What kind of business should come to Hutchinson?

Hutchinson is definately in need of a department store. Other than discount stores and a very small JCPenney, there is no place in town to buy quality clothing for the family. Most people drive to St. Cloud, Mankato or New Ulm. Wouldnt it be better to keep our business within the city? A Kohls or Herbergers would be my first choice.

I would love to see a Kohls, Best Buy and a 24 hr place, like Perkins. Having a tiny JC Penney as our only dept store is a pain, they seldom have what I am looking for because of limited sizes and stock.

New Ulm once had Herberger's (Does anyone know if it is still there?) and Willmar's Kandi Mall has one. Neither town is all that much bigger than Hutchinson. My wife would, I'm sure, prefer Herberger's over Kohl's. She is petite, and no Hutchinson store really carries much in the way of professional or dressy petite clothing. So the
vast majority of her clothing dollars are spent in St. Cloud, Willmar, Mankato or the Twin Cities, but not at a Kohl's. I'm able to get 90 percent of my clothing in Hutchinson.

She also would prefer Herberger's because of its better selection of gift items. She really misses Dayton's, liked Marshall Field's less, but really doesn't like Macy's and rarely finds anything there.

As for myself, I wish Hutchinson had at least a B. Dalton or Waldenbooks book store (or even one similar to the store near Sears in St. Cloud's Crossroads Center, because I know we aren't getting a Barnes and Noble any time soon). I'd also like a hobby store that would carry a good selection of model railroad equipment, diecast vehicles, military models, car models, etc. Willmar and Mankato have lost their hobby shops in recent years. St. Cloud has one store of mainly arts and crafts that carries some model railroad gear, and an art framing shop with a very selection of only model railroad things. I basically have to drive to the Twin Cities, attend model railroad flea markets or do mail order (I haven't done on-line yet.)

As for restaurants, a Perkins-type would be nice, but that market is pretty much the same as Country Kitchen and McCormick's. I wish Applebee's had built its usual-sized building instead of using Hutchinson as a test-bed for a more rural smaller unit. Can never get in there at 6-7 p.m. on a Friday or Saturday when we usually go out to eat. Its menu also seems to have less selections than larger Applebee's or competitors such as TGI Friday's or Chili's.

But I really wish we had some place that served a nice-sized selection of good Italian and/or one that served good steaks and seafood (I love scallops!) The closest might be Peter's in Litchfield. We've tried some of the rural supper clubs, etc., in the area. My wife got sick two hours after eating at one. It clearly was the food. A drunk at the bar of another crashed into our car. Then staff was uncooperative in helping us attempt to locate which of the three people in the bar at the time might have done it. They knew all three, but wouldn't tell us. So we've written those options off.

I like Mexican and Chinese, but I think Hutch may be oversaturated with Mexican restaurants now and probably can't support three family sit-down Mexican restaurants for long.

Hutch probably can't support two Chinese restaurants forever, either. I became less of a Chinese fan as Chinese much moved almost entirely to buffet service everywhere you go. Chinese has become less of an experience because it is the same from one restaurant to the next. If every place has roughly the same food, then even if it is good the thing that separates them is the dining experience, and a buffet is not much of a dining experience.

The same could be said for our three family-owned authentic Mexican restaurants. The differences in the food is slight, so, if lowest price isn't your top priority, it comes down to which provides the best experience and service. Because the truth be told, much of what you get in many restaurants, ethnic or otherwise, you can make as good for yourself at home. But what you are looking for is a chance to get out, have someone do the work for you and to enjoy the experience.

(Terry Davis is a staff writer for the Hutchinson Leader. He can be reached at davis@hutchinsonleader.com.)

We really, really need a bookstore of some kind. I've thought of opening one myself. Stillwater has tons of bookstores and it's not a big town. Of course, it's different than Hutchinson, but Hutchinson has nothing except little departments in big stores. That's a shame.

People are always going to be attracted to what the big cities can offer. Sure they'll go to a new store or restaurant here in Hutch while it's new and among the talk of the town. But eventually people will grow bored with Hutch again and search out the trendier shops or better restaurants in the big cities.

I think Hutch could really use a Bookstore such as B. Daltons or even Barnes & Noble although it would have to be a smaller one.

Clothing wise, this town does not carry much clothing for the bigger gal or guy or even the petite customers. We could use something like a Kohl's or Lane Bryant or Herbergers. Preferally Kohls or Laner BRyant.

Food wise - we are pretty full- up although it would be nice to have something stay open 24 hours for the night shift crowds or people out later at night. A Perkins would be nice, or an IHOP...

I actually do remember that shop. It was where Claire's is located today, I believe. I, too, purchased several books there, but then I recall that ownership changed and the new owner moved the focus from books to other things, the selection dropped off and service went with it, never to recover.

Also, when On Cue first opened in Plaza 15, half the store was books and the other half for music. I thought it was a great concept and filled two big holes in Hutchinson's retail offerings. So I also shopped there, but again, soon new management started to eat away at the book section until within a year or two, there were almost no books. Soon the whole store was gone in another round of corporate consolidations.

If everyone is shopping on-line, why do some book stores still succeed? For me, I will rarely buy a book sight unseen. I have to hold it in my hand, scan a few pages, get a feel for it. Nothing beats browsing the aisles, perusing a few pages of several books and then deciding on the best to take home for hours of enjoyment in the easy chair next to the reading lamp. When my wife drags be along shopping, she knows she can send be to the book store while she does all her other shopping without be tagging along being bored.

You are right, a chain might not be interested in 14,000 people in Hutchinson. Probably better would be an independent owner with a passion for books, but with the aggressive marketing savvy to cultivate a niche in this new retail world.

We all agree Hutchinson could use more new businesses like Kohls, Herberbergers Book Store, Arcade-teen center. Lets look at reality. Years ago starting a business the odds were about 50-50 you would succeed, now the odds are about 70-30 you will FAIL. Kohls & Herbergers know that Hutchinson can't support their stores. Someone who needs a good tax write-off could open a book store. Look at the number of book stores in the twin cities that have closed their doors,it's happening across the country. Customers are buying books on Amazon.com and ebay. Several arcades and teen centers have failed in Hutchinson. Hutchinson is fortunate to have many locally owned businesses. I urge you to support them. Unlike the big box stores and chains...THE LOCAL MERCHANTS SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY AND THE PROFITS STAY LOCAL. Chains and big box stores have their daily recipes wired to their headquarter banks. Except for Target I haven't seen any great contributions from big box stores. I wonder how many are members of the Hutchinson Area Chamber Of Commerce.