scm

Fourth Presbyterian Church on Michigan Avenue in Chicago is another great example. Literally across the street from the John Hancock Building, and surrounded by tens of 40+ story condo buildings. Setback is the key.

Not bloody likely. Those destinations rank #4, 10, & 13 of ORF enplanements (link). Most ORF-SD traffic is DOD, which is driven by the GSA city pair contract with AA. AA could care less about what the customer wants - they have the contract, which means all US Gov't traffic between the two goes which ever way AA wants -- i.e., via ORD or DFW. As far as the other two, there aren't 100 enplanements a day to either from here, so no airline will ever dedicate an a/c if they don't get the loads they need. No competitive advantage. Off hub non-stops serve unique markets -- Austin to San Jose comes to mind. No such un-served market for ORF (JAX already has SWA non-stop). And instead of chasing this trans-Atlantic pipe dream, Ole' Pete needs to turn his attention to getting JetBlue to fly here. Wonder why people fly from PHF? $173 RT on AirTran vs. $242 RT on US Air or DL from here to NYC. RIC-JFK is $143 on JetBlue. Have to believe they could make money here at the same price.

Typical -- know everything, and understand nothing. Doesn't change the analysis that more people prefer the city you look down your nose at -- no matter whose stats you use. And FYI, the source I used was the commercial vendor, Proximity One, "based on current MSA definitions as designated by U.S. Office of Management and Budget and official county population estimates released by the U.S. Bureau of the Census April 2005." Nits are running all over your floor........

Obviously, based on growth rates from '00 to '04, you are in the minority: Tampa -- 7.64% growth N/VB -- 4.06% growth Must be that big arena downtown.....

Gosh, I'd think Tampa was paradise for you. They have the only measurement that counts -- major league sports....

The Charlottesville store came along in the 1996 acquistion of Fresh Fields. They are currently building a new one, along with a store in Richmond. Here are their criteria: 200,000 people or more in a 20 minute drive time 40,000

TJs vs. Whole Foods I love the TJs in NN, and shop there every time my job takes me to the peninsula. But I'd never compare the selection in a TJs, with 2500 SKUs, with a Whole Foods with 15,000. Believe me, I've shopped in both, and there is no comparison -- in selection, mainly. They just are different stores, with different goals. It will be a long wait for a WF in HR. There will be one in Richmond before there is one here, and the reason is simple market demographics. I once drove a '74 Datsun pickup. It got me and my stuff from point A to point B. Now, I have a nice topped-out BMW X3. It also gets me and my stuff from point A to point B. But I've never compared the price of the Datsun to the price of the BMW. If you want good service, cleanliness, a wide selection of high quality organic and other premium quality food, and to spend money with a company with good environmental practices, you're going to pay a little more for those qualities. It is that simple. I'm willing, and apparently lots of other people around the country are as well. I just don't know if there are enough in HR to attract WF.

Not really -- the new market at Macarthur is the satellite to Norview. This TC market has been in work for a few months now. Mike Cullipher of Cullipher Farms in Pungo told me it was coming while I was picking strawberries down there in May. The Norview market has few actual farmers -- same complaint against the PA one. The TC market is better connected as it being promoted by Peter Coe, one of the owners of the Taste Unlimited chain. Cullipher and other Pungo farmers are already on board while they are not selling now at Norview or PA. Part of a real sea change in American eating habits -- we are starting to value fresh food, just as the Europeans have for years. Public markets are a way of life in Germany, where even the discount stores post the origin of produce -- closer to the source is more valued. Fresh Market at Hilltop features some local produce. Just eat a Pungo strawberry that was picked this week and you will never eat one encased in a plastic shell and shipped from California ever again.