Walking Means Dollars on Cooper Street
By Idil Issak and Miriam Hegner /MicroMemphis reporters
April 29, 2012
Is business really better on Cooper Street?
The numerous businesses that have moved to Cooper Street in the last few months, such as Mulan, Massage Works, Young Avenue Glassworks, seem to thinks so.
And Burkes Book was one of the first to make that crucial move five years ago, that would save the business that was struggling in its previous location on Poplar Avenue.
Despite having been in business for a hundred years and having outlasted larger chains like, Borders and Bookstar that have recently closed their doors, Burke's nearly found itself heading in the same direction. Until the stores' owners Cheryl and Corey Mesler made a timely move to Cooper Young, in hopes of saving their business.
The change was drastic and why? Because unlike Poplar Avenue, Cooper Street has foot traffic. As a dining destination with very little parking, visitors often find themselves strolling down the street and more often than not the take the time to explore the shops along the way. Explorations that lead to business.
Co-owner Cheryl Mesler says " There is so much foot traffic in this neighborhood... it's a good thing that in a fast pass world you can come in, you can slow down, you can look at the shelves and pick up something that you might not have seen otherwise."
What are some of the factors that make Cooper more business viable than Poplar?
" When we came over here obviously we were able to cut our expenses and we got foot traffic." Mesler says.
Learn more about "walkability" and what it means to community, not just business, in Cooper-Young.
April 29, 2012
Is business really better on Cooper Street?
The numerous businesses that have moved to Cooper Street in the last few months, such as Mulan, Massage Works, Young Avenue Glassworks, seem to thinks so.
And Burkes Book was one of the first to make that crucial move five years ago, that would save the business that was struggling in its previous location on Poplar Avenue.
Despite having been in business for a hundred years and having outlasted larger chains like, Borders and Bookstar that have recently closed their doors, Burke's nearly found itself heading in the same direction. Until the stores' owners Cheryl and Corey Mesler made a timely move to Cooper Young, in hopes of saving their business.
The change was drastic and why? Because unlike Poplar Avenue, Cooper Street has foot traffic. As a dining destination with very little parking, visitors often find themselves strolling down the street and more often than not the take the time to explore the shops along the way. Explorations that lead to business.
Co-owner Cheryl Mesler says " There is so much foot traffic in this neighborhood... it's a good thing that in a fast pass world you can come in, you can slow down, you can look at the shelves and pick up something that you might not have seen otherwise."
What are some of the factors that make Cooper more business viable than Poplar?
" When we came over here obviously we were able to cut our expenses and we got foot traffic." Mesler says.
Learn more about "walkability" and what it means to community, not just business, in Cooper-Young.
Miriam Hegner/ MicroMemphis reporter
Miriam Hegner covers Development/ Residential/ Businiess for Micromemphis.
You can send her story ideas here.
Follow her on twitter ( @MiriamHegner ).
Idil Issak/ MicroMemphis reporter
Idil Issak covers Development/ Residential/ Business for Micromemphis.
You can send her story ideas here.
Floow her on Twitter ( @idilissak ).