Portland, Tennessee Blog

Yes, the donut shop closed. They probably would have lasted longer if Sunday School participants would have offered to pay for donuts instead of the usual 'donate it to get the word out about your business and maybe one day we'll actually buy' mentality so prevalent these days.

Did the donut shop shut down or did it move? I noticed the building was vacant. They probably would have done more business if they had been somewhere with a drive thru.

Personally I am very happy about the gym opening in Portland. I currently have a membership at World Gym in Gallatin that I never put to use b/c of the drive.

There was an article in one of the local papers about the gym. I can't believe there is going to be a sauna in each of the locker rooms...that is AWESOME. I guess that means that if you are competition to the gym, then you are going to have to step up your game!!! LOL

P.S. I am in NO WAY affiliated with the Hardins or any thing to do with any businesses in Portland. I just want to clarify that b/c I don't want to start a "catfight".

I have been into Beach House on 5 or 6 occaisions and in my opinion, they need some competition to raise their standards. If this new business drives them out, then maybe it will be because they are serving their customers better. It seems a lot of people open retail businesses with absolutely no idea what good customer service is. If you just hire warm, bodies at minimum wage (or family members with no experience and no motivation because they're related to the owner) and you do not train them on how to give prompt, courteous and knowlegeable service, people will go eslewhere. Beach House is by far not the only local business with this problem. ON the positive side, Portland does have a lot of local businesses that are well run and customer friendly. Their patronage speaks for them.

Hey, How about a Denny's Diner, I think that would fit into this town perfectly, no liquor, no beer, so that issue wouldn't be a factor. We ate at one this past weekend on our way to Indiana. Kind of like the ole style diner look and feel, I think they now stay closely related to the interstates so maybe we could coax them to the portland side of the interstate which isn't far, I've traveled up to 2.5 miles from the interstate when traveling to stop at places I like to eat at, and it would still be close enough for us the residents to visit without traveling much distance.

I also see Quizno's (I think that is how you spell it, if not forgive me) is going to open out at the 52/31 corner, they will be in with Godfathers Pizza at the gas station. Godfathers has some awesome Pizza Pockets, kinda like a calzone.

MG
Thank you for your suspecting compliment, I would be honored if I currently were or previously was a councilman but there is no truth to that statement. FEMALE, Mother of 2 & Grandma to 6 beautiful grandchildren. Many times in your posts you have told others including myself to stick to factual information.... shame on you.

Thanks MG, whoever you are, for sticking up for me. Yes, I was just being conversational. I love the fact that Portland now has a gym! I can't wait to check it out myself. I hope it works out great for the Hardin family. I also like the idea of having internet cafe' and tanning all in one building. Good luck, and may the citizens of Portland support this new business.

Cant we all just get along????
:)

JAS,

I don't know where you keep getting all that.

Are you actually a current/former councilman? Just curious. Word on the street is that you are.

LOL @ MG
Are you having yet ANOTHER bad day & have a burrr that's irritating and need someone to argue with....

Concerned,

I think Lori was being conversational. I think her remarks were not meant to be anything else. I think her followup correctly states how I took ever word she wrote. It was good of you to clarify the information, but I think your attack was unmerited.

I would caution you, however, on too much information on businesses on this site. If JAS reads your post, you will be told that what you are doing is advertising, and you will be scrutinized over it all publicly.

Concerned,

MEOW! Why the harsh words? I wasn't being negative, in fact, if you had read correctly, you would have understood that I was, and still am, happy to see a gym in Portland! It was rude of you to say anything about getting facts straight. I simply stated what I had HEARD. I am thrilled for Mr. Hardin for getting this gym going in Portland, and believe I wished him well in my post! I am sure that his facility is very nice, and I sincerely hope it does great here!!!

Lori,
B4 posting about fees and what not, get your facts correct. Xtreme is 29.99/mo and $9.99 for each addtional family member or you can prepay the whole year and 24.99/mo and 9.99 for each addtional family member. I think this is a very price compared to other place and gas prices. I went into the facility Saturday and was very impressed. I hope the people of Portland will make use of this place as it will be 24 hrs.

I am happy to see a gym in Portland, period. But, I am currently a member at Harvey's gym in Franklin Kentucky. I would love to switch, and stay in Portland, but I hear the membership fee is $30.00 a month per person. I only pay $37.50 a month for family. I hope families can get some sort of a discount. I think this new business will help Portland, and I certainly wish the Hardin good luck.

Agreed.

From the grammar and spelling he used, I kinda discounted the post from him too. Most COOs know how to spell, or at a minimum, use Word.

Mr. King,

I will try to be respectful, here. I read your post more than once. I see the responses and the reactions from some on this blog. I suppose I am skeptical of your claims, and I would just like to get some substantive proof that you are a COO. I have my doubts about your story and claims, and I would be glad to elaborate on those, if requested. I do, however, understand what you are trying to say.

Mr. King,

You are a COO of a Fortune 500 company. Which one? Where are you originally from? Where were you formally educated?

Just curious.

Congrats and welcome to the new business, I hope it is very successful! I am writing to comment on the entry by Jim King.

I think a lesson could be learned from this entry. Prospective businesses do research and do read the town newspapers, visit the businesses, and yes, read this blog.

More times than not entries on here are spiteful, anger-filled and sometimes downright embarassing (as it is a reflection of the town!). You, your family, your work place, this town, etc.

I love this blog and enjoy reading it. It can be very helpful and fun to partake. However, think, granted freedom of speech is a wonderful thing, please keep in mind what you say is reflection of many things!!!!!

Please, everyone, keep blogging! But remember, many are reading and some may be prospective businesses and people thinking about making this their home as well!!!!

If a business has loyal customers and treats them well they will stick by them, if Beach House values their customers perhaps they will look at some issues they may face and see if they can overcome them in advance.

I know when I go back to my old stomping grounds where there is every restauraunt you can think of at your fingertips the first place I visit is a little hole in the wall sub shop where the service is Fantastic and the subs are out of this world, owned and operated by the same people for over 40 years! Might I add that several franchise sub places have tried to make it near by but were never able to crack the devoted patrons of this little mom & pop shop! So it isn't always the bigger businesses that survive.

I have read comments here for the last 6 months and the fortune 500 company I work for was planning locating around Portland Tn. for the
I-65 interchange, yes Orlinda would have been Included in this under taking.

Before we expand in city/town we read local papers and a blog if one is offer also do some shopping in the area, Will all was done and the company has decided to move closer to Nashville.
Final report:

Was the city blog seems to show much anger in the city with city hall, we also graded on the beer board member in overalls?

Beer sale on Sundays should have pass this is hurting your town, since so many do sell on Sunday. My personal advise pass it.

One shopper went to a local resturant and the manager was talking to all the other employees about her divorce and the ex was this. More than once. Our employees have kids and we felt this was improper, since that was discuss so lengthy.

I was in your city for 2 weeks you have a nice town.

Jim King
Chief Operation Officer

Why is it suprising that this new business will offer more services than just a solo tan/gym/coffe house? Isn't that what Beach house has tried to do as well? They promote many different services..I don't think this will run anyone out of business if their business is done right,but honestly, I am surprised they have lasted as long as they have..they are a tad bit more pricey on tanning and right across town you can tan at Captain Video or Movie Gallery for less..I do have a complaint about the parking available there..the times I have attempted to stop there,I have found no parking..at least no legal parking. So i think it may not prosper becuase of its own faults,not because of someone else's perks.

It is basic business. Marketing 101, actually, as someone who has a degree in business and experience in economic development. There is only a pie so big. If we continue to get businesses who are simply the next version of an existing one, then eventually the public may not be able to sustain both. Net gain: zero. You get one business and lose another. No one is guaranteed a business idea without challenges, and no comments I posted even remotely meant that. My question is simple: what is it that you think you are actually gaining?

Example: If you bring in a Starbucks, and shut down local ownership, you still get a cup of coffee, but the wealth flows out of town, and your economy is not strengthened.

If you build distributor warehouses and employ out-of-towners, the money leaves. If those same distributors buy their goods out of town, then more leaves. If tax breaks and incentives brought them to town, then you have funded a negative economic picture. This is happening globally to the U.S. and locally.

We need a net gain, economically, not a breakeven or loss.

Tax revenues and employment are all tied to this. When the school systems send their business out of town, then local revenues are lessened, taxes collected fall short, and taxes then have to be raised to make up the difference. This is, however, not the only scenario.

When you state on this thread that you spend most of your money out of town at Walmart on groceries, then you do harm to the local economy, the city, and the school system. Revenues on local sales fall, and improvement projects cannot be done to bring more buyers to the local market. It is a cycle.

Of course, then children are sent in to the local businesses to ask for donations because the schools do not have funds, and the local business owners are therefore asked to fund the cycle and take it on the chin.

I agree with ara. Why would one business run Beach House out?

Further more every time I drive by that place I never know what they are, started I think with Tanning, then coffee, then smoothies, then ice cream, then tuxedos, then bathing suites, then obvious controversy over who's parking spaces are who's. I guess any one that considers dealing in retail on any of those things would be considered infringing on Beach House's monopoly.... I don't think so! Competition is healthy, isn't that what they taught us when we were little. Besides that have you ever tried entering and exiting that parking lot?? My #1 reason I have not returned there.

I think I'm starting to draw a picture here.... all the small businesses in this town don't want us to prosper & grow because they might have someone to compete with....... and here we are blaming the city for no growth!!

Personally I think the combination of the 3 businesses in this one location will work great together, you go for a work out, do a little tanning, and then relax with a cup of hot coffee or a smoothie all in one place. Sounds like a smart business plan to me.

Why would this one business run Beach House out?
Is there not more than one place to tan in Portland? Is there not more than one place to buy coffee? I have been in Beach House but did not find it very welcomeing but that does not mean that others feel the same.I think if it dies there may be more behind it. I am not bashing Beach House in any way.I am glad to see another place come along. We should have more than one choice!

This is ONE BUSINESS, with three facets. NOT three businesses. I find it interesting that they are promoting three.

Now, as to the "support local" part of this and the "isn't it great" aspect, don't you find it questionable that people will support coffee and tanning at this location, and leave behind a good business like Beach House? Originally, this new place was not going to compete with Beach House, and all of a sudden they changed their tactics.

So, although a business is opening, it is at the expense of others. Is that good economic development? So, let's go to your last question of "can Portland keep a business". Obviously, it can if it loses others. Is that acceptable to you?

This is the type of thing Portland needs.

I will be utilizing the weight and excercise equipment.

Good luck, let support these people and show that Portland can keep business/