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Holly Aiken Stitch to Close Raleigh Store

• v-arch04/14 06:26 PM

  Anyone know why?  They raise the rent on her?

• Adrian Hands04/14 07:37 PM

  It’s just not the same since long-time Glenwood fixture, and Stitch neighbor North Road Bicycle packed up the parrot, puppy and three-legged cat and moved out.  No more Monday night urban bike rides.  No more banging on the door to buy an inner-tube at 10:00pm.  THATs the kind of business that brings life to a neighborhood—the kind of business Raleigh would do well to court.

• Deb04/14 08:03 PM

  This is really too bad. Yet another casualty of the creative class being pushed out of the downtown vicinity.

• 15004/15 10:02 AM

  I have to say, I frequent this area, and I don’t ever recall seeing this business.  Too bad, too, because I have a wife who loves bags. 

  While I never like seeing individual businesses like this go away, it’s a sign of Raleigh’s successful continued growth, no?  Sounds like Stich will remain in business online, so all is not lost.  If they stay in business, just not on Glenwood, and Glenwood continues it’s growth, then overall I don’t think this is something to mourn.

• this sucks.04/15 11:08 AM

  wow. this sucks! with all of the press she has received and all of the bags she sells in other stores across the country, it really says a lot about the types of businesses that downtown raleigh wants to keep by making rent unaffordable (assuming this is the reason) to young entrepreneurs.  i loved stitch and am so sad to see a young artist have to do this.

  i guess we can look forward to her great little shop being converted into a $800K loft pretty soon! ugh.

• 15004/15 12:13 PM

  I don’t know enough about this, so I’m playing Devil’s Advocate a bit, but Downtown Raleigh isn’t the one upping the rents, right?  This is what comes from the popularity of Glenwood South isn’t it? 

  I guess I’m a bit confused.  People seem to complain that Raleigh is sleepy and not “big-time”, but they also complain at the signs of so-called progress.  If momentum for Downtown Raleigh keeps up, rents will increase and it will take heartier businesses to hang in there.  It sounds like Stitch, as good as they might be, may not be able to handle this change. 

  It sounds to me like they are still going to be in business, so at least they aren’t disappearing entirely.  Maybe the situation isn’t so bad??

• Betsy04/15 12:17 PM

  That store was a great combination of active retail storefront AND small manufacturing enterprise in the back.  A wonderful element of street life, the kind that (multiplied) gives the Garment District in New York its vibrancy.  North Road Bike Shop was also a most excellent store and Raleigh was so stupid to let it be recruited away by Yancey County. 

  If loss of authentic local storefronts (to be replaced with EIFS condos for the Pod People)is a “sign of Raleigh’s successful continued growth,” then yeah, I think it is something to mourn.  Once Askew-Taylor Paints goes, Glenwood will be little more than a bunch of bars and clubs for the Porntastic Class.

• Jim04/15 12:55 PM

  >[...]Glenwood will be little more than a bunch >of bars and clubs for the Porntastic Class.

  Isn’t it already?

• 15004/15 02:45 PM

  “Glenwood will be little more than a bunch of bars and clubs for the Porntastic Class”

  Oh, come on, that’s simply rediculous.  Just in the few blocks of Glenwood South you’ve got Sullivan’s, the Cupcake Shoppe, The George, Zely & Ritz, Bistro 607, Turkish Delights, and much more.  I’m sure those businesses would appreciate being lumped into the “Porntastic” category. 

  Also, Betsy, where has it been announced that this store is to become more condos?  If that’s based on fact, I’m interested in seeing the source.  If it’s just being snarky, then it’s not productive at all.

• Sarah Emily04/15 02:53 PM

  Yeah - not cool.  Did you see the contributed article in this week’s INDY about closing School Kids in Chapel Hill?  Brick-and-mortar stores have higher associated overhead then walk-in revenue.

  It isn’t ideal, but e-commerce is the future of small retail like handbags, clothing, accessories, and yes! music.

  Buying to support your local community is a Social Responsibility that only you can support.

• Javier04/15 03:20 PM

  In a sense, I’d like to echo the sentiment of 150’s most recent comment.

  Why simply assume that “the man” is running out all of the hipster joints?  Perhaps there are other things at work…

  Maybe her internet sales grossly outweigh her retail sales - meaning that wants to invest the fixed costs she current spends on rent and utilities to help build a more robust web portal?

  Maybe she is just relocating to another part of downtown to capture more pedestrian traffic?

  Maybe her roof leaks and her landlord refuses to address the problem.

  Maybe she is experiencing a personal challenge and needs to deal with other issues for awhile.

  Most importantly: maybe we don’t know all the facts and shouldn’t jump to assume that this is another harbinger of the well-coordinated coup to run all hipsters out of downtown.

• Betsy04/15 03:21 PM

  I made no such claim about this store, 150.  And I am under no obligation to be productive.

• Betsy04/15 03:29 PM

  Javier said:  “Why simply assume that “the man” is running out all of the hipster joints?  ... maybe we don’t know all the facts and shouldn’t jump to assume that this is another harbinger of the well-coordinated coup to run all hipsters out of downtown.”

  Straw man argument, Javier.  No one has claimed that there is a conspiracy. 

  I *do* claim that Raleigh’s regulations and business/political leadership make it more difficult to create and maintain vibrant storefronts and streetscapes than it could be. 

  Examples may be provided, at my whim.

• 15004/15 03:37 PM

  Betsy:
  The quote you made that I referred to is:
  “If loss of authentic local storefronts (to be replaced with EIFS condos for the Pod People) is a “sign of Raleigh’s successful continued growth,” then yeah, I think it is something to mourn.”

  As it was in the Stitch discussion, I assumed that you were making it in reference to Stitch. If not about Stitch, then what are you referring to, and why bring it up?

• Betsy04/15 04:19 PM

  My comment speaks for itself.  By now you see your assumption was erroneous; I have nothing to say about it.

• 15004/15 04:30 PM

  Betsy, obviously your comment does not speak for itself, and clearly I don’t see the error in my assumption.  Help me out and explain what you meant, seriously.  If you don’t….here’s how I take your comment:

  Another loveable, small, hip store gets unfairly plowed under by Mr. Big Bad Condo Man loved by the Porntastic Class of Raleigh.

  Your choice of words indicates you don’t like aspects of Glenwood (condos, obviously, but also aspects of the culture/people).  Bringing these things into the conversation about Stitch sheds some light too.  It just seems like you’re lumping in a whole lot here, and I think ut might not be fair.  Just clarify what you meant.  I do honestly want to know.  No need for the snarkiness.

• Betsy04/15 05:07 PM

  Good gracious, you certainly put a lot of words into my mouth.  Of course I am not able to spend time justifying and explaining thoughts I didn’t think, and words I didn’t write.

  I really mean no offense, but I can take no responsibility for your interpretation into my remarks.  I concur that you are surely entitled to your opinion.

• 15004/15 05:40 PM

  Betsy YOU DID make that comment.  I quoted you exactly!!  It was the 7th comment in this topic. Look again!!

  So, why can’t you explain your comment?  I’m trying to understand it for the sake of the discussion. 

  I’m not putting any words into your mouth, either.  As I mentioned, that was my initial INTERPRETATION of your comment, as you won’t provide any clarification.  I’d rather know exactly what you meant.  Why is this so difficult? 

  Anyway, we’ve destroyed this topic.  Too bad.

• Betsy04/16 11:31 AM

  “If loss of authentic local storefronts (to be replaced with EIFS condos for the Pod People) is a “sign of Raleigh’s successful continued growth,” then yeah, I think it is something to mourn.”

  Yes, I meant exactly that.  What else can I tell you.  It’s my opinion.  What’s to explain? 

  But no, and I mean this most civilly, I do have to draw the line at explaining or justifying your spin/interpretation/assumption on my statement.  I didn’t get this fancy law degree in order to succumb to a junior-level strawman tactic.   

  (strawman fallacy: recast your opponent’s position so that it differs to a degree from what he actually espouses; then ask him to explain/justify the straw position)

  As you point out, this forum is limited.  If you want to talk seriously about streetscapes and urbanism, I would be happy to meet you for a coffee some time.  As you perceive, our conversation will be more productive, and less annoying to others, when conducted privately.  Also, facial expressions and gestures would be available so that spirited debate is less likely to be mistaken for snark.

• Javier04/16 01:43 PM

  Actually, I’m not certain that that I did employ a strawman tactic.  My statement was directed to Deb’s comment:

  “This is really too bad. Yet another casualty of the creative class being pushed out of the downtown vicinity.”

  The crux of my argument is that we shouldn’t assume that this is the case, as summarized in the last sentence of my original post:

  Most importantly: maybe we don’t know all the facts and shouldn’t jump to assume that this is another harbinger of the well-coordinated coup to run all hipsters out of downtown.

  While the statement may have exaggerated Deb’s claim, it was also meant to follow up on the expose that followed the closing of King’s.  Lost of accusations were made without knowing all of the circumstances.  I didn’t want this situation to snowball similarly.

• 15004/16 01:51 PM

  Thanks for explaining straw-man tactics to me, but I don’t want you to explain MY (the straw position) interpretation.  As I said numerous times, I want to know the explanation to YOUR comment.  On a side note, you have pegged BOTH Javier and myself as using straw-man tactics.  Interesting. 

  I’ll try and boil it down, so as to avoid any bias or spin on my part. 

  Specifically,

  1. You brought up condos.  Why, and how is it relevant to Stitch?
  2. You describe Glenwood as “porntastic”.  Why, and how is relevant to Stitch?

  Thanks,
  150

• Deb04/16 03:41 PM

  Javier is correct. I jumped the gun on my comment. If the reason Stitch is moving is because of increased rent, then my comment stands. I kind of hope this is not the reason, and that it is just a general business format change. The Stitch location was definitely unique, as Betsy explained, because it was both store and manufacturing facility. It gave added value to the shopping experience, knowing that the products you were perusing had been made right there.

  Anyhow, I hope that this move is not a sign the beginning of the end of small local businesses and boutiques in the Glenwood South area. Downtown needs a variety of businesses to cater to a variety of patrons, bringing the vitality that make downtowns great.

  I’m definitely interested in getting the full scoop to help explain things better. Does anyone have the full story on why Firefly closed it’s shop, as well?

  Also, what exactly does “porntastic” mean? - it has a nice ring to it. I guess I need to go get an urban dictionary. If it’s anything like “craptastic”, me likes!

• Javier04/16 03:56 PM

  I actually talked with Ashley at Firefly before she closed.  At the time, it wasn’t rising rent as much as it was a desire to find a space that was more closely associated with other retail.  It also turned out that a big percentage of her sales were coming via the internet or from customers that would go to her anywhere - so a downtown location didn’t seem to her as necessary.

  I think that Firefly could have done some things to evolve and capture the built-in demand of Glenwood South.  Why someone would open a boutique retail store on Glenwood and close at 7:00 PM is beyond me.  Before any other place in downtown, Glenwood Ave could be emulate Georgetown or Olde Town Pasadena and combine retail with the entertainment options. 

  That being said, I believe that both Firefly and Stitch were among the few perfect downtown retailers.  For the most part, they produced a good that could not be found elsewhere with the local trade area, and each had a particular urbane appeal.

  In an ideal world, you’d find these kinds of shops in a built environment more reflective of such tenants, perhaps the warehouse district or on Wilmington St.  It’s a shame that both are gone for now…but I wouldn’t write them out of downtown forever…

  My $0.02.

• 15004/16 04:07 PM

  Javier, do you know anything about why Cherry moved from Glenwood to Cameron Village?  I’m curious if the reasons were similar to those of Firefly, or if it came down to the rent issue.

• Javier04/17 01:28 PM

  They are paying a higher rent at Cameron Village, and ultimately wanted to be in a shopping area that delivered more customers with higher discretionary spending potential.

• Rafe04/19 07:49 PM

  I can’t help but wonder if a lot of these businesses are leaving because parking is increasingly hard to come by down on Glenwood South?  It used to be that you could easily park on the street (Glenwood or North), or at the Creamery Building.  Now there’s nowhere to park at night, and it can even be difficult to find parking during the day.  It’s tough to do retail when there’s no convenient parking, and Glenwood is in a real pinch when it comes to parking.

• sarah emily04/20 09:48 PM

  I was in Knoxville this weekend and they offer a free trolley that runs late night Friday and Saturday 7-3:30a

  Does a figure 8 from campus to downtown.

  I’d luv to see this happen in Raleigh.

• 15004/22 04:06 PM

  Thanks Javier.

  That’s interesting that Cherry left Glenwood for HIGHER rents in Cameron Village.  Similarly, Firefly left more because of business opportunity that it did because of any possible increase in rent on Glenwood.

  If rent wasn’t the issue in those two businesses leaving Glenwood, then perhaps it wasn’t for Stitch either.

• Adrian Hands12/24 12:08 PM

  Ok, now as 2008 draws to a close, the space formerly occupied by North Road Bicycle Company remains…vacant.  They were driven out by escalating rent, and it turns out that a closed-in alleyway with leaky roof and busted air conditioner just isn’t all that hot a piece of property.  Whodathunkit?

  North Road Bicycle is still in the profitable portion of business—importing, but Raleigh and Wake have lost more than the taxes they used to collect.  Gilbert & Sue worked, ate, shopped and lived car-free downtown, before it was hip, and could be counted on to be there through boom & bust.  A stable yet lively middle-aged couple, they personally knew the other business owners, the residents, the homeless and the police officers.

  Importing luxury bikes and shipping them across the country was their bread and butter, but they were not like the everything-is-over-a-thousand-dollars furnishings store with the sparkling showroom windows unapproachable as they were impeccable.  Nor where they like the windowless, business-only shops one dares not call on uninvited for fear of being treated as a trespasser, or discovering Mr. Scrooge’s undiscovered corpse at his desk decomposing into the Accounts Receivables ledger.  They provided Raleigh with what Raleigh needed—inner tubes, used bikes, consignment, hard-to-find bike commuting, touring and camping gear, sidewalk shopping at its finest, True friendly and experienced professional expertise, and a downtown neighbor with long-term presence, familiarity and commitment.

  Gone now are the Monday evening bike rides that drew casual cyclists of all ages in to downtown restaurants, exposed them to other downtown retailers, made downtown stakeholders of folks from all over town, and brought human scale life to the streets.  It is irrefutable that their departure has left Glenwood South culturally poorer.

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