Highland Coffee Eclipsed

http://leoweekly.com/news/urban-outliers

Apparently, Urban Outfitters does not play well with others.

Wow. I hope Urban Outfitters has as much success as Blockbuster.

[Robin Garr]

Yeah, I wouldn't mind seeing a little pushback against both Urban Outfitters and the property owner about this.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/249270011851641/

pushback is happening here.

I'm a bit confused. Why do you start a "pushback" campaign on FB if you have a new neighbor who will likely bring loads more foot traffic right past your door? That seems a bit silly. If you don't have a legal leg to stand on with regard to signage, why antagonize the new guy until you see whether his presence actually IMPROVES your business? Also there seems to be a disconnect between "they're rude bullies" and "we can't get hold of them". Of course that could just be shoddy reporting.

Where is the other business that lost its signage in this, the Knit Nook?

It doesn't seem right that Urban Outfitters should be able to take all of the sign, without a new one being put up for the other businesses. The issue lies with the landlord though, who granted them the lease and gave them the signage.

Where is the other business that lost its signage in this, the Knit Nook?

I think the Knit Nook is out of business. It's now just UO and Highland Coffee.

As for the foot traffic issue, it looks like the main doors to UO are going to face Bardstown Road, so unless UO's customers already know about Highland Coffee, many are unlikely to discover it. This strikes me as more than just arrogance--it's just bad business. HC is in no way a rival to UO and the two businesses should actually complement each other.

[Robin Garr]

HC is in no way a rival to UO and the two businesses should actually complement each other.

I think that's a point here. UO is exhibiting the kind of greed-trumps-all corporate behavior that prompts many of us to prefer the neighborhood style of local business that has long made the Highlands special. If UO isn't willing to act like a neighbor, it's hard for me to see why we should welcome them, or spend our money there, or encourage our friends to give them any business.

I'm a bit confused. Why do you start a "pushback" campaign on FB if you have a new neighbor who will likely bring loads more foot traffic right past your door? That seems a bit silly. If you don't have a legal leg to stand on with regard to signage, why antagonize the new guy until you see whether his presence actually IMPROVES your business? Also there seems to be a disconnect between "they're rude bullies" and "we can't get hold of them". Of course that could just be shoddy reporting.

It's not like that Urban Outfitters is the "hand that feeds". I think this is more about the principle on the right thing to do. I'm fairly sure that Highland Coffee doesn't need their new neighbor.

As for legality, you're correct. However, it is not illegal to be a bad neighbor. Push-back campaigns are not illegal either.

Rude bullies and not returning calls are not necessarily disconnected,

[Robin Garr]

It's not like that Urban Outfitters is the "hand that feeds". I think this is more about the principle on the right thing to do. I'm fairly sure that Highland Coffee doesn't need their new neighbor.

As for legality, you're correct. However, it is not illegal to be a bad neighbor. Push-back campaigns are not illegal either.

Rude bullies and not returning calls are not necessarily disconnected,

Where in the heck is the "LIKE" button?

It's not like that Urban Outfitters is the "hand that feeds".

I'm guessing you're wrong if (and IIRC) that parking lot belongs to the building. How many more patrons do you thing a trendy retailer will bring in vs Blockbusetr Video, a market segment that died years and years ago? I would expect the number of cars parked in that lot to go up 1000% or more. And you know hipsters loves themselves some java.

I guess my question is how was HC using the sign to begin with? Did they have a term in their lease related to the sign? And if not, why not?

I would think that HC and Knit Nook had some sort of agreement in order to be on the sign in the first place, not sure why that isnt still valid.

I guess my question is how was HC using the sign to begin with? Did they have a term in their lease related to the sign? And if not, why not?

I would think that HC and Knit Nook had some sort of agreement in order to be on the sign in the first place, not sure why that isnt still valid.

Rob,

It's not necessarily part of a standard lease to have free-standing signage. Our lease onlty had it as an inclusion because we insisted on it. I'm guessing that it was never in Highland Coffee's lease, even though the sign may have been there for as long as they've been in the building.

Dan,

I disagree that this will bring more patrons to HC- according to the article entrances are different directions. My daughter will shop at Urban but she and friends won't stay to have coffee. But that's really beside the point. Shame on the landlord for this deal. And shame on UO for insisting on it, and distributing fliers to HC employees to try to hire them- very bad PR for entering the Louisville market, much less not neighborly.

Deb

I guess my question is how was HC using the sign to begin with? Did they have a term in their lease related to the sign? And if not, why not?

I would think that HC and Knit Nook had some sort of agreement in order to be on the sign in the first place, not sure why that isnt still valid.

Rob,

It's not necessarily part of a standard lease to have free-standing signage. Our lease onlty had it as an inclusion because we insisted on it.

Gotcha. It was part of the last lease I signed, but that was in an office condo complex and they had very specific rules on external signage.

I just assumed* if the landlord had a sign out front, your space within that sign would be described within the lease.

*actually, I didnt, it never occurred to me to wonder about until this discussion.

I would expect the number of cars parked in that lot to go up 1000% or more. And you know hipsters loves themselves some java.

It's already hard to get a parking place any time I try to get coffee there. And even more hipsters? Oh no...