Archive for October, 2010
Congratulations to the 2010 Downtown Impact Award Winners!
Oct 15th
Congratulations to Nebraska Rural Electric Association, WRK LLC, Monte Froehlich, Lincoln is a Music City, Tafe and Davide Bergo, Mayor Chris Beutler and Dick Campbell on their Downtown Impact Awards today!
Check out the DLA website for video interviews and photos!
Retail Split Widens Between Luxury, Value
Oct 12th
GlobeSt.com’s article “Retail Split Widens Between Luxury, Value” stated the biggest trend for retailers now is shoppers are choosing either luxury or value type stores leaving the middle-level retailers in the dust. One such mid-level retailer, Talbot’s, recently announced that it will be closing approximately 100 stores and launching an outlet format to combat this trend.
Another trend noted in the article is that fast-food restaurants are doing better than mid-level sit-down restaurants - a trend we noted in an earlier post. That statement is particularly evident in the Lincoln market with the success and expansion of many fast-food restaurants such as Jimmy John’s, Mr. Goodcents, Qdoba, to name a few.
To read the full article, click here.
Planning Commission OKs Proposal for CVS at 27th and Old Cheney
Oct 7th
Despite some opposition to the proposal for a development that includes a new CVS Pharmacy on the NWC of 27th & Old Cheney, the Planning Commission approved the zoning change from office to retail oriented. The zoning changes allows Assurity Life Insurance Co. to tear down the office building on the corner to make room for a 13,300-square-foot CVS and an attached 8,500-square-foot retail building. An 11,700-square-foot retail and office combo building would be built later with an 8,700-square-foot office building being the final piece.
The proposal will now go in front of the City Council in 2 1/2 weeks. To read the full Journal Star article, click here.
Lincoln Ranks #3 for Best Cities to Raise a Family
Oct 7th
Parents magazine ranked Lincoln #3 on the list of best cities to raise a family. Scottsdale, AZ and Fort Wayne, IN came first and second respectively. Some of the factors they considered were affordable housing, safety, good neighbors, access to pediatricians and parks.
To read the full article, click here. (Source: journalstar.com and Parents Magazine)
Obama Signs $30B Small Business Loan Law
Oct 5th
President Obama signed into law a $30 billion loan find for small business. The law also provides $12 billion in tax breaks and tries to improve existing loans to small businesses that are backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
According to a Realtor.org article “The $30B Small Business Loan Law in Perspective : Speaking of Real Estate”, one concern that National Association of Realtors members have voiced, is that local community banks are not participating in the SBA loan program. In Lincoln, however, we have been approached by a number of local area banks who are ready to help small businesses get the financing they need. So we would encourage any small business looking to expand or buy a building, to look into the SBA program.
To read the full Realtor.org article, click here.
Target Actively Opening New Stores
Oct 5th
Though it is not expanding at the pace it has in recent years, mega retailer Target is still very active by opening 10 new stores in 2010 and renovating their 9 distribution centers across the U.S. To read the full article, click here. (Source: rebusinessonline.com)
