DPD

Perhaps you are right, Rockwall. They are like hardware stores...never enough of a good thing. I'm still searching for a really good Mexican food place. Nothing yet compares to the ones my family went to when I was a kid down in south Texas. They always manage to make something wrong, like sour cream on a perfectly good enchilada or hard, dry tamales. (Monday Nov 23 | post #25)

Loud Boom last night

That might have been it, rcbob. Not to worry, I'm properly humiliated by those who are head and shoulders above my station on a rather regular basis here, and I sure appreciate it, too - don't think I'm not grateful. (Nov 21, 2009 | post #14)

RC GOB CC/EDC meeting schedules? Minutes?

Anyone who made it through the acronyms gets 3 points added to their lifetime average. Okay, all you whiners, complainers, grouches, cutpurses and snitches (heh), time to take my two polls. If you know WHEN the meetings are held and have the ability to go there, then you should never again have a complaint about transparency in city government. If you can't attend, and if someone can get copies of minutes and post them (or a synopsis, if too lengthy), then you could at least read what was decided or spent, right? If this 3000 word limit won't allow a full publishing, then maybe we could get a full set emailed out to anyone interested. If you aren't interested, and you just want to complain about things, then you will be considered a bag of wind. (Nov 21, 2009 | post #1)

A movie theater A woodworking supply A boat supply Did I mention there are never enough hardware stores? A nurseryman (seeds!) A fine furniture maker An art gallery for local artists, potters, etc. A feed co-op A book shop With my last dollar in hand, I will want a 99cent store. Now I won't need a bank any more, so I can save on all those overdraft fees. (Nov 19, 2009 | post #21)

I just started thinking what shops I would like to see downtown, aside from a grocery store. Really, the massage parlor was a bad joke, but there are some places I would like... Baskin-Robbins ice cream A fresh produce store A hobby shop A Western Wear shop There are never enough hardware stores A real antique shop A homestyle buffet An IHOP A Tractor Supply A pet shop Neiman Marcus (just kidding) A genuine bakery A good Chinese place A good Thai place (Nov 19, 2009 | post #20)

Well Betty, I'm pretty certain you will find plenty of customers, provided you carry quality and reasonable variety. I have my shopping list all made out, so if you are serious...? You could set up a poll to see if anyone else would buy guns and ammo locally (knives, bows, camping supplies, etc??) FAMOUS QUOTE: "If you build it, they will come." (Nov 19, 2009 | post #18)

Catfish Camp sign on I30

Clark, you may be right, but let me suggest that Starbucks has very likely studied the demographics of the region. While hiking in Taiwan, I stumbled (literally) into a small village sitting at the top of a mountain. In this village, which had done a nice job on their main town square, sat a wonderful Starbucks, billed as the highest Starbucks in Asia. don't know if that was hype or not, but one of the kids who worked the counter spoke passable English and the coffee was wonderful. They were doing a booming business. Starbucks had studied that tiny village and that location, and the result was obvious. So when you suggest that the city folks might not have approached Starbucks, I suggest that Starbucks has already studied Royse City! (Nov 19, 2009 | post #29)

I'm tired of shopping in Rockwall

I concur, Tom. There must be a balanced approach (as you say, controlled development). Buildings downtown need first to become occupied and productive. That would bring in shoppers and those awful people, investors!! I shudder, but I know you are right about this. We need more businesses and they will certainly need more space than Main offers...they will have to have (oh, no!) more parking lots and signage and traffic! They will have to build large warehouse-like buildings, I guess, like the mostly unoccupied buildings beside the off-ramp at I-30. I guess that would provide local jobs for the kids, but the trade-offs are not small. I do know of kids who work in Rockwall, Rowlett, Greenville, etc...their commutes are really not too long for most people - 20 minutes or so. I used to drive two hours EACH WAY, six days a week, but I don't recommend a steady diet of expressway crawl to anyone. It's what made me the bitter man I am today (some will take me seriously, I'm sure). As far as employment for kids - a serious matter - there are still jobs around for those who are enterprising enough to look, and to work hard at what they do get. There are still chores that people can't or don't want to do themselves. Those are the traditional starting jobs for the young people who aren't too fastidious to do them. It does require certain character traits...hopefully kids are learning something useful from parents, in school, scouts, sports, and church. We don't need more prima donnas. (Nov 19, 2009 | post #19)

Regular Reader, thanks for reminding me to plug The Well. Their sandwiches and soups are wonderful. I also appreciate the very nice florist and the other places you mention. Milano's Pizzeria is good, too. Who needs groceries...we can live on pizza and let them do the dishes! I just hope I don't need that attorney to get me out of jail. "Honest officer, my gas pedal stuck and I was up to 75 mph, so I completely missed that second light when I got distracted by the loud crashing sound coming from that gravel truck I hit. Won't happen again..." (Nov 18, 2009 | post #16)

Copied from the Catfish thread, as submitted by Regular Reader: Folks there is a really nice Coffee Shop called The Well on main street. They have really good sandwiches one called the Ricky Bo, other stuff too, even an internet bar. It's a beautiful place inside to sit with friends and talk over a good cup of coffee. I think it was started by two sisters. They did a ton of beautiful work to the building. I have nothing to do with the business, so this isn't an advertisement, ok. There are other things on main street too, a great florist that has gifts, and all kinds of school spirit stuff, a couple of little boutiques, the pharmacy,insurance companys, there's also an attorney just past the police building, you guys already know about all the restaurants. The old bank building is going to house a company that installs solar panels, wind turbines and other energy related things. I talked with a guy he was really nice. Rent runs from 900.00 to well over 1,000 or it used to before the girl bought the building for her boutiques (next to the pharmacy) (Nov 18, 2009 | post #15)

grocery store

FRANK! Hadn't heard from you in a while. Thought maybe you were mad at someone in RC and refusing to come out and play. I see I was wrong (not my first time). You were just saving your best punch for the city, as usual. Maybe the city people really heard you that time. Let me see now...Helping Hands is a thrift shop. They have nothing whatsoever to do with groceries...um...Frank,I see who you don't like, but I don't follow what you are saying about a grocery store. (Nov 18, 2009 | post #18)

I'm tired of shopping in Rockwall

They do that here on the baseball field? Whoa! Which inning? (Nov 18, 2009 | post #17)

But Honey!!! Oh no, don't throw that! oooomph. HE HAD IT COMING TO HIM - mrs dpd (Nov 18, 2009 | post #13)

Why move to Royse City?

Thanks, Loving Life - I was addressing Toothless, not you. Your post came in as I was busy wiping my own drool off my shoes. Yours is a great post. (Nov 18, 2009 | post #46)