More than a dozen new retail outlets, restaurants and other merchants are expected to open locations in downtown Santa Monica this summer, which officials hope will fuel the Third Street Promenade and its more dormant side streets with new life.
One objection often raised in recent years regarding the Promenade and its surrounding streets is the increasing presence large corporate chains have in this area. City Hall officials struggle to control the mix of merchants, but some say that it is uncertain where the balance of businesses should be. After all, the corporate chains are the ones that have — and often bring in — the money.
So this week, Q-line wants to know, “What mix of businesses would you like to see on the Promenade and its surrounding areas? Should all businesses have equal access or should City Hall closely regulate the balance of independent owners and corporate chains?”
Call (310) 285-8106 with your responses by Friday at 5 p.m. We’ll print them in our weekend edition. Please limit your comments to a minute or less. It might help first to think about the wording of your response.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 13, 2004. Read the original PDF.