...what would they be?

Here are mine:

Payless Shoes
a place to get REAL bagels
a large craft/hobby store (I miss Lou's!)
a non-western, non-athletic (and non-WM!) men's clothing store
In-N-Out (or Sonic)

Five existing businesses I love:
Maurices
Pleasantries
Mexico Lindo
MC Greenhouse
Discovery Pond

And five I'd love to give the boot:
casino
casino
casino
casino
casino

I was in Bozeman when the Penny's here closed and that was the speculation of the local store employees. It appears they --and i -- were wrong about the mall thing, if it is still open in Sidney. Or maybe Sidney was just lucky and corporate forgot about them until the system changed.

Some big chains are unlikely to come to Montana, let alone Miles City. Remember when Billings convinced Krispy Kreme donuts that there were enough people in Billings to support the KK store, even though KK required closer to 500,000 in a shopping area to qualify. Billings was wrong.

We are never getting the BIG chains. The entire state, if we all lived within a few blocks of each other, couldn't qualify for a lot of chains and eastern Montana would never support one of those HUGE stores. There just plain aren't enough of us and we don't have enough disposable income. Even stores like Trader Joe's and Whole Foods are sticking to larger markets with MORE MONEY. (See Bozeman.)

What is possible here? No big chains that require 100,000s in population base. Nothing high-end that requires big bucks. A Saks Fifth Avenue is as unlikely as Costco.

What is possible are small, independent businesses or chains that aim at smaller population centers. Maybe Sundance Shoes in Bozeman could expand to a store here. Maybe

Exotic restaurants? No, not enough population willing to spend the big bucks, plus getting supplies here would be expensive. A good Diner, Drive-In or Dive? More likely.

Realistically?

1. Decent shoe store.
2. Decent men's wear and/or ladies wear (not Western and not for the under 21-crowd.)
3. Dry cleaner. (The folks who took over the laundry's rug business are idiots beyond measure. Plus, I own clothes that need dry cleaning.)
4. Some place a bit out of the ordinary for food. No, a Vietnamese restaurant would not work unless the owner were independently wealthy but maybe a better oriental of some sort.
Or a good diner.
5. Movie rental is a dead category, right up there with livery stables and places that sell tubes for televisions. Bookstores are probably dead, unless you can hook them up with another business.

Bait and books and sushi might just fly!

The top 5 so far are:

Shoe Store
Microbrewery (1st with over 50% of respondents)
Dry Cleaners
J.C. Penny's
Kohl's

Take the survey below to vote for your 5!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7HHNDKZ

Bait and books and sushi might just fly!

Are you suggesting a possible outlet for unused bait?

4. Some place a bit out of the ordinary for food. No, a Vietnamese restaurant would not work unless the owner were independently wealthy but maybe a better oriental of some sort.
Or a good diner.

Not sure "oriental" is the proper nomenclature. Unless you're talking about a rug.

Bob, you get a gold star from me. "Asian" is preferred by most Asians I know, and only when their Asian-ness is relevant to the discussion.

Don't you owe me a gold star Bob?

Bridgier:

I'm sure I do! I'll pass my star along to you.


Speaking of "Asian" vs. "Oriental," I wonder what term our pal Frank Cory would use?

Bob....

Don't poke sticks at the monkeys while they are sleeping!!!

Asiatic - just like the lilies..

Sorry.

Here are the results for the survey.

Hooter's 21.4%
Bait Shop 9.5%
JC Penney's 38.1%
Taco Bell 14.3%
Large Dollar Store 16.7%
Great American Bagel 14.3%
Joann Fabric 11.9%
Kohls 31.0%
Hastings 11.9%
Dry Cleaners 40.5%
Target 11.9%
Johnny Carinos 14.3%
Perkins 19.0%
Shoe Store (Payless?) 33.3%
Old Navy 11.9%
Ross 11.9%
Target 9.5%
Costco 19.0%
Dominos 7.1%
Panda Express 11.9%
Sonic 21.4%
Papa Murphy's 9.5%
Microbrewery 47.6%
Office Depot 9.5%

We need
1. a dry cleaner
2. an ordinary shoe shoe ala NZ (The owner of NZ shoes probably quit because I-94 was available more than any other reason. He's now in Sioux Falls with a new store selling orthodics.)
3. a downtown cafe open for breakfast, lunch and dinner 7 days a week
4. a family clothing store which catered to someone older than 25 (Have you tried to buy an 8 year old something not at Walmart?)
5. a specialty grocer

My favorites:
1. Sullivans, they are so very helpful
2. McDonalds, I love their cones, fries and burgers
3. Ace Hardware, they probably have it and they have real live clerks to help you find it
4. Hole in the Wall, love the salad bar and Buthch's Hamburger Mac soup.

It is not realistic to look to the "chain stores." We do not have the population base for them. And, the ethic food--interesting. But, unless it's Italian or Mexican, right now you're sunk. Asian food was the rage a few years ago, not now. AND you'd better have a large pocketbook as restaurant failures are rampant.

After spending nearly two weeks in MC it has come to my attention that it needs more restaurants which serve vegetables.

Vegetables are overrated.

My answer would look a lot like Richard's.

With a Pickle Barrel in there somewhere.

It is a shocker moving to Miles City from big population areas. I moved to Miles City in 1964 from a city that had a higher population than the entire state. I think the Internet has been a great success for many rural areas. I agree there are a few must haves in Miles City (dry cleaners, mid-range clothing store for all ages, including shoes, etc., and decent oriental restaurants.) Many restaurants in the Houston area now serve a variety of Asian foods, Vietnamese, Thai, Chinese, etc. Something like that might be successful. Good luck in expanding the businesses in Miles City.

"After spending nearly two weeks in MC it has come to my attention that it needs more restaurants which serve vegetables."

This is an outrage. All restaurants should be required to serve any vegetable who has someone willing to wheel them into the joint.

I think everyone associates chain stores with being "big enough to keep up with Billings", but I think that locally owned unique stores are what can provide a service and bring people here.

My choices:
1. Micro brew/brewpub/sportsbar (serve food after 8)
2. Dog boarding kennel
3. Burger shack/ice cream place, not dairy queen
4. Historical/ natural history tour guide service....battlefields, frt keogh, agates, birding, river floats, ghost tours, etc (would bring the non do it yourself tourists. In and expand their horizons)
5. General store/merchantile on main, a place besides walmart to buy a lot of the basics like socks, tennis shoes, jeans, sheets, towels, and then throw in some local flare to make it more interesting


I do love some great businesses here
1. Montana bar
2. Kafe Utza
3. Movie theater
4. Murdochs
5. Reynolds
6. Mc vet clinic


Fun thread....maybe it will spur some inspiration....
PS, we don't need anymore casinos, banks, or gas stations (unless Parkside wants to reopen!)

Out at work I hear people request things all the time.
1. 24 hr. food
2. Hang out for adults that is not a bar or casino...place to get coffe at after dark.
3. An electronics store more up to date than Wal-Mart.
4. A REAL Hobby shop - planes hung from celing, cars on display, rubber cement in the air kind of hobby shop.... would be nice but wound't work here.
5. Pet store with a monkey cashier?
(I ran out of ideas and that sounded AWESOME!)


I know my list will never happen, but 24hr. food is a must.
If anything just do not serve drunk people, since that's the main problem with having it.

After spending nearly two weeks in MC it has come to my attention that it needs more restaurants which serve vegetables.

I think Hooters serves milk AND vegetables...

4. A REAL Hobby shop - planes hung from celing, cars on display, rubber cement in the air kind of hobby shop.... would be nice but wound't work here.

We actually did have one of those awhile back. In the late-70's, I think. It was on Valley Drive E. next to what used to be the A&W, and it was called "Modern Hobbies". I don't remember the name of the owner, but my mom knew who he was. He sold stuff like models, racetrack sets, kites, and rocket kits that you put together and launch. I bought one of the rocket kits and put it together, but I did so sloppily and it sort-of blew-up upon takeoff.

Anyway, it was a nice place but, much like many other businesses, it didn't last long due to the lack of customers.

MC has had all of these things and they have closed. (The Squire Shop was a fashionable men's store.) The reason the stores have closed is lack of business. People go to Billings to get what they want, which leaves small town businesses out in the cold. I guess I would hope that residents would support them more if they were there...Remember: Shop locally! (I even wait to do some of my shopping until I get home, even though its only about every six months). I bought my last set of tires at Rolling Rubber! You can't have chain stores if the customer count and dollars aren't there to support them continually.

You know what, Cory, I have to admit you sum-up the problem with this statement better than anyone else who has posted on this thread thus far. The economy being in a poor state is one thing - people need to have the willingness to spend before they will do so. But when they do spend, they need to do it in MC if businesses are to survive there. You are right. Too many people go to Billings to hit Rimrock Mall and such (When I lived in Miles long ago, I was guilty of having done that, too, sorry to say) and now you have people ordering stuff they need on the internet and having it shipped to them instead of going to a local business to get it.

So in short I agree that Miles City businesses will never thrive beyond where they are now until people who live there change their spending habits.

ABE said,

5. Pet store with a monkey cashier?

No way. The flying squirrels would drive it crazy.

I really enjoy the main street grind too. Alisha and Caitlin create such a great atmoshphere when i come in. But I did notice that some of the other workers bring there family life (fighing, drama, ect..) to work.

you know gypsyskin, we have the most rare type of swimming facility already here in miles city. And if the people of miles city would just put forth towards are facility to make it better, it would be the best. You know we dont need no fun-2-u swimming area because it would cost millions of dollars to maintain it whereas the Oasis is nearly free to maintain. So in a real world fun-2-u will never happen. Its people like you that give miles city a bad name. Maybe if you went down to the pool and tried it out instead of basing your opinion on false information, you would like it.

tej said:

you know gypsyskin, we have the most rare type of swimming facility already here in miles city. And if the people of miles city would just put forth towards are facility to make it better, it would be the best. You know we dont need no fun-2-u swimming area because it would cost millions of dollars to maintain it whereas the Oasis is nearly free to maintain. So in a real world fun-2-u will never happen. Its people like you that give miles city a bad name. Maybe if you went down to the pool and tried it out instead of basing your opinion on false information, you would like it.

I have not based my opinion on false information. I am a lap swimmer and personally prefer swimming in a pool. I swim for exercise and one of the many problems with the Oasis is that, at best, it can only be open 3 month of the year.

For your information, the Oasis is not nearly free to maintain. I agree that a concrete pool facility is more expensive to maintain. However, I do think you would see more people using and enjoying it year-round. I have no problem with the Oasis. I just would like the option of swimming in a pool.

I don't think I have ever done anything to give Miles City a bad name and frequently have visitors that I share our beautiful community with. You are making judgements based on not knowing me and definitely false information. However, you are entitled to your opinion, as I am mine.

[This message has been edited by gypsykim (8/13/2010)]

I can't believe you people would rather have a Taco Bell over a bait shop. Philistines.

Rick K. is dead on with the Pickle Barrel suggestion.

>>No way. The flying squirrels would drive it crazy.

No one ever looks at it from the squirrels' point of view. There are two sides to every story.

The Main Street Grind said that if someone buys them a kettle, they'll start making bagels I would much prefer that to Great American Bagel-Imposters. Steamed bread does not a bagel make. Just a roll with a hole!

[This message has been edited by j2r (8/15/2010)]

j2r, whoever he is, speaketh the truth.

On the Pool question: We have a very nice indoor pool here in Forsyth, and I'm sure if there was a way to uproot it and truck it to Miles City, the majority of the people here would say, "Take it away." The thing is a huge drain on our city budget and has prevented us from doing other things that need doing.

The rosy predictions of patronage numbers that were floated by the pool's backers never materialized, because guess what: People like to swim outside! So people are down splashing around in the river, driving to lakes and such, or buying those huge ugly plastic pools from WalMart, rather than patronizing the local pool.

In the winter, I guess people just don't think too much about swimming.

Miles City might be better positioned than we are to support an indoor pool due to your larger population, as long as you don't build a behemoth pool that costs even more to maintain than ours does. Organizers should just keep in mind that many people who say they'll use the pool "a lot," probably will really use it "a couple of times a year, if at all."

That's a shame, Mike. I remember when the pool was outdoors, I was in it every day one summer. 1970 or so. I loved the high dive...
Yeah by all means the community has to want it! Miles City never did, probably never will. An indoor pool is for folks who are into swimming for physical fitness, and competition. That is a year round sport, but most popular in the winter when there's nothing else to do. Sure, the Oasis is just fine for kids to play in during the dog days of summer.
I still hope Fun2U will accomplish their goals. I always did hope Miles City could improve recreation especially towards kids and physical fitness. Yet another generation (mine) has grown old waiting. Miraculously a Miles City-grown "kid" recently took the silver Medal in the Montana Senior Olympics in the 50 freestyle. I wonder if that will ever happen again.

@Forsyth Mike: I drive to Forsyth with a friend to use your wonderful pool facility once a week and have for years. I guarantee you that if it were here, I would be swimming even more often. It is too bad that the community doesn't support it. They don't know what they are missing.

I hear that Sonic is in the works.. Just don't know when. They're supposed to be building 8 (I think) of them in Montana. I hear Miles City is one of the towns.

Movie Rental places are dying. There are none here in Billings, just Redbox and Hastings. All of the Movie Galleries and Blockbusters went out of business.

I do admit with the first poster.. NO MORE DAMN CASINOS. The whole state is getting overrun with them.

My wife keeps telling me to open a computer shop in Miles City. She likes the town and I'm considering moving back.. But I need to finish college first.

I do know thay Sonic will be coming to Billings. I hope Miles City is a destination also. The one in Rapid City is AWESOME!!!

Well, according to the Gazette, It'll be at Randash's old place on Main.

http://billingsgazette.co...002e0.html

i would GLADLY trade all 7 SONIC 'drive ins' in my town for ONE freakin Taco Johns.

i really think the potato oles are made with real awesome and sprinkled with crack..

Great list!!
I remember all of them.
How about the Bean Bag and Legrandgers (don't remember how to spell it)

love to see:
- REI
- a true rec center (like the new one in gillette)
- Ninety-Nines
- new Movie Theatre for sure!!!
- Barnes & Noble

top five stops:
- kafe utza
- discovery pond
- universal athletics
- napa
- tire rama

places i dont like:
- Red Rock Sporting Goods

The Sonic drive-thru's around here have all folded up. They even built new ones like crazy only to shut down within that same year.

Sonic's shakes and iced drinks are really good, but the burgers are pretty bland. I'm sure there are better additions to the list of fast food choices in Miles City.

My wife has for years wanted to start some sort of food business. Being as she's Japanese it would, naturally, be Asian with a Japanese twist but not really the sushi stuff so much. Sushi covers a gamut including vegetable rolls, cooked shrimp, etc. so it isn't all "bait". For her it's about taking care of the family and the biz would be, at least for now, just lunch and just for take out. It is all about the numbers, the traffic doesn't lie, and since my work would either be in MC or Williston, you can do the math. Is it worth starting something up on the "hope" that it may succeed or go to a bigger city, like Billings, or high traffic zones like up in ND? Miles has the interstate as its saving grace, and that's a godsend, but if all folks want to do is eat high carb burgers, fries, and cokes then I don't know if anything unique can survive. For now we're weighing the options.

In regards to the indoor pool in Forsyth, perhaps if it were open during days and hours when people have the ability to go, it would have more business. Open swim hours from 1-4 on some weekdays, closed on Saturdays, that doesn't even make any sense. We would go all the time if the hours were better! The pool is fabulous, just rarely an option. And I'm pretty sure it's never been closed down due to botulism contamination!

Sigh. The ducks were poisoned by a well-intentioned person who made a mistake. The swimming pool here was not and never has been contaminated by botulism.

Hiring people to run a pool is probably even a bigger problem in Forsyth than here. You just can't grab some teenager and put them in charge.

Back to the subject. . .

I overheard a conversation recently in which a developer said he had been in contact with a chain and the chain turned him down, not because of our little population, but the real killer. Low median income. We don't make enough to make us worthwhile for some folks. And, no, don't ask.

MoT,
I think your wife's idea would work well in MC. People there are eating fast food because that's all that's there. But I think that there is a sizeable population that would visit your restaurant just to get away from the other crap. If it's good, they'll come back again and again. I can't believe how many people just want more fast food joints. The problem I see with a Japanese restaurant though is the inability to get fresh fish. I've yet to have decent seafood in MC.

Wendy, I love a good burger as much as anyone. Yum! No matter what may come it'll take research.

j2r: Our pool used to be open much longer hours and more days, but the usage just wasn't there....besides, the best moneymaker is "membrships" and they have never sold like hotcakes.

The thing is, there is never one particular part of the day when everyone wants to go swimming. Some like to go in the evening, some in the daytime, some in the early morning, and so on. It's just not possible to staff it 24/7.

Back to Miles City: One business I really miss there is the KFC. I'm not a huge fast-food person, but sometimes a person just gets in a KFC mood, plus I love some good A&W root beer in a glass mug. I was really bummed when that combo-place went out.

Low median income. We don't make enough to make us worthwhile for some folks. And, no, don't ask.

This is evidenced by all the women in town who sell crap in their spare time, as can be observed in the classifieds section of this forum.

I would love to see:
1. Kohls
2. Payless-better shoe variety than just basketball shoes and walmart
3. Olive Garden
4. Hobby Lobby
5. Target

Places i love that are here:
1. Mexico Lindo
2. Maurices
3. Airport Inn
4. Red Box

It seems to me that if Rollin A. Blunt, MD, were to open a dispensary in Miles it would do fairly well.