COMBINED RESULTS
Would anyone in the group be interested in purchasing "Dillons Dollars" (dollar for dollar grocery money) through the TurnAround Team as a fundraiser?
Yes
Regarding the Dillons Store:
SHORT TERM (THE NEXT THREE YEARS, EXISTING STORE)
CONCERNS/NEEDS
Safety/Security
That it remain open (that Dillon's doesn't close the store)
Mentally ill in the store
Improve fresh produce department
Increase security measures
Better upkeep of grounds
Better long-term management
Improve selection
Cleanliness
Better customer service (carry bags to car)
Drive-thru pharmacy speeds up things but may bring people back for other items and Dillons would keep up with Walgreens and Osco with this service
Improve deli even if they can't do a full deli - more pre-packaged deli meats, etc.
Bring back Utility payment station at store
Entrance congested, can use improvement
Enhance appearance through landscaping, big fence on north side
Lots of Kroger brands and used to be 3-4 choices of some items
Dillon's prices higher than Hypermart; which means a "captive audience" at this location - people who can't travel to other stores (low income and elderly without transportation)
Increased security
Place for people to socialize (coffee shop)
Deli
Exterior advertising
Safety - anytime - too much crime
Congregation of people at front entrance
Security - not attentive or too young or too old
Too crowded - pop machines attract group of people in one place
Prices are higher at this store
Checkout is too slow
Use it as a training site?
Clean up ice cream freezer
Cleanliness is a concern
Curbside Appeal
"Ghetto Dillons" perception
Security Personnel seem questionable "window-dressing security"
Overall friendliness needs to improve (smile at people)
A Deli would be nice
They don't stock enough items
COMBINED RESULTS - P2
Suggestions/Ideas
Summer: tent outside for more plants on sale (in back of store)
Sell hot dogs, etc. outside once in awhile
Promote new food items
Larger areas
Put signs for specials on 12th Street
Widen alley off 12th Street
Promoting "Plus Card" to reinforce demographics
Better employee training (checkers)
Get suggestion box for customers to share ideas
Fruit/salad bar - monitor it
Keep it smaller to facilitate small purchases
Widen north alley to facilitate turn in
Coffee House (partnership with PT's for example)
Neighborhoods get together to change the image of the store
Thoughts that pertain particularly to the:
Elderly
Safety
Customer Service
Like the current smaller store size
Drive through availability
Vital to have store there for the area's senior citizens
Increase security
Same concerns for young families with children who don't have transportation and walk to the store
Carry-out service (carry bags to cars)
Deliver grocery orders to the elderly?
Tend to be concerned about parking
Security in parking lot
Offer to walk to car
Carry out bags
Floormats trip the elderly
Mop early in the morning so that it is dry for shoppers
Drive through to pick up a pre-ordered groceries, pay by credit card
Safety - but this pertains to all age groups
Low Income
Vouchers are time consuming at the check out
Mixed clientele
Similar to the elderly
Competitive prices
Special lane for government programs
Higher Income
Will come with better products, service
Appearance of store
Delivery service for higher income levels?
COMBINED RESULTS - P3
Minorities
All these groups (low income, high income, elderly are "minority groups" - same concerns in most cases
Customer input
Cultural food areas
Workplaces
As an employer, employees are frequently inappropriate (not friendly or helpful)
Don't cater well to workplace people who want convenience on the way to work
Woman who started there as a clerk worked up to management at another store; neighborhood people and teens work there
LONG TERM (after three years)
Keep a small neighborhood-sized store or go to a larger format? Details, please:
Keep same size or upgrade to mid-size
Maintain and improve existing store
Small with good quality
Quality of merchandise is more important than the size of the store
Maybe current size is best (good "neighborhood" size)
More regarding the categories above
REGARDING THE DILLONS BLOCK
The Exterior of the Store
Clean it up
Brighten it up
Clean up back of building
Work with Neighborhood Plan to tie in with theme and rerouting traffic
Make exterior pleasing to view
Enhance the parking lot with plantings
Advertising needed east, west and north
Dry Cleaners
Lampposts around store
Landscaping
One more entrance to inside
Get in and out easily off 12th
Neighborhood "feel" façade on all 4 sides
Use neighborhood artwork in store to connect to neighborhood
Doesn't have a neighborhood feel
Landscaping
Looks old-fashioned
COMBINED RESULTS - P4
THE LAND ON THE NORTH HALF OF THE BLOCK
TAT development corporation to see about what type of use neighbors need and want
Police substation?
Use north half for a community food garden? Flower garden? Urban forestry--plant trees there?
Develop a plan for different uses by the City and TurnAround Team
City-owned: if so neighborhood plant gardens; add benches, trash baskets, etc., green space
Plan the area and let groups carry out assigned or chosen areas
Advertising needed east, west and north
Dry Cleaners
Lampposts around store
Landscaping
New businesses compatible with Dillons: antique store, bakery, beauty shop
Park?
Vendors/Fair (Blue Bunny, hamburgers, hot dogs)
Put apartments on it?
Not sure about turning into a park
Would rather see retail there
Dillons use space for periodic promotions such as flower market, pumpkins
EXTENDED DILLONS COMMERCIAL DISTRICT
What businesses to save:
Architecture - incorporate with Master Plan
Print Shop (First Impressions)
Gas station
Let's make this corner better - clean up the area
Day Care
First Impressions
Filling station/car wash
First Impressions
Gas station
Any businesses to go?
Pawn stores
Liquor stores
Check-cashing stores
Pawn shops
Payday loans
Liquor store
Pawn Shop
Liquor store
J Wax (Car Detailing)
Pawn stores
Old blue gas station east of store
COMBINED RESULTS - P5
What businesses to attract?
Family restaurant
Jazz concerts
Caravan Club renovated
Family restaurant
Dry Cleaners
Ice Cream/sno cones
Plants/season markets
Use space to attract people to the site
Bobo's
Coffee Shop
Beauty Shop
Barber
Bookstore
Antique store
Second hand store
Craft store
SPECIAL
Dillons should be hub of retail district
Landscaping, Street Issues:
Housing issues on Washburn Avenue
Improve street lighting on Huntoon between Buchanan and Lane
(most groups incorporated suggestions for this subject in other areas above)
People who are interested in improving the quality and image of Central Topeka, particularly people who live in or own property in the Central Topeka area from Monroe to MacVicar and 21st to the Kansas River, are particularly encouraged to attend. For further information, call 234-2883.
