In my opinion, too much has been made about the windows and facade at Friedman's shoes. The owners run a good store and give plenty back to the community. That was enough for me to become a customer, and one purchase was all it took to earn my loyalty. For others, that wasn't enough, but now even they have no excuse.
That's because over the next week, Friedman's will replace all of their old glass with the windows you see here. The sign will also be refurbished - but no worries! The iconic Friedman's signage will stay; that's an institution in and of itself. The doorway will also be redone to include historic photos of the store throughout the decades. The redesign is being done by Hawthorne's leading resident architect Alissa Luepke Pier, and another Hawthorne business, Mitchell Construction, is handling the installation work.
It's the best of all possible outcomes. Everybody wins and the work to refurbish is kept local. So what are you waiting for? Get yourself some shoes already.
OH. MY. GOD. I love it! I love Friedman's, I love Anderson, I love Allissa, I love facade improvements - This is the most exciting news I've heard in a very long time! Congratulations Friedman's!!
ReplyDeleteThis is terrific! The investment will pay off many times over for Friedman's and W. Broadway as a whole.
ReplyDeleteI noticed, too, the new AutoZone going in across the street next to Family Dollar, also with new windows. I can't believe how much better windows make that strip mall look. Suddenly, that end of Broadway looks open for business!
Now if only the same thing could be achieved for Broadway between Girard and James...
Yes, with the operative word being open for BUSINESS.
ReplyDeleteFor me, the operative words are "AutoZone" and "windows."
ReplyDeleteI noticed the same thing about the windows at Auto Zone. What a difference that makes!
ReplyDeleteIt seems as though it would be common sense to open up the windows of your storefront.
ReplyDeleteFrom a marketing standpoint it allows customers to see your product and gives shop owners the opportunity to set up attractive displays that lure those customers in. From a crime and safety perspective it allows the public to see what is going on inside and discourages robbery and theft. It also discourages thugs from hanging around outside the store to do illicit activities.
I worked for several years as a manager at 7-11 Stores (rated for years as one of the most dangerous jobs in America) and one of the basic tenants of their crime prevention policy was to keep those front windows clear of obstructions.
If every shop along Broadway took this approach we would have a much healthier business district.
Commentary on this blog post can be found here. Thanks, Jeff, for reporting on this small but tremendously important piece of neighborhood news.
ReplyDeletehttp://adventuresofjohnnynorthside.blogspot.com/2012/03/mission-accomplished-friedmans-shoe.html