of revenue the business may make between $9 and $30 in profit. The opportunity cost
Millburn has an ideal location, close to New York City and at the foot of the South Mountain Reservation. There are many assets here including the Paper Mill Playhouse and the Greenwood Gardens not too far away from the downtown. Here are a few highlights from a recent visit. Fantastical Garden, 2022 This sculpture by Dan Fenelon has signature vivid
As a frequent visitor to the Jersey Shore, we’d often pass through Point Pleasant Beach on our way to the shore. When an opportunity came up to visit and learn more about the revitalization happening there – it was too great of an opportunity to pass by. Right away we were struck by the incredible landmark quality historic buildings. This
Lawrenceville is a small town with a few blocks of commercial buildings. Most are transitional residential type buildings that have been repurposed for commercial uses. One of the nice features of the town are passageways connecting parking to the rear with the street. This is because the residential buildings were detached from one another giving space between them to walk.
A sandwich board can be the first element for your store encouraging people to come up to it and touch to develop a connection with your store. For that reason, your sandwich board needs to be in an impeccable state of repair – no rusty wheels, peeling letters. Make your sandwich board of a high quality expressive of your story
This example of vehicular wayfinding sign in Albion, Michigan, is both attractive and also designates as people are “entering” and “leaving” the Superior Street Commercial Historic District in Albion, Michigan. There is one pole but two signs with a slight difference of messaging on either side. The Youngs Home sign in Oyster Bay, New York is identical on each side.
A parklet is not only a physical intervention but also an economic one. To transform a parking spot on average of 250 to 400 square feet into a place for people allows getting a greater return on investment. Various studies have shown that spending by parklet users can boost revenue at neighboring businesses by 2x or 3x. This spending is
Pavement to plaza is a global movement to reclaim parking lots and repurpose them for use by people. William “Holly” Whyte famously said people are most likely to sit where there are places to sit. Food is among the best tools to attract people. Put these together then you have a formula for active, loved, and well used places. Related
Flag signs are the worst. They obliterate the human scale and are difficult to read… unless your business is on the highway and you are trying to catch the attention of drivers for half a second while speeding by 60 miles an hour. I encourage every design conscious downtown to eliminate flag signs, and work with owners on more appropriate
The following are my recollections from the Main Street Now conference in Boston, Massachusetts. This was written 15 months after the conference itself. We drove from New Jersey to Boston, crossing the Hudson River on the still relatively new Mario Cuomo bridge. Joining me on the trip this year was my wife Chrissy. As we passed through Connecticut we admired