Cheryl L. Burns – 1/16/05

This page was last updated on January 18, 2005.

Is new construction justified?; Cheryl L. Burns; Beaver County Times; January 16, 2005.

Ms. Burns appears to be one of those persons who can turn something good into something bad.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“Has anyone noticed, or am I the only one?

“With the number of jobs being lost in the community (US Airways and Anchor Hocking for example), was it truly necessary to be building new malls and businesses in Center Township?”

[RWC] What does this have to do with anything? Should no new businesses have opened since the steel industry collapsed?

“I realize this will bring more money to our area, but people need jobs to spend money at the new businesses. The mall has lost a number of stores (the Gaps, Litman Jewelers, and Panda Express) within the past month, and more stores may soon follow.”

[RWC] Stores have been opening and closing in Beaver Valley Mall ever since it opened in 1968 or 1969. Remember Chess King, Gray Drug, Orange Julius, Woolworth’s, and a lot more I can’t remember? Eventually other businesses took their place. This is standard operating procedure for all malls.

“Has anyone looked into why the Robinson mall has flourished while ours is struggling?”

[RWC] For what it is worth, I don’t see BVM struggling and The Mall at Robinson is only a few years old.

“I can’t really believe it is due to appearance; our entire mall was just updated not too long ago.”

[RWC] Regarding appearance, the signs at the mall entrances could use refurbishing.

“Yet we will build the new stores, and then what happens when they don't ‘flourish’ as expected? Before we are left with a bunch of empty storefronts and no where to go (except Robinson or Cranberry), please think about why this is happening.”

[RWC] Who is “we?” Private businesses assessed the marketplace and believe there is a market for their products and services in a central Beaver County location. Will some of these businesses fail? Of course. There are no guarantees.

Given the job losses at US Airways and potential job losses at Anchor Hocking, I would expect people to be happy that other businesses were opening. It amazes me that someone can find something bad in something good.