Recently there was a write up in the Ottawa Times about new businesses opening up in Ottawa and Peru.
The one in Peru will be at 1801 Fourth Street, the location long ago of Kunkel Drugs. It will be a lounge for using E cigarettes and supposedly there is a picture on the window. Is this what downtown Peru is going to become? The only draw will be for people who will be buying and using a product which has not been proven to be safe. In fact more and more research is showing it is just the opposite with the by products of nicotine and formaldahyde. The excuse is used that it will prevent people from continuing the use of commerical cigarettes. IMO, it is replacing one addiction for another.
Personally I am finding the scattering of gambling rooms and now a E cigarette smoking lounge to be a total turnoff to people with families with children of all ages. I know this is not possible but some foresight with not allowing a scattering of these businesses all over town with short and long range planning goals would have been the right thing for the city to do.
Many of us were happy when the Smoking Shop left and now we just have another version of it. Are we still a family friendly town or not?
Is this one of the new businesses that came from the Route 6 Tourist Assn that is being promoted by Economic Director Bob Vickery?
56 comments:
I just saw that new business today. Yes there is a picture that I don't find very appealing. This is not the type of business I would hope for downtown. Unfortunately downtown is turning into smoke long rooms and taverns.
When are we going to talk about the elephant in the room
Road conditions in Peru are terrible
Lack of plows on streets and side streets are getting down 2 days later...is there a salt shortage somewhere...
10:27, agree, why weren't roads salted in a timely manner. Definitely not done on a "need be basic." Like the comment regarding the vactor truck. The new store will close. I give 6 months. People who buy those will purchase on the internet. I know several people who tried them and said it's a waste. Besides that, we shouldn't allow this type of business.
10:27, agree, why weren't roads salted in a timely manner. Definitely not done on a "need be basic." Like the comment regarding the vactor truck. The new store will close. I give 6 months. People who buy those will purchase on the internet. I know several people who tried them and said it's a waste. Besides that, we shouldn't allow this type of business.
That is what happens when the buildings (and the neighborhood) are allowed to fall into disrepair. Downtown is not suitable for retail anymore. There is not sufficient parking, the buildings are Rat Traps. It is a low rent district in dire need of a little, shall we say, urban development. In other words, most of the buildings downtown should be demolished and incentives put in place to attract services such as medical, legal, and other professionals. These people need modern buildings.
Out with the old - in with the new. We might have a few empty lots for awhile - but that would look better than those decrepit old buildings that are good for nothing but head shops and tattoo parlors.
I do not agree with attempts to allow or disallow a legal business. You can try zoning - but what ultimately needs to happen is that the area is made attractive to the businesses you want to attract. Like 12:18 said, we need to provide incentives for the owners of these buildings to tear them down.
The first area on my hit list would be the entire block from Peoria Street to Fulton Street - both sides of Route 6. Just level it. This can be accomplished through a creative combination of dilapidated building ordinances, tax increases, and a TIF zone.
I read the article in the paper this morning. More crony capitalism - 7% "amusement tax" that will be given to the developer of a new movie theater. Yup. Boss Harl sure knows how to incentivize development. Charge a tax and give it to your buddy.
"The problem that Robin Hood had with the Sheriff of Nottingham was the Sheriff of Nottingham used the power of taxation to steal all his money. It wasn't that the Sheriff was rich: the Sheriff was the government, and all the money he had was stolen. The government ought not to be in the business of making some people rich at the expense of others." - Grover Norquist
I think we should encourage our illustrious Rt. 6 Committee to bring more businesses like "The Spa" to the downtown area. Some local folks may not always have transportation all the way to the I-80 location. This is a very lucrative industry that brings sales tax to Peru. I think a Liquor Licence should be issued for the downtown branch of The Spa also. Many customers would appreciate a cold beverage after a night out and a very happy ending before calling it a night. C'mon Vickrey, let's get that downtown rockin'!
I just heard on the radio that we are giving $895,000 to the developer of a new movie theater north of the HyVee.
I wonder what we could do with almost a million dollars to revitalize the downtown. I wonder what we could do with almost a million dollars to build a new pool.
It is clear to me that our Government is NOT operating with the in the best interests of the people. Our Peru Government is nothing but a money churn for the connected. This entire movie theater deal stinks to high heaven!
very happy with all the aldermen last night. Rodney was humble and contrite and the rest let him off the hook. They were all very professional.
10:27
bernie saving the buck so he can put it in his pocket.
10:27 In our neighborhood we witnessed the opposite. Our roads were being plowed, which is fine except there was absolutely no snow what-so-ever on them. I also have a question. Are city vehicles (such as our snow plows) allowed to disobey stop signs?
All kinds of wheeling and dealing going on. Now it appears that the 911 center is going to be built on the IVCC campus. And what a coincidence - they will need to extend utilities to the 911 building anyway - so why not build a new sports complex? Using money from the 911 grant to take care of the utilities naturally.
Why does everything that our local governments do smell like so much cow crap? Every time I turn around, tax dollars are being used for purposes other than what we where told they would be used for!
Taverns, pawn shops, tattoo parlors, second hand junk stores, closed up gas stations, gambling, abandoned banks, smoke shop, buildings with unknown businesses inside, dumpy abandoned deli, etc. Yep, makes me wanna stop and shop! Not sure if there was a gun shop or not. So attractive.
9:24 - of course - those signs are only for us peasants to pay attention to.
Also - ever notice how City of Peru snow plows only have two speeds - stop and over the limit. Why do they need to drive so fast and make crazy U-turns?
7:57 AM, What is your angle? Perez has no reason to be "contrite", and as far as "professionalism" is concerned. Your definition of that word has a much lower threshold than the term deserves. Professional is the last word I would use to describe the Peru City Council.
@9:38 AM Was not aware of the 911 center being built on the IVCC Campus, but would find it interesting to learn more and reasons why this would be the chosen location. As for a sports complex I know that IVCC has been on shaky foundation for years in reference to school athletics. If you don't have sports what is the need of a sports complex? More unnenessary taxes!
Anon 10:21 PM Jan 26,2015
Is there a reasonable explanation as how your comment could be as extensively incorrect in a short 40 word message as it is?
I would suggest that you take a walk don memory lane of downtown Peru and recall whay businesses where in each building.
Presently your correspondance is incorrect and not worthy of anything further?
7:57 AM
Rodney explained the situation and requested not to be paid and Potthoff of the finance committee made no big deal about the expense report and the city moved on with business. I don't think all of these people are evil.
Local governments sometimes have to incentivize certain types of businesses. They wanted the theater to stay in the mall, but they could not and did not want to risk losing the theater. Excellent move.
Peru is no different than other communities who try to do the same types of things, just more successful. You can say it is another conspiracy or whatever you want, but it is how business gets done. People like 6:31 who calls this "crony capitalism" has no idea how business at this level gets done. This investment will pay off over and over for many years to come.
Kudos to the city for getting a NEW theater in town. Kudos to the city for getting the NEW mulitmillion dollar business on the river front that will of course never be mentioned here.
We are moving forward not backward. Not everything is perfect but despite the few who criticize everything here, the rest of the world is moving on and forward.
The 911 center is another very positive development. You don't understand why they chose IVCC? Read! Pay attention!
5:21, so you want to get rid of Debo's, Peru Fed, Pizza House, the refurbished Mirror building, plus Ins. And Investment offices, and other professional buildings, this area is the most important part of the downtown. I don't know what your thinking if you are.
10:41 AM, We are in agreement. I also do not beleive "all of those people are evil". I do beleive however they are inept, misguided, incompetent, unqualified, and lazy.
Not really evil.
11:01 - no argument with having IVCC turn over some land to use as the 911 center. The problem is with using part of the grant money that is earmarked for the 911 center building to extend the utilities so IVCC can build an unnecessary athletic complex.
I would also like to see the agreement with the college - I have a feeling that they will sneak in some money to the college that is supposed to be used for the center. Maybe rent or something like that.
I'm sorry - that is just how things happen around here.
5:21, I apologize, I looked at Peoria to Putnam, your right going to Fulton, but I would hate to lose Vlasniks.
11:27 I wouldn't call them any of those names. In a democracy you have all kinds of personalities. I know a few of those and I see experience, intelligence, committed and progressive. They are getting things done and not looking back to the critics.
Isn't the proposed location of the new theater in a TIF zone? If so aren't breaks given to businesses who build in those areas? So why the need for an additional incentive? Just curious!
11:27 - read the comment again. I said from Peoria Street to Fulton Street. That is west toward the city building. Currently a bunch of rat traps just waiting for a strong wind or a stray spark.
10:59 - please be advised that your medical pot card is not valid yet.
If this is how business is done in America- it's time to start over again. I can see taking a blighted area and offering an incentiv to develop it. This is way beyond an incentive. This is the ciity paying just shy of a million dollars to develop a theater, giving it to a private company, and then trying to recoup the "investment" through taxation.
This is not capitalism. In fact, it closely resembles the economic policies of 1930's Germany.
Now ask yourself. Is the movie company going to shutdown and leave the illinois valley? I'm willing to bet no. They would either stay in the mall or develop a new theater. They will not pick up and leave the Illinois valley allowing a competitor to fill the vacuum. Maybe they would put it in LaSalle or Oglesby - but if they want out of the mall bad enough- they will make the investment. But - what other location has the traffic that Peru does?
This is a bad deal for the taxpayer. The Government should NOT take the risk away from a private company. No no no no no this is not business - this is not capitolism - this is WRONG!
To 10:59 AM, As a frequent critic of Peru's elected officials I have no problem saying this theatre thing is fine with me. I have a good understanding of how these deals are done and I am quite certain that Peru's current group elected officials had very little, if any input into the final development plan. Furthermore, your "Kudos" should be directed to the theatre business owner who understands there is a market for their product here and the developers and lawyers who pushed the deal because they will all profit handsomely from it. To offer Kudos to Peru's elected officials provides the false impression to the uninformed readers of this blog that Harl and the aldermen actually planned, negotiated, and executed this deal and nothing could be further from the reality of the matter. Peru's elected officials sit quietly while these deals are brokered and vote as they are instructed when the time comes, as it did last night. You may wonder why I remain a critc of Peru's under- achieving city council? Because I am always reminded of what this city "could be" with a smart, aggressive group of hard working, "thinking" elected officials instead of the slack-jawed, easily influenced, and shamefully lazy group that sits up there at present. Except for Mr. Perez of course.
If the theater is a kid free zone with a liquor license and slot machines if would fit in nicely.
Read! Pay attention! 11:01 AM Tell me, would you expect a stupider answer than what you have just submitted to a very sensible and well stated question.
Whatever the drug you are on is not working properly.
No! This theater deal stinks! If we are going to be investors in this scheme - maybe we need a little incentive ourselves .
Just so everyone is clear. Here is the "deal" as I understand it. There are four parties involved. The land owner, the theater company, their developer, and the city. As I understan it, the theater company either owns outright or has a substantial interest in the developer. So they are tied at the hip. So the deal goes down lik this. The city cuts a check for almost $900K and gives it to the developer. The developer uses the money to buy the property and build the theater. The theater is transferred to the movie theater company. The movie theater company pays the city back with the 7% ticket tax. I'm still waiting on info about any interest- but it sounds like there is none. So the movie theater company gets a brand new theater withe zero skin in the game. The tax payers get to pay themselves back over many many years. The immediate effect is we are about $900k short.
So how do I get in on this deal? How many businesses get a brand new building in very expensive commercial zone without investing any equity?
Yup- they saw us coming with that one. Bend over Peru- we are about to take it in the shorts.
If I'm reading the NT correctly, the 7% tax is not just on tickets to this theater. It is on a whole litany of amusements. It sounds like we will pay an extra 7% to buy a DVD for example. Bringing the tax up to over 14%!!!!!
1:27 - partially correct. the NT mentions that there is a holding company that will retain title to the property and lease it to the movie theater company.
Bottom line - they want Peru to be a bank.
Oh... and the Boss is going to charge an extra 7% on all kinds of things.
I would like a clarification on the wording of an "amusement tax". I know the city council is indicating a possible tax on going to see a movie but this tax could be used on bowling, arcade games and on other amusements. Is Carmike the only film/theater group that is interested in 30,000 plus demographic population center? If we are a profitable cinema area why wouldn't another business group come in and start up.
12:40 you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. Period.
12:42 you absolutely have NO idea if that is what you think. While I agree that it is mostly a private sector enterprise I know for a fact that city officials have been involved for some time. City officials always are. They don't just show up one day and say "Hey we are putting up a theater!" If that is how you think it works.......keep thinking.
"Except Mr. Perez of course." Lol
1:27 do you really think they are going to build this for $900,000? Who said anything about no equity? This is like a $10 million or more investment in infrastructure and a building. It also continues to bring people to town to shop, eat and many other things. Similar arrangements have been made in countless communities. This deal does not stink. It's smart and it will pay dividends.
1:40 that is absolutely false. There is not tax on top of a tax. The tax will be built in to the cost of the ticket. You pay this at a number of other theaters as well although maybe not locally. Many communities have a similar tax.
The Peru side streets yesterday night and over the weekend were the worst I've ever seen. If anyone thinks the city did a great job they need there head examined. Does anyone remember why Chicago mayor Jane Burns lost. It was because the City of Chicago wasn't ready for the snow storm! It sure looked like the City isn't ready to handle a simple weekend snow flurries and what occurred yesterday. Or, the ones in charge are just ignorant and just don't care.
3:20, I don't care if the building costs $50 million - the City should not be spending almost $900K on a private business. Period. End of Story. Not goanna happen if I have a say so.
Let them do what they want with the theater. I use Netflix and ITunes. I haven't been to a theater in decades and haven't purchased a DVD in 3 years.
3:33 Your side streets may not have been cleaned because the plows were busy repeatedly plowing streets that had no snow at all on them. Not only bad for the plows but bad for the roads.
REGARDING THE THEATER, ALOT OF THE IN THE SUBURBS THAT ARE BEING BUILD DO HAVE LIQUOR SERVED. WHAT THE DEAL? IS THIS ONE NOT GOING TO, AND THE AFTER IT'S UP AND RUNNING, WILL THEY REQUEST A LIQUOR LICENSE? CAN'T AFFORD TO GO THE MOVE NOW, HOW IS THIS GOING TO HELP PERSON TAXPAYERS?
419, Pictures don't lie. No snow on side streets, get your head examined. Salt on side streets early Monday night, LOL.
We need a theatre like we need a hole in our head-who can afford to go to a show anymore? I certainly can't. Why would we give them money? If we have any excess money then let the street dept clean the roads as they were horrible and I have to say this is the first time that I can remember the streets being like this - don't the new "bosses" think they need to be cLeaned? Or are they obliviouss to the situation!
Anon 3:33, Burns didn't lose her job, Blandic did and Burns got in, research is a good thing.
Burns was definitely into her alcohol. Like most politicians.
The trouble I have with those who are trying to get into government for the first time is that they make all kinds of promises and come across as honest and trustworthy individuals who will do what is best for those they represent. Our current mayor had many of us believing in him and his reasons for wanting to govern Peru. Today he has turned his back on many who supported him and worked hard to get him elected and re-elected. His new circle of friends (mayors and government officials from larger communities) has become more important to him than those he represents. So, remember that whoever you vote for may become a different person when they become a politician. While I am not telling you who to vote for or trying to convince you who to vote for I can say that alderman Perez has kept his campaign promises to fight for those he represents. And, let's not forget there is competition in wards 3 and 4 also.
@8:43 AM Yes research is a good thing and at times a must and at other times very unimportant. I am sure 8:43's mistaken identity was not done intentionally but did get the meat of the story correct.
The amount of snow on the streets was in on way significant enough to call out city workers to plow them and ruin the city workers week end, cost premuim time pay and beat mother natures clean-up by 2 days. I did not see anyone stuck in the snow. I consider use of common sense when driving in conditions such as this week end presented i.e. slow down, pay attention to your driving, get off the telephone, be cautious when approaching intersections, and above all do not drive unnecessarly.
How many remember when the city used to spread cinders on the roads during a snow or sleet storm? Manpower and product as everything else was not nearly as expensive as today. If we want the city to spend less we must do our share also.
Who would that be 9:31? Those few used Perez for there own purpose of gaining a handout from your city?
10:22 What r u trying to say?
Facts are what we need not slogans. 9:31. I will say that he tried to get power hooked up for a neighbor that wouldn't pay their bill. It was good for the neighbor but not so good for the rest of us that pay our bills.
Who ever voted for harl in the first place had to have blinders on an wax in their ears . He has always been all about himself
Are you saying that the E-cigeratte business will have a public lounge to smoke indoors in. Isn't it unlawful to have any smoking inside a public buiding?
How old does a person have to be to enter a E-cigerette business, how old do you have be to purchase these products? Super Bowl Sunday, will be A Super Bowl of another kind in LaSalle County what business will have the highest net in the area? Big bucks to shut big mouths! Enforcement will have to look in so many directions to not do their job they'll spend the entire day dizzy. Bussiness is good.
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