They are just joining a list of businesses (in the exact location) that have closed. It is a horrible location in a cruddy shopping center. Believe me I know, I used to own a business in that center - operative words are USED TO.

I dunno...neither CiCi's nor the place that preceded it (Red Parrott) were particularly good places to eat. As for it being a cruddy shopping center, Moe's, Starbuck's and Shane's seem to do all right. Maybe the businesses that fail have more to do with the businesses' owners and managers than the shopping center itself. What business did you used to own?

Yes, the addition of Moe's, Starbuck's & Shane's (which I personally do not like) - along with Noodle's have been a great addition to a sagging shopping center. They all were added after we closed our shop which was in 2002 and which was due in large part to the low income surroundings and the amount of people living on Section 8 (at that time).

Well, the shopping center was rebuilt in 2005 or so. Certainly, there are vacancies and businesses come and go, as they do everywhere. But, your description of it being a "sagging", "cruddy" "horrible" shopping center is several years out of date.

All opinions are personal of course and really I am surprised that people think this area is so grand. Sorry, I'm just left with a very bad taste in my mouth as we devoted many years to not make a cent basically. Perhaps if you were in our shoes, you could better understand.

If we would have been familiar with this part of Route 1 (and I am born/raised near Route 1 in Maryland), we NEVER would have opened a business here but we had to go to where we could afford at the time (business purchase and center rent wise). Sorry.

Yeah, for Route 1 - more so Hybla Valley - you can say the center is classy (and that goes all the way to Baltimore). But where are the quality stores to bring the people? What do you have besides a few tasty places to eat? Route 1 is Route 1, always has been and always will be, and I'm going way back in the years.

I'm sure you can understand what I'm trying to say.

> I'm sure you can understand what I'm trying to say.

Well, not really. You put up a post saying the present-day shopping center and the entire area essentially suck, but then subsequently admit that (a) your impression was from a decade ago, when the center owned by a different developer, and (b) even when you were in business, you weren't familiar with the area. (I'm not sure how being raised on Route 1 in Maryland would help. Heck, the University of Maryland is on Rt. 1 in College Park; would you expect there to be fraternity houses in Hybla Valley too?)

I'm not sure anyone claims this area is "grand." But neither is it "sagging." More like "in transition." But slamming the present-day neighborhood and business district because of the closure of a subpar eatery like CiCi's and your bad experience from a decade ago running whatever business you had seems like a stretch.

Again, just curious: What was the nature of your business, which was so badly disadvantaged by the shopping center and the "low income surroundings"?

Not gonna fight, because it's a never ending argument. My opinion of the area is the same today, as it was back then and I can see it going back to the same way. Helicopters daily flying over - why - because of robberies or worse. As soon as the housing market improves and I can get the money out of my house that I have in it, I'm gone and never ever coming back to this area. Nuff said.

And my comment regarding Route 1 in Maryland refers to Route 1 is nothing by strip malls from here to Baltimore. No beauty, nothing really outstanding to draw the crowds. Sure, there are some "nice" spots, but as a whole, it's Route 1.

OK, KG, I wasn't trying to engage you in a "never ending argument," I really was trying to understand what you're talking about. But you refuse to provide specifics, rather you seem to want to denegrate the area in which you live. Frankly, your posts sound more like you're trying to rationalize your own whatever-it-was business going under and whatever bad real estate decisions you've made than any sound critique of the neighborhood.

Bad real estate decision yes but our business did have loyal customers. Just unfortunate choice of location for sure.

I do know what store you had and I have to say that I really liked it. I was one of the loyal customers. However, you never advertised and no one ever knew it was there. Instead you spent your money on a segway instead of advertising. I offered numerous times to take coupons to Gold's gym and no one ever came thru. No advertising for a restaurant means no money. This has nothing to do with whether the clientele is poor or not. Your judgment was the only thing that was lacking.

as a small business we did not have a lot of money to spend on advertising but we did have flyers all around and we did do some coupons because people from Old Town actually came in use them so perhaps you may have the wrong business in mind.

can we please drop this whole damn subject

We really enjoyed this location and I considered it to be one of the better cici's I had been to. They would make a particular type of pizza if you requested it. The employees were friendly and the prices were great. The location isn't optimal, but the Center is growing and the cici's always had customers. I wish they would have just said it was closing and not just under renovation. My guess is that the center's owner upped the rent because of Starbucks, cold stone, noodles and Co, etc. They just couldn't keep the prices low enough to keep up.