CAMPUS AND AREA
University Daily Kansan, December 5. 1984
Merchants worry over loss of sales
Page 6
K.C., Topeka attract local shoppers
By TONY COX staff Reporter
Ying Mei Wang, Seoul, South Korea sophomore, and several of her friends plan to go to Christmas shopping this weekend. But they will drive 10 miles to Kansas City instead of an intimate trip to downtown Lawrence.
Why they make that long drive is what has been on the minds of city planners and business owners in Lawrence for many years.
When people go elsewhere to shop, the community loses tax revenues and jobs, and the local economy is harmed. Dean Palis, city county planer
A 1980 STUDY by Melinaphy and Associates, Inc. of Chicago showed that Lawrence was losing about 10 percent of its potential retail sales — then about $24.5 million a year — to outside markets. It also showed that Lawrence could support about 250,000 square feet of additional retail space and that the amount would increase.
The Melinaphy study is the most reliable done on the problem in Lawrence. Palos said recently.
"The data we have indicates that there is a problem. The city is losing
sures taxes to Kansas City and Topeka, "Palas said. "There is an opportunity for better retail services — a desire, a demand."
Art Cromer, executive vice president of GPK Inc., which runs Gibson's stores in Olathe, Junction City and Lawrence, said, "I think students that have more money and want to buy nicer clothes are going to go somewhere else by buythem."
Some businessmen see the problem differently, though. Garland White, store manager of J.C. Penney Co., Inc., 1801 W. 3rd, said, "As far as the availability of merchandise to buy, it's here in Lawrence, Kansas. The leakage is not because the merchandise isn't available.
"People are going to want to go to Kansas City for an outing. Lawrence can never offer the excitement of a Kansas City. There will never be a Kansas City in Lawrence. Kansas. There'll never be a Plaza in Lawrence. Kansas."
THE DOWNTOWN AREA, Lawrence's main business district, is beautiful but lacks a major, modern department store, he said. Comer said he thought Lawrence would be a better place to shop if it had some finer stores.
at the same price or lower. They do have the same shopping in Lawrence, but it's not as convenient as it would be if they had a mail."
BUT GARY TOEBREN, executive vice president of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, said Lawrence offered certain advantages to shoppers that couldn't be found in bigger cities. The specialty shops and the beauty of the downtown area make Lawrence unique, he said.
Ron Johnson, president of the Downtown Lawrence Association, said another advantage to Lawrence was that many shops were locally owned.
Cheryl Wagner, owner of Pendragon, 84 Massachusetts St., said. "There are a lot of nice touches, a lot of fun," she added. "If you think you can find in the big cities."
"When you go into a shop you'll see the owner working there. You'll see a familiar face, a friendly face to help you with things that see in Kansas City." he said.
"In Lawrence they'll sell any item
JOE FLANNERY, EXECUTIVE vice president of Weaver's Department Store, 901 Massachusetts St., said dollars from students were hard to keep in Lawrence.
often shopped there before coming to Lawrence.
He said students from Kansas City
"Students do the majority of their shopping at their homes where their resources are," he said.
But most agree Lawrence should pursue more retail stores.
Palos said, "The question is not if we need it, but where it should go."
The city has been actively trying to provide better retail services for the last five years by looking for a place to put a new retail space, Palas said.
The city has committed itself to develop downtown. In January, Lawrence signed Town Center Venture Corp. as its developer of record to build a downtown mall at Sixth and Massachusetts St.
"Downtown is the city's retail core.
It makes economic sense to keep it down."
The city has spent more than $20 million in downtown area improve-ments.
Last month, the City Commission asked the city staff to prepare a letter of intent, subject to commission approval, to pursue a proposal for a shopping mall east of city hall on the riverfront.
"Our downtown is a symbol of what the community stands for, a community pride," he said.
ON CAMPUS
TODAY
THE SACRED ORDER OF Universal Love will meet at 7:30 a.m. on the hill below the Campanile and south of Memorial Stairway, where it will meet from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. in Walnut Room of the Kansas Union
THE DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS CLUB will meet from 7 to 11 p.m. in the Trail Room of the Union.
LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES will sponsor a brown bag lunch at noon in 109 Lippincott Hall.
THE SOLAR ENERGY CLUB will meet at 7 p.m. in the International Room of the Union.
SHEILA BAIL, counsel for Sen.
Robert Dole, will speak on
on women's issues and the 89th
at 7:30 p.m. in 104 Green
Hall
THE INTER-TRIBAL ALLIANCE will have a potluck dinner meeting at 6 p.m. in 308 Twente Hall.
A UNIVERSITY FORUM about "The Nicaraguan Elections in the Light of Nicaragua History" will be presented by Charles Stansifer, director of the Center for Latin American Studies. His speech will
FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR Miran
Hladnik will speak at the Slavic
Club meeting at 7 p.m. at the
Russian House, 114 Vernort St.
begin at 11:45 a.m. at Ecumenical Christian Ministries, 1204 Oread Ave.
TOMORROW
EPISCOPAL SERVICES will be at noon in Danforth Chapel on campus. Services are in Danforth every Thursday at noon.
THE LATIN AMERICAN SOLIDARITY rice and beans dinner will begin at 6 p.m. at Ecumenical Christian Ministries. The educational vigil will begin at 7:30 p.m. on the southeast corner of Ninth and Massachusetts streets.
SUA CHAMPIONS will meet from 7 to 11 p.m. in the Trail Room of the Union.
MARANATHA CHRISTIAN
Ministries will have its weekly
meeting at 7 p.m. in room 301 of
the Frank R. Burge Union.
SMALL WORLD will meet at 9:15 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 2415 W. 23rd St.
THE GAY AND LESBIAN Services of Kansas are having officer elections and a general assembly meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the Oread Room of the Kansas Union.
THE PUBLIC RELATIONS Student Society of America is meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Jayhawk Room of the Union.
J. Watson's
Billiards • Beer • Music • Games
FREE POOL 12-4
HAPPY HOUR 4-6
Hillcrest Shopping Center
9th St.
ASSOCIATED STUDENTS OF KANSAS What has ASK done for YOU?
- developed a state work-study program which was implemented in the Ks. Legislature.
- increase in the drinking age.
- persuaded Ks. Legislature to reject an increase in the drinking age.
- persuaded the Board of Regents to request funding from the Legislature for merit-pay increases to campus student workers.
Want to learn what ASK will do in the coming months?
Come and Find Out!
Wed., Dec. 5, 7:30 p.m.
Parlors B, C Level 5
Kansas Union
Fees for by Student Activity Fee
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$25 EYEGLASS COUPON
Present this coupon for big savings on any full pair of prescription eyeglasses (frame and lenses) of $44.95 or more. Invisible bifocals, ultra-thin cataract lenses, prescription sun lenses, designer frames and plastic lightweight lenses . . . that's just a sampling of our vast selection. We can fill your doctor's prescription. This coupon cannot be used in conjunction with any other optical promotion.
This Special does not include Boutique Frames. Some restrictions do apply. This offer good through December 8, 1984
EMPIRE 1.0-21.0.0
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