Everybody has their own ideas about what types of stores they would like to see in downtown Oxford.
But the big question is always will the local market keep them thriving for years to come or shut them down within a matter of months?
‘We need to be realistic about what we can get downtown,? said Carolyn Bennett, executive director of the Downtown Development Authority.
That’s why last week the DDA announced the kickoff of the Downtown Market Study to be jointly conducted by the Northville-based McKenna Associates, Inc. and J. Eppink Partners, of Clarkston.
Using a combination of public focus groups, man-on-the-street (or ‘intercept?) surveys, telephone surveys and interviews with business owners, the $35,700 DDA-funded study will determine what people would like to see downtown and what types of stores will and won’t succeed based on the strength of the local market.
‘It’s kind of perception versus reality,? Bennett said. ‘We’ve heard numerous things such as people would like to see a women’s shoe store or a women’s clothing store in downtown Oxford. Well, unfortunately, the demographics support the Meijer selling clothes and shoes. Those are the realities.?
‘People say to me why don’t you get a shoe store down here as if I can create the demographic to make it work. I can’t. All we can do is provide incentives for businesses to come here,? she explained.
Input for the market study will be gathered by consultants from residents, property owners, businesses and developers.
‘Anybody that’s willing to talk to them,? Bennett said.
The public is invited to stop by and share their ideas with the market study team at the Sweet & Savory Bake Shop (9 S. Washington St.) on Tuesday, April 24 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. when the consultants will be holding office hours and doing field work if the weather permits.
On Thursday, April 26, the public is invited to attend either one of two focus groups to be held from 8:30-9:30 a.m. at Sweet & Savory and from 3-4 p.m. in the Community Room at the village offices (22. W. Burdick St.).
‘As a community, we’ll be taking a hard look at exactly where downtown Oxford fits in the regional market, what new businesses and uses can be attracted to downtown Oxford and how to go about attracting them,? Bennett said. ‘But we won’t be able to do that without our citizens so I want to encourage everyone to participate. We need your input.?
She noted the market study is designed to tell Oxford what the downtown can support, not what it needs or thinks it needs.
‘Quite frankly, we need what we already have,? Bennett said.
People’s perceptions of what they need often differ from their actions, she noted. When a market study was conducted in East Lansing, Bennett said, ‘Everybody thought we needed a Radio Shack.?
‘Well, you know what? There was a Radio Shack in downtown East Lansing. Had been there for seven years,? she explained. ‘But after seven years, the Radio Shack left because no matter what people thought they needed, it wasn’t what they were using.?
The final draft of the market study is scheduled to be submitted to the DDA June 14 and presented to the board in conjunction with a public hearing June 18.
With Oxford ‘on the cusp? of being a ‘place to be,? according to Bennett, this market study will answer the questions, ‘What are we missing? What are we not doing that can help us??
Bennett said the market study will be a critical ‘selling tool? for bringing businesses, particularly big franchises, to downtown Oxford.
For instance, when the International Council of Shopping Centers hold its meetings in Michigan, Bennett said, ‘We can take our market study and say to a company like Tim Horton’s or Cosi, we have the demographics that will support a store like yours.?
‘Every good franchise does a demographic study before they go into a location,? she explained. ‘They know where they can be successful. How many times have you see a McDonald’s close? Not many.?
Thanks to Starbucks and the Oxford 7 Theater (Goodrich Quality Theaters), downtown already has successful ‘big name franchises,? which can help draw others, according to Bennett.
‘Once people like Starbucks start making investments, then other chains are more likely to invest,? she explained. ‘They don’t want to jump in until they see somebody else being successful.?
‘We’re not as rural as people think we are.?