Store block on 9 Ave. latest victims of rising rents

The eastern side of Ninth Avenue between 17th and 18th streets, where Chelsea meets the Meatpacking District, has ‹ until now ‹ withstood the crosscurrents of change in the area.It is a place where low-income... more »

Southern food hits the spot, not the wallet

In the midst of monotonous franchises and high-priced Manhattan menus, it's sometimes difficult to find a restaurant that has a passion for its food, customers and ambiance at a reasonable price.But search hard enough, and... more »

‘A Place to Come and Relax’

He wasn't sure about the colorful garden decor or the floral-scented air, but when my 4-year-old son laid eyes on the Fluffernutter, he was sold on Granlund's Restaurant and Gift Shop in Yucaipa.What, you might... more »

Some unique Fifth Avenue stores appear on the way out

They're in limbo, and it's not the dancing kind.When four retail shops on Fifth Avenue South received their lease renewals this year, there was an unpleasant surprise: a 90-day termination clause added to the one-year... more »

Retailers’ Struggles Mean Lean Times at the Mall

Weak consumer spending is pushing struggling retailers close to or over the edge, and that is starting to hurt shopping-mall owners.The latest retail casualty is Linens 'n Things Inc., a 500-store home-accessory chain, which is... more »

The Blue Heron sweetens downtown Winneconne

Winneconne - Downtown Winneconne got a little bit sweeter when Lori Hecker opened The Blue Heron gift and coffee shop and ice cream parlor at 144 W. Main St.Her corner shop is filled with gifts,... more »

Where are all the people?…Traffic down, sales down, what’s up?

The Commons is known as Ithaca's hub of constant activity. Couples stroll with warm coffees in their hand. Old friends sit down for a game of chess. Cars glide and stop around downtown's border. And... more »

Wacky Stores, Wild Success

It came as quite the surprise.When she was ready to open the second location of her store, 5 Wacky Women, in Baltimore, Aimee Smith already knew the clientele would be different from the one she... more »

What tips can you offer to maintain a clean and efficient back room?

Gail Markert of Markert Group Consulting Gail Markert of Markert Group Consulting 615.292.7819 MarkertGroupConsulting.com Giving some thought to your retail storage area can pay off in big dividends later. When you think how often you... more »

Mother Daughter Duos

The Colorado Connection The El Rancho Trading Post gift shop is just 20 miles west of Denver, but it might as well be a world apart. The store operates inside a rustic log cabin in... more »