Open Thread

Do you think the BID was a good idea because of the added fees to the rents on Fulton St?

Do you think small business can survive on Fulton St with high rents??

I do think that the BID was a good idea despite added fees to rents because I find that already Fulton Street is a much nicer place to walk than it was even 10 months ago. The sidewalks are WAY cleaner, there are tons of new trees, and the whole feel of the street has been made more appealing. That will increase foot traffic to everyone’s business, high end, low end and in between. So no, I don’t think that the small businesses are going to go under because of the BID increases. I believe that the BID will increase business for everyone to easily offset the added monthly costs.

This all remains to be seen of course. But that is what I think is going to happen. Even the owner of the MET, who led the anti-BID forces last year, has come around on the concept and is now featured on the BID’s website. I think alot of the anti-BID sentiment came as a result of fear of the unknown and fear of change. Now that it has gone down and the street is so much nicer I think that most business owners have come around to the concept that this is not going to put them out of business.

Yes, Meltemi, dave. That’s it.

CGar, you just like Nico because it’s close to Noki!

Actually, I’ve been to Nico before and that’s exactly the kind of place I had in mind.

“I like the plain and simple Greek places. I just want a tasty kebab without the bells and whistles (re-write?).”

Biff, excellent, simple, less expensive, kebabs up the wazoo for you:
Niko’s (2161 Broadway @ 76th Street)
http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/nikos/

(You really should try Molyvos one day. I’ve been there a few times pre-theater — my non-blog BFF loves to order a bunch of appetizers, which we share, and they are more than enough for a meal.)