Category Archives: Economics

Another skinny example

Posted on November 30, 2015 by Ed Fuhrmann

The subdivided retail unit next to the Round Lake Beach Kohl’s is STILL vacant. (We’ve been coming up with examples of other, successful businesses and activities which could make use of the space, but no takers so far. As shown in our original post about … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Design, Downtown, Economics | Leave a comment

Vacant is as Vacant does

Posted on July 25, 2015 by Ed Fuhrmann

Decided to check for signs of life at the vacant retail unit next to Sally Beauty Supplies while getting some greeting cards at Ann’s Hallmark (same building as the Kohl’s). No sign of life. In fact, the “Unit For Lease” window … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Design, Downtown, Economics | 1 Comment

Webinar: “Building Your Fundraising Leadership Towards Walkable Communities”

Posted on July 20, 2015 by Ed Fuhrmann

Webinar: “Building Your Fundraising Leadership Towards Walkable Communities” Date: Monday, July 27th Time: 1PM CST Cost: FREE (Advanced online registration required) America Walks’ second series of “Walking College” webinars launches July 27th. Designed for the Walking College Fellowship program, and open … Continue reading →

Posted in Community, Construction / Maintenance, Economics, Meeting / Webinar | Leave a comment

Our Former Applebee’s

Posted on July 16, 2015 by Ed Fuhrmann

[This post was started before the recent announcement about the re-purposing of the former RLB Applebee’s building. If this reads like it starts out in one direction, then changes course and heads another way, well… that’s exactly what happened.] Well, it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Economics, Planning | Leave a comment

Repairing the “Fabric” of our Lives

Posted on July 13, 2014 by Ed Fuhrmann

Sorry, could’t help but borrow the line from the old Cotton marketing campaign. We’re going to take a very quick look at “Repair” and “Recycle” from the “R”s of Sustainability. (Reduce / Re-use / Recycle / Repair / Repurpose / Rehome) as they … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Economics, Resilience | Leave a comment

Why “Reimagine” Round Lake Beach?

Posted on April 5, 2014 by Ed Fuhrmann

Why is it “Reimagine” Round Lake Beach? Many reasons, most of which we’ve covered in this blog, and on our Facebook page, over the last year… but here’s one more. From Leigh Gallagher, author of “The End of the Suburbs: … Continue reading →

Posted in Community, Economics, Planning | 2 Comments

Sunday Small-Business Blues

Posted on March 30, 2014 by Ed Fuhrmann

So this is the first “nice” weekend of spring (after that extra-nasty winter), and we were out and about today like good American consumers, spending money here, and planning to spend money later there. (That IS what we’re supposed to do, isn’t it? … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Downtown, Economics, Planning, Resilience, Walkability | Leave a comment

About those jobs…

Posted on March 2, 2014 by Ed Fuhrmann

While we’re waiting for the economy to “rebound” (ain’t gonna happen, but that’s another post), it is important to really understand that a lot of the well-paying, benefits-providing jobs that existed before the recession just aren’t coming back. More and more of the “middle … Continue reading →

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“Rental Bubble” on the way?

Posted on January 31, 2014 by Ed Fuhrmann

Perhaps coincidentally, this article in the New York Times was published the day before the Daily Herald’s article about Round Lake Beach village leadership being concerned by the relative lack of sales of single-family homes to actual homeowners, and more-so to investors: “Wall Street’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Planning | Leave a comment

“Showrooming” and the Local Economy

Posted on December 12, 2013 by Ed Fuhrmann

“Showrooming” is the practice of customers going into a retailer to investigate a product, whether for fit, complexity, size, operation, etc. They often rely on the expertise and knowledge of an employee or the business owner to find out more … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Economics | Leave a comment