Letter to The Editor: Village Has Lost Its Way
Dear Editor:
What has happened to our Highland Park Village? There is nothing left there of any use to the residents of Highland Park.
The Tom Thumb grocery store was a hub of activity and attracted people that might browse in the other shops as well. High-end clothing and shoe stores are fine, but you seldom see any great number of people gathered in any of them, and I would suspect that sales are sporadic.
Celebrity Bakery is busy, but I understand they are moving to Oak Lawn. That leaves Deno’s shoe repair — at least they provide a service. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that they are not on the way out also.
The Royal Blue Grocery is a joke if it is to replace the grocery store in the Village. The shelves are not stocked with staples. The only thing I could see to buy was deli meat and bread, etc. They boast of tables to drink coffee and chat with friends. Most women don’t do that when they shop.
It seems to me that the “powers that be” maybe have shot themselves in the foot trying to be another “Rodeo Drive.” Bring back the Tom Thumb or a full-service grocery store.
Marguerite A. Pickens
Highland Park
These are the sentiments (Marguerite’s) of everyone I’ve heard speak over the past year or two. Highland Park Village is a thing of beauty, but a host of the finest stores look empty but for the sales persons. The mystery, I can only guess, emanates from somewhere deep in our epic tax codes.
The letter writer’s opinion is the general sentiment around the area. However, really no need to continue the whinging since the owner’s don’t care; which is completely fine. They paid gobs of money for the property and are more than free to stock it full of the trendiest, most expensive, ridiculous stores willing to pay ridiculous rent. The local hope is that these rich hipster stores that seem empty all the time will go out of business and allow more mainstream shops to return. Everything goes in cycles and while that’s possible, extremely doubtful at this location, and even if it is, not going to happen in the next 5-10 years.