The Public Opinion Soapbox

lynnosler · Joined: 08 Dec 2007 Posts: 15 Location: Chambersburg, PA

I am a native and I WANT CHANGE. I want NEW and BETTER things! Laughing

So we are not ALL like that. I think alot of it is the OLD people who don't want change! I think it scares them, they have to face the fact that they are getting OLD! Rolling Eyes

cookieclaygirl · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 2194 Location: shippensburg

hum...don't you find it odd that no one wants another giant or a rite aid?

HUMMMMM.......... ODD!!!!!!

(rofl...)

Coppy · Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 2615 Location: Chambersburg

Wow, even I try to tone down the ageism despite the mutual feeling. I can't deny the fact that Franklin County has a HUGE elderly population that probably controls a good bit of local votes, private funding and general discontent. Chambersburg's average age, according to the 2000 census, is 40. It may very well be higher now. Compare that to the national average of 35 (highest in its history by far).

Then again, Pennsylvania as a whole has a very elderly population, particularly for a fairly well developed northeastern state. But there's a lot of rural in PA (I've heard that PA has the highest population of people categorized as living in a "rural" area) and as much as you may want to poke fun at Florida, PA's median age (39.1) is identical to FLA's.

But watch out Chambersburg; we're getting younger and we're ready to move into the 21st century with the rest of the country!

cookieclaygirl · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 2194 Location: shippensburg

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cool

paul_milander · Joined: 16 Mar 2008 Posts: 585 Location: Shippensburg, PA

I would love to get a good Vietnamese restaurant in Shipp or Chambersburg. Right now Little Saigon in Harrisburg is the best in the area.

cookieclaygirl · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 2194 Location: shippensburg

yumm!!!! yes!!!!! yes i want that too! and an ethiopian one too....

/drool....

Me!!!!!!!! · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 305

Here is a response I got from Wegmans regarding new stores opening:

Hi!

We received your e-mail asking that we build a Wegmans store near your community. Thank you! We take that as a compliment and will share your request with our long range planning committee.

You may be surprised to learn that we open just two or three new stores a year. That gives us plenty of time to invest in training our people.

What follows is a list of planned stores, which for the most part, do not as yet have defined construction schedules.

Confirmed Opening Dates:
Woodbridge, VA, Summer 2008

Opening Dates Yet to Be Determined:
Malvern, PA
Leesburg, VA
Lake Manassas, VA
Frederick, MD
Crofton, MD
Landover, MD
Columbia, MD
Fredericksburg, VA
Collegeville, PA

Project On Hold for Future Consideration:
Turnersville, NJ

Thank you, again, for taking the time to share your request. If you're interested in more details about our future sites, visit our web site at this link http://www.wegmans.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/FAQDetailView?storeId=10052&catalogId=10002&langId=-1&faqCategory=AboutWegmans#question_7

Sincerely,

Kim
Consumer Services E-Mail Coordinator
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I have this theory that chocolate slows down the aging process.... It may not be true, but do I dare take the chance?
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cookieclaygirl · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 2194 Location: shippensburg

wegmans....i love you...come to this area....even hagerstown. please. please PLEASE!

(yes, coppy, i know...i know! i just...just....can't help it!!!!!)

BadKarma42 · Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 1:22 pm Post subject:

Maybe its just me but I see a lot of postings/articles about newer stores and nicer stores and it seems to imply that they will make the area better.

I think it only gives the impression of "better."

My greater concern is how the people that live here can make more money to spend at these stores.

Increase the standard of living (financially) and maybe then these "nice" stores will be more apt to see us on the radar.

cookieclaygirl · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 2194 Location: shippensburg

speaking of new stores, i went to steve and barry's this weekend...an 'ok' store...on par w/gap meets h&m. decent clothes at decent prices.

one BIG gripe....

i was at the counter checking out and i asked the clerk where the bathrooms were (a idiosyncrasy of mine)....she says: we have them but they're not for the public

WHA????

eff that. i told her they'll have one less customer because that's archaic. when my mom worked for an attorney in town, he'd carry a PA statute saying it was not legal to deny public bathroom facilities. i need to find that statute to flash it in their faces.

we're good enough to shop there but we can't pee there?

i told her, fine, i'll pee on the floor instead.

ROFL.....

Coppy · Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 2615 Location: Chambersburg

I was curious which was closer; Mechanicsburg or Frederick (since a Wegman's is scheduled to open in the latter).

Chambersburg to:

Mechanicsburg - 51 Miles
Frederick - 59

Relatively negligible travel-wise. As I've said though, a Wegman's won't open around here simply because there's isn't a comparably-sized population center to support (or appreciate) a Wegman's between the two.

.45chel · Joined: 26 Oct 2007 Posts: 3068 Location: Chambersburg

Bad Karma is right about the cost of living. Reading Chambersburg's wiki article that included average median income---it was depressing!

It's no wonder we have the stores we do, if this is the information non-residents have about the community.

I know people can support families on that amount of money or less, but it isn't easy. And families of four or more?! Especially with prices going up the way they are? ick.

If we want those stores we have to be able to sustain them and I'm not sure this area is willing or able to do that just yet. I think we will have to be patient and push for things that are possible right now.
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Nevermind.

sassy moose · Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 284 Location: Virginia

I've never been to a Wegman's, but I just checked out their website...holy crap! It looks awesome!

Very nice site too, with the recipes and information.

.45chel · Joined: 26 Oct 2007 Posts: 3068 Location: Chambersburg

There is no doubt of it's awesomeness. I just wouldn't want it to come to the area and fail or we will never get a decent store here for my lifetime!!
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Nevermind.

Coppy · Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 2615 Location: Chambersburg

I'm glad someone took a moment to look at our meager median income. And seriously, consider the fact that people around here are popping out kids like its their job.

Median income is just over $32,000. Wow. Imagine supporting 4+ kids on that (and I surmise that most local families have 4+ kids, but raising just one on $32K would be a serious burden).

OK, so lets compare again, median income in...

Mechanicsburg: $45,200
Neighboring Camp Hill: $50,744(!)

How about Frederick, MD: $47,700

And just for comparison purposes...

Hagerstown, MD: $30,796

Enough said; no Wegmans anywhere around here ever in the history of the universe. That's Wegman's business plan and why there is no chance of one ever coming here, OR Hagerstown.

Typically, larger communities have smaller median incomes and larger communities have smaller median incomes. It's a principle of economics. Wegman's locates only in areas that defy that. Many small communities have high median incomes (Greencastle's is quite high for a small population) and many large communities have small median incomes (Harrisburg's is just under 30K).

It's the suburban, professional areas that Wegman's is targeting (and many other upper income businesses for that matter). They expect those of us with money to spare to travel to their stores. A little penalty for having disposable income and living in the sticks.