[John_W]

Yesterday while at Jersey Mike's in front of Target getting my sub fix, while in line the manager asked me, where you headed next. I said to the MVP gym, he said over here next to Gator's Dockside. I said no, they opened another MVP at Brownwood, and there is also a new Gator's Dockside at Brownwood.

He said we talked to The Villages about putting a store at Brownwood, and they said how much space do you need, I told them 1200 sf, we don't need a lot. They said for the time being, they aren't renting out anything under 2000 sf. Then they asked about Pinellas Plaza, and they were told that Subway is already there and has a non-compete clause.

Sounds like TV has some funny business practices turning down a successful franchise that would bring a lot of foot traffic. I hope they can get into the new Publix shopping center before Subway.

Also, I noticed that 'Outback' had a sign 'now open everyday at 11am', so you don't have to wait until the weekend to get lunch there.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by John_W

Yesterday while at Jersey Mike's in front of Target getting my sub fix, while in line the manager asked me, where you headed next. I said to the MVP gym, he said over here next to Gator's Dockside. I said no, they opened another MVP at Brownwood, and there is also a new Gator's Dockside at Brownwood.

He said we talked to The Villages about putting a store at Brownwood, and they said how much space do you need, I told them 1200 sf, we don't need a lot. They said for the time being, they aren't renting out anything under 2000 sf. Then they asked about Pinellas Plaza, and they were told that Subway is already there and has a non-compete clause.

Sounds like TV has some funny business practices turning down a successful franchise that would bring a lot of foot traffic. I hope they can get into the new Publix shopping center before Subway.

Also, I noticed that 'Outback' had a sign 'now open everyday at 11am', so you don't have to wait until the weekend to get lunch there.

That's too bad, since there are so many empty storefronts at Brownwood. Also, Carrabba's opened for lunch sometime last year. In MI it was only open for lunch on Sunday. And Outback never was. I used to like their coconut shrimp.

[raynan]

That's too bad because we love Jersey Mikes.
Nancy

[l2ridehd]

I would suggest that Subway is really not competition for Jersey Mike's. I like Mike's but probably will never go in Subway.

[NottaVillager]

A non-compete contract is not at all unusual in this kind of situation. As far as space in Brownwood I'm not really surprised by that. They are looking to get absolute top dollar for the commercial space. The GM of WVLG told me that originally they intended for the radio station to have a studio in Brownwood just as they do at SS & LSL, but because the rental space was so valuable the Morse organization changed their mind and was not going to put one in because of the value of the space.

[KathieI]

Non-compete clauses are very common amongst the large chains. There was a small, privately owned coffee kiosk in a parking lot next to LAX and along comes a new Starbucks in the building next door and literally put them out of business. They had been there for probably 20 years or more but in order to stay in business, they changed over to yogurt and eventually went belly up. When I asked the owner why she changed over to frozen yogurt, she said it was a non-compete from Starbucks that even though she was the original store there, it didn't matter, the landlord gave in.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by KathieI

Non-compete clauses are very common amongst the large chains. There was a small, privately owned coffee kiosk in a parking lot next to LAX and along comes a new Starbucks in the building next door and literally put them out of business. They had been there for probably 20 years or more but in order to stay in business, they changed over to yogurt and eventually went belly up. When I asked the owner why she changed over to frozen yogurt, she said it was a non-compete from Starbucks that even though she was the original store there, it didn't matter, the landlord gave in.

This is an example of a business becoming too big for its britches, throwing its weight around and bashing the little guys all around them. What earthly difference would it make to them if some little mom & pop outfit sells coffee? They can't possibly do damage to Starbucks. They used to be a small mom & pop themselves, and now they are big and arrogant and only look at the bottom line and go out of their way to run every little local coffee shop out of town. I hate this. I won't buy from them. They have demonstrated poor ethics.

And don't tell me these corporations have to do this so their stockholders will make money. Hogwash. Plenty of businesses are more ethically run and still make a profit.

Remember, it was the greedy robber barons who gave rise to unions.

[Steve & Deanna]

Non-compete clause, that's what cable tv companies have.....if you know what I mean.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by CFrance

This is an example of a business becoming too big for its britches, throwing its weight around and bashing the little guys all around them. What earthly difference would it make to them if some little mom & pop outfit sells coffee? They can't possibly do damage to Starbucks. They used to be a small mom & pop themselves, and now they are big and arrogant and only look at the bottom line and go out of their way to run every little local coffee shop out of town. I hate this. I won't buy from them. They have demonstrated poor ethics.

And don't tell me these corporations have to do this so their stockholders will make money. Hogwash. Plenty of businesses are more ethically run and still make a profit.

Remember, it was the greedy robber barons who gave rise to unions.

That is just how it works kiddo. Businesses have to be tough to succeed. It isn't wrong, just competitive. It also saves all of the jobs for the folks who work for that business. It's no baby game. When you are in competition, then you have to be ready to compete. It isn't greed. It is just how business works. If you ran the mall, and you turned down a big name like Starbucks to be nice, you'd be lookin' for work.

[NottaVillager]

Non-competes are pretty standard in retail leasing. It has NOTHING to do with "the big boys throwing their weight around". In many ways it has to do with who gets there first. If Mom & Pops sub shop was the first one there, they could have it too. You also pay a lease premium for that kind of protection. It also helps the person leasing the property. If you have a strip property and somebody opens up a sub shop, then somebody else opens up another sub shop and then somebody else opens yet another one..no matter how you dice it..there will only be so much customer traffic and instead on one successful sub shop who's succeeding and paying his rent, you wind up with 3 shops who are barely making it..or NOT making it, and the strip owner's the loser when they bail out.

They are also very common when a business sells out to a new owner. If for example you own an Italian restaurant and you decide to sell it, there will almost always be a non-compete agreement, so you can't sell your business to a new owner, and then open up a brand new Italian restaurant just a block down the street from the guy you sold it to and compete against him.

There's nothing sinister about it. It has nothing to do with "robber barons". It has nothing to do with the "big boys" throwing their weight around. It has EVERYTHING to do with smart business practices.

[NottaVillager]

Originally Posted by Steve & Deanna

Non-compete clause, that's what cable tv companies have.....if you know what I mean.

No. I don't know what you mean. Cable companies have non-competes because they are considered by law to be the same as any other UTILITY like the water company & the electric company. Most people don't know that they can attend the government meetings where the municipal franchise agreements are awarded and can speak at those meetings pro or con. You have to be involved and KNOW which municipality awards the cable franchise whether it be town, city or county government. Any municipality can revoke the cable company's franchise if the citizens make their case for revocation, or for not awarding the franchise in the first place.

[NYGUY]

I totally agree with all the business reason, but I would still like to see a Jersey Mike's south of 466A!!

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

That is just how it works kiddo. Businesses have to be tough to succeed. It isn't wrong, just competitive. It also saves all of the jobs for the folks who work for that business. It's no baby game. When you are in competition, then you have to be ready to compete. It isn't greed. It is just how business works. If you ran the mall, and you turned down a big name like Starbucks to be nice, you'd be lookin' for work.

They have to be tough, but they don't have to squash everyone around them in the interest of more and more profit. No reason not to let the little guy be in KathieI's example. They couldn't possibly eat into Starbuck's profits enough to harm them.

There ARE ethical companies who don't pound their competitors into the ground. My husband worked for one.

[Bonny]

Originally Posted by John_W

Yesterday while at Jersey Mike's in front of Target getting my sub fix, while in line the manager asked me, where you headed next. I said to the MVP gym, he said over here next to Gator's Dockside. I said no, they opened another MVP at Brownwood, and there is also a new Gator's Dockside at Brownwood.

He said we talked to The Villages about putting a store at Brownwood, and they said how much space do you need, I told them 1200 sf, we don't need a lot. They said for the time being, they aren't renting out anything under 2000 sf. Then they asked about Pinellas Plaza, and they were told that Subway is already there and has a non-compete clause.

Sounds like TV has some funny business practices turning down a successful franchise that would bring a lot of foot traffic. I hope they can get into the new Publix shopping center before Subway.

Also, I noticed that 'Outback' had a sign 'now open everyday at 11am', so you don't have to wait until the weekend to get lunch there.

I talked to Joanie who owns Square 1 Burgers. She wanted to be on the square at Brownwood but was told she can't because there was already a burger place there. (Which would be 5 Guys). If one of us had a burger place, we would not want another burger place next door to compete with. It's just the way it is.

[Waverunner]

The part of this story that I like is that John W was getting a sub BEFORE heading off to MVP!