Portland, Tennessee Blog

Daniel

I just read your posting about the factories in Portland --- what benefit does Portland get by having all those factories here? If that is true it seems to me that they are just a drain on our resources -- water, for one.

I don't know anything about the business of things in Portland, but I just assumed they hired mostly local people........they don't ????

Maybe they hope that more people will move here and buy homes and become tax payers....is that the benefit ?

I wish I knew more about what's behind the scenes here in Portland.

A lot of people have to leave town to purchase adult novelties and porn.

How long will we have to wait for that to change?

MG - Why am I not surprised to find your post behind mine.

As for your first two paragraphs... lets just say I think you need a new pair of glasses.

Yes I did say Portland has no place to shop, only about 20% of my spending is done in our town simply because, other than Grocery and Drug Stores there is not sufficient businesses to keep more of my money at home and this angers me. But I do support Portland Businesses where I can.

My Living Room Set was purchased from a prior Portland furniture store.
3 Bedroom sets Purchased at Portland Quality Bedding
Dining Room Furniture from Kelley's Furniture
Over $300. this yr at Factory connection for granddaughters school clothes
Over $500. each summer for pool supplies & Plants at Edisons
Over $150 each mo for RX at Freds
I visit our grocery stores daily, as I prefer to cook fresh not frozen unless we are dining out.
I guess I do spend more than I thought in Portland, but I'm a shop-aholic... LOL
Hubby is glad I have limited retailers at my fingertips ;))

I could of gone to Rivergate, but I will shop Portland first when Portland can meet my need.

What I dislike more is when a business up and moves like studio16a and everybody points the finger at the people in Portland or yet, that another like business will drive them out (like Beach House). There are many reasons why businesses don't make it, whether it be, change in trends, lack of good business planning, lack of advertising, the business doesn't fit the town, insufficient business start up capital, poor location/exposure/access, over priced merchandise, poor management, or even family matters, all of these the entrepreneur must take responsibility for, and then there is lack of local support, I don't think the people of this town will intentionally drive 25 miles to buy a like item if they can get the same thing right in their own back yard at a cost within reason. This stands true for retail as well as restaurants and service businesses.

Almost every post I read about studio16a is blaming portland residents because they had to leave....... I don't know that much about that business, I know who the owner is, my kids are grown with families of their own so I don't have much need for sporting goods & apparel. If it isn't the people of Portland then you all need to stop beating around the bush blaming us for this business relocating.

JAS,

I don't know who you are, but you are at least consistent. You are down on everyone who posts to this blog, no matter what the subject is.

You claim to be for Portland, but so many of your comments seem to prove you either don't get out much in your own home town, or you have a serious disconnect from it. You accuse others of bashing, when a simple read of your words is often filled with namecalling and negative editorials. You often also contradict yourself in various posts, which says to me that you have trouble understanding what it written, forming clear arguments, and sticking to factual information rather than superlatives.

TEB's comments were simply a list to show that Portland DOES have opportunities for shoppers, even though you admit in earlier postings in this thread that you do not know of anything. TEB's list was not meant to be exhaustive.

As to TEB's comments on Studio16a, what is wrong with that? TEB is simply stating her opinion. It may surprise you to know that many out here shopped there, and it is a shame to see it go.

TEB - another advertiser for a now out of state business.

Nice list you provided,
amazing you only elaborated on one..
I posted it below..
of course with slight modifications.

Here's 2 to add to YOUR list
Newspapers/Advertising = Portland Leader
Newspapers/Advertising = Portland Progressive
thought maybe you might need them ;)

Sporting goods: You all just screwed that up and lost_ _ _. They moved to _ _ _, that's where we all spend our money anyway.
Activities for kids: _ _ _, but that's the reason they had to leave, like all other things that have tried to be geared towards kids that's not sports.

There are places in Portland, open your eyes!!! Clothing: Factory Connection
Restaurants: Main Street Cafe, or Five Chefs
Groceries: IGA, Food Lion, H.G. Hills
Pharmacies: Pharmacy Express, CVS, Freds, Village Drugs, and I heard Walgreen's is coming (like we need any more pharmacies).
Building supplies: Ace Hardware, Portland Builders.
Salons: too many to list.
Check cashing places: too many to list.
Florists/gift shops: at least 6 to 10 places.
Fast foods: look around, you'll see plenty.
Sporting goods: You all just screwed that up and lost Studio16a. They moved to Franklin, that's where we all spend our money anyway.
Activities for kids: Studio16a, but that's the reason they had to leave, like all other things that have tried to be geared towards kids that's not sports.
Photography: Martha's and Melissa's, but you just lost one of those, too, lack of support.

If we want things to stay in Portland, open our eyes and shop where we have, or we will have nothing.

Like most people we buy most things elsewhere. We probably buy @ <5% of items in Portland. Groceries/drug items/clothing- Franklin,KY; we use NetFlix to rent DVD's; electronics/appliances/etc. either Bowling Green or Rivergate. Forget eating out here! If we want to have a nice dinner we go to Gallatin or Rivergate.

Sadly, I have to admit that my shopping habits are 95% somehwere else. I was excited when we got IGA thinking that the prices of groceries there would be good,but I was quite disappointed, I still come out much cheaper in Franklin.I like the pharmacy at Fred's,but I do not like to shop there because every item I need they are out of..so many shelves are empty and stay empty for weeks before they restock..Dollar General & Food Lion are nightmares to shop at because of the lines..the main reason I don't shop at either is because of the ridiculous lines! I mean come on! I waited in line 20 minutes to buy cat litter one day at Food Lion! only 1 cashier open and 3 other employees were standing at the office area staring at the customers. I don't have time nor the patience to stand in line that long. I enjoy going to Wal-mart because they carry almost everything I want or need and I don't have to go to place to place looking for it and I can go during the day and get in and out quickly. I try to avoid going on the weekends because it becomes quite packed! Everyone must love walmart :)

Portland has NO place to shop and it isn't even the tax issue, it is so sad to see so much tax money leaving our town simply because our community and the people that run it can't draw businesses here!!

I WILL GLADLY SHOP PORTLAND FIRST -
When they give me somewhere to shop!

Groceries 20% Portland 80% Walmart Franklin
Clothing 70% Rivergate 30%Internet
General purchases 20% Portland 40% Franklin 40% Rivergate
Holiday Gifts 50%Franklin 50% Rivergate

Unfortunatly Portland doesnt offer the availability for any real spending. It doesnt look as if that is going to change anytime soon so the other cities are going to continue to get our business.
1. Groceries - 80% Walmart Gallatin, 20% Portland
2. Clothing - 100% Gallatin or Rivergate
3. General Purchases - 100% Gallatin or RIvergate
4. Holiday - 100% Gallatin or Rivergate

I rent movies in Portland.I do buy my cleaners at Freds. I do all other shopping in Franklin from gas to grocery.Clothing is every where else. There is just not enough here to justify staying in town.

Portland is missing tax dollars because of too many breaks for industries that employ people from out of state or people who just drive here to work and then back home. It doesn't profit Portland much to have so many factories with so few people from portland working here and even fewer spending their paychecks here. with no income tax, Portland probably loses more money from the tax breaks given to factories than they actually make.

I posted about this in another section too.
Portland 5%
everywhere else 95%

There is nothing in Portland for me to spend my money on except the occasional fast food purchase. If I want to go to a restaurant I go to Gallatin, Shopping I go to Franklin KY Walmart.If I want to go to the Movies, take my son bowling,take him rollerskating,to the arcade,or anywhere else for that matter I go elsewhere. There is nothing to do in Portland and it seems no one wants to add anything to Portland to make people want to stay there and spend their money. I have lived here for 2 years and can't even go out to a nice restaurant or buy my clothes in my OWN town...I have to go elsewhere. It seems that if Portland had more things for people to do it would bring more money into the city wouldn't it?

This is an easy one.

Portland 35%
Everywhere else 65%

I spend alot on the internet especially eBay. I buy clothes to fish food. My biggest expense in Portland is groceries and the drug store. I shop at Franklin Wal-Mart alot and if I need anything for the house we go to Lowe's or Home Depot.