50% - HALF - of the shops & restaurants at DC Ranch have gone out of business

A full 50% - HALF - of the businesses at DC Ranch marketplace have gone under (pictures soon to follow).

This alone is the biggest proof that north Scottsdale, and DC Ranch in particular, is full of the biggest bunch of phonies and fake rich people to ever walk the earth.

None of them ever had any money or any wealth. All of their spending money came from the "housing ATM" - the practice of taking out home equity loans that need to be paid back in a few years - along with massive credit card debt.

Now that the housing ATM is over and the credit cards are maxed out, north Scottsdale businesses are crashing.

I've been reporting on the recent widespread failures of Scottsdale restaurants, but this is huge. If half of the DC Ranch marketplace shops and restaurants have already gone under, and since the option-ARM mortgages have just begun to adjust, the hard truth is that Scottsdale is in for an economic disaster of massive proportions.

But hey, that's what you get when your "city" is the #1 destination for phonies, quick-buck artists, shysters, and con men in the United States. Perhaps the only place in the world where McDonald's employees and high school dropouts are driving BMWs.

Comments

[A Concerned Neighbor]

Following are comments from an internal DC Ranch Community message board FYI:

Concerned About Market Street - Ghost Town
Within the last 6 months we have witnessed 3 and "soon to be" a 4th business depart Market Street. God knows whose next. While I support the free market system, watching Market Street become a Ghost Town is disconcerting. The Citron Bistro, we have been told, will be closing on or about June 17. While never busy enough (I guess), this little restaurant served varied and excellent food and provided a far more intimate setting than the larger restaurants we have. It's a shame to see them go. Three questions: 1) Is our business office (that controls leasing) carefully selecting businesses that have the best chance of success in the DC Ranch demographic? 2) When businesses come here are we providing them the financial "breathing room" to succeed, and 3) When a business, like Cafe Citron, that should be successful here, are we working with them to succeed? I think it's in everyone's best interest to have Market Street looking vibrant not appearing to be dying.



Author Replies

I see that __________________ responded to previous concerns regarding the large portion of empty Market Street restaurant spaces. Unfortunately, the reply consisted of no information as to what type of restaurants we can expect, nor when we can expect them. My husband, __________, and I were shocked when we last ventured out for a nice, leisurely and casual dinner at The Tavern and we again found the restaurant in that area closed. That makes the third restaurant in that location that has been closed by DMB since our residence began at DC Ranch. I see little value in venturing over to Market Street and I will in the future frequent restaurants at other locations, if only because I can count on their long-term operation. All other shops at Market Street hold little value for our family purchases.

I would think that since Market Street is a part of the DC Ranch community that notices of closing business venues would be sent to DC Ranch residents. Those notices would certainly be helpful for those of us caught off-guard when DMB decides to close more venues.

Next:

Thank you for your concern about Market Street. Market Street Management is actively recruiting new businesses and several are in the lease negotiation process. An announcement of who these exciting new merchants are will be released as soon as the leases are signed.

For more information, please refer to the current update from Market Street in the Community News section on RanchNet.

If you have questions or would like to share your suggestions for Market Street, Please feel free to call ____________, DMB Commercial ______________ at _________________.

Thank you,
_____________________
DC Ranch _____________________________



Next:

I heard that Cafe Citron and the Tavern were leaving because they were not making eoungh money and that DMB takes a percentage of their profits. Since they were not making enough money apparently DMB forced them out. Is this true? I just can't believe it. No wonder we can't get a family friendly, inexpensive restaurant to come here. They can't afford to pay DMB a percentage. Please tell me I am wrong! I just hate to hear this, we will be a ghost town if it is true.


Next:

2 more are gone - The Tanning place and Aquatic store next to Safeway. This is becomeing a community problem and will effect our values if it continues. We should be concerned and deserve to be involved in a plan to reverse this situation. This is the first and most visiable "blemish" on the D C Ranch image and reputation.

Next:

I agree with both of you. The reasons given are the high rents that DMB sets for shops and their wish that no obvious chains come to market street. Look at the new shopping center at Hayden and Thompson Peak. Virtually everything is rented at lower rents. Lets get a Kashman's type Breakfast facility and other affordable stores. A ghost town is dreary. Imagine how they will fill the boutique shops near the Village Club if Market Street continues to empty. The leasing people should seriously examine their priorities.

Next:

I completely agree with you. My husband and I have been concerned about this as well. DC Ranch needs to be looking at other options. I realize the design was to be a more "upscale" type of center, but obviously that is not working. I have said before that I feel we need more family friendly places on Market Street. I hate to say it, but more places like they have in Grayhawk.
Suggested businesses: A sandwich shop ( Paradise Bakery, Picnic Company)
Another Ice Cream store
A breakfast place

As for shopping, I'm not sure what will work, with the lack of visibility from Pima I'm sure it makes it difficult for merchants.

[Frank Rumbauskas]

This is a prime example of Scottsdale's inexplicable hatred of chain restaurants backfiring and blowing up in their face.

Something like Houston's would do well in DC Ranch and would have the capital to survive slow periods, yet they won't have a Houston's because it's a "chain."

STUPID.

[Keith]

I see both sides of the "Chain" issue: As a small business owner - we have a boutique-type store in Phx - it is extremely difficult to survive against chain-store competition. That said, a chain like Houston's,Morton's, etc appeal to us, though we try to find locally owned resturants - mom&pop so to speak.
Unfortunately, we are in AZ - chains rule - there is one of every chain on each corner and each over-developed shopping area - there are more Chili's and Outbacks than gas stations - it is sad that when you read a local city's "10 best" list that somehow Scottsdale and Phoenix residents always nominate Pizza Hut as best Pizza, Olive Garden best Italian food and Red Lobster best seafood.
When you are surround by low-brows like that - how can any independent business with some style and class survive...

[war_shu_duck]

I think a more appropriate name for this area would be "D'Bag" Ranch Market place. Myself I have been there a handful of times. The only two businesses there I see with any plan or potential to survive are Flo's and the Safeway store. Rather than think in terms of why wouldn't the average business succeed there I ask why would a business succeed there? The area is out in the middle of nowhere. Its sparsely populated. Its well hidden and offers nothing you can't get anywhere else. Clearly the builders of this marketplace disregarded the location location location concept.

The clientele seem to the typical pseudo millionaire 40-50 something males with thinning hair, fat gut, and hawaiian print shirts. You know the type of guy who constantly has to tell you about his greatness because it isn't clearly visible. The female clientele appear to be the 20-40 something Scottsdale prostitutes(they call them hotties) out fishing for a whale. If they can't land a guy with any real money these women are satisfied hustling some broke shmuck out of a few drinks.

While walking around on the sidewalk I can't recall seeing one person with a shopping bag in their hand. I did see hooded sweatshirts that some very creative person used a Bedazzler to put 20 or so rhinestones in for sale for $175.lol

If you ask me its no wonder that 50% of the shops and restaurants have gone out of business. All they need to do to give this place the death blow would be to build another strip mall/market place a quater of a mile up the road.

Arizona is the only place I have ever seen a Mcdonalds fold. Besides the one in San diego where 16 people where killed by an armed gunman. I know of two so far that have closed here in AZ and maybe some of you know of more. There was the one in Tempe on mill that is now the Library pub and the one that was in downtown Phoenix on Monroe near the San Carlos hotel. If McDonlads can't make it in this state how could a non-chain restaurant survive?

[war_shu_duck]

I think a more appropriate name for this area would be "D'Bag" Ranch Market place. Myself I have been there a handful of times. The only two businesses there I see with any plan or potential to survive are Flo's and the Safeway store. Rather than think in terms of why wouldn't the average business succeed there I ask why would a business succeed there? The area is out in the middle of nowhere. Its sparsely populated. Its well hidden and offers nothing you can't get anywhere else. Clearly the builders of this marketplace disregarded the location location location concept.

The clientele seem to the typical pseudo millionaire 40-50 something males with thinning hair, fat gut, and hawaiian print shirts. You know the type of guy who constantly has to tell you about his greatness because it isn't clearly visible. The female clientele appear to be the 20-40 something Scottsdale prostitutes(they call them hotties) out fishing for a whale. If they can't land a guy with any real money these women are satisfied hustling some broke shmuck out of a few drinks.

While walking around on the sidewalk I can't recall seeing one person with a shopping bag in their hand. I did see hooded sweatshirts that some very creative person used a Bedazzler to put 20 or so rhinestones in for sale for $175.lol

If you ask me its no wonder that 50% of the shops and restaurants have gone out of business. All they need to do to give this place the death blow would be to build another strip mall/market place a quater of a mile up the road.

Arizona is the only place I have ever seen a Mcdonalds fold. Besides the one in San diego where 16 people where killed by an armed gunman. I know of two so far that have closed here in AZ and maybe some of you know of more. There was the one in Tempe on mill that is now the Library pub and the one that was in downtown Phoenix on Monroe near the San Carlos hotel. If McDonlads can't make it in this state how could a non-chain restaurant survive?

[Jeff K.]

Apparently the geniuses at DMB (Is that short for dumb?)
don't have much experience in retail. If they spent as much as much time getting the right tenants as they spent on architects,
perhaps they would realize no small operation can pay a % of gross, high rents and locate in a hidden strip mall and hope to survive!!!

[FYI]

FYI.. I lease a store in Grayhawk Plaza, the shopping center on Scottsdale Rd with Basha's as it's anchor. We have Nick's and Pei Wei as well.

Our rent per square foot is even higher than that of DC Ranch. The landlords make it near impossible for a small business to succeed. You're essentially working to pay your rent.

Not to add fuel to the fire, but coming soon will be One Scottsdale, and Palisene, 2 upscale properties with more retail and restaurants. Although they will also include resorts and housing which will bring more traffic to the area.