I remember the buzz many years ago when Walmart announced it was opening one of its stores in my home town of Marshall, Illinois, the first town west of Terre Haute on I-70 after crossing the state line, population 3,500. The only announcement that generated anywhere near as much buzz was when Marshall learned a McDonald's was coming to town.
I felt like I was back in Marshall when Indy media buzzed today over the announcement an Ikea was coming to Fishers. An Ikea coming to Central Indiana is breaking news! Seriously!.
The Gannett-owned Indianapolis Star even quickly put up one of its famous list stories titled, "Ten Reasons New Ikea May Change Your Life." Did Ikea have to pay for that story? Would a world class city spend all day talking about a new furniture store coming to town?
Today, Indianapolis looked and sounded more like a backwater franchise town than the world class city it fancies itself.
14 comments:
Wow, Gary, really well said.
Gary, your site is always great, but you have been in the "zone" for the last week or so. All the corruption and idiocy you are reporting is making my head spin. I can hardly keep up. Since sheeple will mumble "thank you for your service" to me today even though I served the Empire in Star Wars, I say thank you for your service for informing!
Gary, Hoosiers appreciate good value: the Ikea furniture we have has lasted for 15+ years. It wasn't super-expensive to buy, either. Of course, I'm also pleased that it won't be MY property taxes subsidizing the store.
IKEA isn't on every corner. Of course its a big story. So was Nordstroms when it came (and left). This will affect the economy as well. It's a big story. The article in the Star was interesting. I had no idea they have a cafeteria and well known food there. I am looking forward to it. Don't be so crotchety about this stuff.
I'm not saying anything good or bad about the brand, Carlos. It's just a bit odd that the media provides all of this free advertising for a particular furniture brand, foreign no less.
I remember when Ikea opened in Los Angeles. Must have been around 1988. It was a huge event. A media explosion. Everybody talked about it. Everybody planned to go out there. I waited a week for everything to settle down a bit, and went and was just amazed. There was nothing like it at the time. Its much more than just a furniture store. The way they displayed things was revolutionary. I bought a black metal and glass desk, several black bookshelves, file cabinets and several black and glass pieces of furniture, that I still have today. All of it. Nary a scratch. I've thrown out rooms full of other retailers' furniture over the years as couches and chairs and kitchen tables disintegrated, but the Ikea stuff I bought 27 years ago is still perfect. I'm one of those people who occasionally drives to the Cincinnati Ikea. I just like to go. If you haven't ever been to one, plan to go. I don't care for Fishers because there's too much traffic already. But I think Ikea will make it a statewide destination. And the traffic will grow exponentially. Be afraid. Be very afraid of the traffic potential.
Gary, when a newspaper fires or runs-off all of its credible journalists what else is there to report? I agree. The Star is nothing more than a giant advertising publication.
So, how is IKEA particle board better than everybody elses particle board?
That's nothing. CBS4 News had a story last night about 'Feed the family for the holidays with Pizza Hut’s Triple Treat Box Hut'. Was it that slow yesterday or just being lazy.
I agree the article in the Star was a gigantic advertisement-infomercial. Really other than sports, sports and more sports is this all the Star has left. I cannot imagine anyone paying for the Star anymore. We have a cesspool of corruption excrement and the Star smells perfume.
The angle on the traffic deserves mention. We all know what will be said the Mayor and hired help pushing this will reassure us with minor changes at the most the I-69 corridor will handle the traffic. Then in few years they will have to tear up I-69 and the roads around it.
It is pathetic that ohhh-ahh retail store is big deal. Wow, we are World Class.
Meanwhile, the violent crime rate in this city is rampant and worsening daily. It's sickening. But, hey, no sweat off Greg's back. It's Joe's problem soon.
2:54 PM
Actually it's Scott Faultless' fault (*RIMSHOT*)
Thank you, Thank you, I'll be here all week. Don't forget to tip your wait staff.
I look forward to another 2 lanes being added to I-69. I-69 can never be wide enough. One day, the notion of streets will cease to be. The NE corridor will become one homogeneous paved lot dotted with superstores.
A backwater franchise town is EXACTLY what Indianapolis is. All the VisitIndy marketing in the world doesn't change it. That's reality. I laughed my tail off when the local yokels lined up to eat at Jack in the Box a few years ago. Places that have Jack in the Box refer to it as "Jack in the Crack" but it was new and corporate and all the Colts-jersey wearing free thinkers lined up to get their share of corporate chemicals. It's comical. Never has a place with so little thought of itself so highly.
Post a Comment