| Author | Message | ||
     Naustin |
Albert Lea is where its at!  Congratulations. | ||
| Nguzzi |
Albert Lea is the town that the city council is trying to kill. Who are they building all those houses for? | ||
| Naustin |
What houses? LOL. There has be a great deal of speculative development for lots, but there hasn't been a lot sold since mid August. If developers want to sink millions into subdividing lots, that's their gamble, and its not really the city's place to stand in their way. That said, I think there are way too many lots. However, you can't attract industry if you don't have the work force, and you'll never have the work force if you don't have housing. Unfortunately you'll never get the housing built without the industry and the workforce. Such is the dilemma of every small town in America. The hospital is adding two floors and projecting 15-20 new full time Doctors. For every 1 doctor they are projecting 10-15 support staff. This is why the developers are risking millions developing lots. They're betting Albert Lea is on the verge of a boom. There are several major manufacturing possibilities in end-stage planning too, each of which could mean new jobs in the 100s in the next 3-5 years. People in AL bitch that nothing happens. I'm betting in 5 years they'll be bitching that too much is happening. And I might be included. The last think I want is my sleepy little town looking like Maple Grove or one of the other suburbs. If I wanted to live in that kind of Hell, i'd move up there. (Message edited by naustin on November 17, 2006) | ||
| Bluzm2 |
Hey, Hey, Hey!!! Nick, I resemble that remark!!!  Brad | ||
| Naustin |
LOL... | ||
| Nguzzi |
I am looking at buying a bar down there. The Sullivan paint store would make an awsome Beer/ coffee house. But so would the old library. I just think it is funny that the town that big has so many vacant buildings. Even the Shopko is for sale. | ||
| Naustin |
That old library building is nice. Americana bank bought it and stuck a ton of money into it. Roof, AC, Wheelchair access. The guy that owned Americana bank was an idiot. Shortyly after he put all that money into the old Library building, he went broke and lost his bank. He basically had his entire bank seized by the FDIC. Its now a branch of "American" Bank. I believe they still own the old library building and are just trying to liquidate it. Be careful if you open a bar/coffee shop. More than one coffee shop has gone broke in recent years, and there are already more than enough bars. You can't charge the same kind of prices on alcohol down here, people won't pay it because they aren't used to it. Shopko can't compete with Wal-Mart and Target. I expect the entire chain to go broke. The one in Albert Lea and Austin are the only two I've ever seen anywhere. They may be the last two. Other towns this size have a comparable number of vacant buildings. Especially in the old down town areas where the buildings need a 1/4 million dollar restoration but are only worth 50 - 100,000. Due to the economics, they just degrade and sit empty. | ||
| Nguzzi |
I would really like to buy Eddies. Lots of bike parking out front. Its a nice building and seems to have a regular crowd. | ||
| Naustin |
Eddies... LOL. I live 2 blocks from there and I can see it from my window at work. I've only been in there once, though. Its kinda like Moe's Tavern. There are only 3 people in there, and its the same 3, and they are there 18 hours a day... LOL. The building is falling apart. It actually changed hands about a year ago. (Same 3 customers though.) I wouldn't advise buying it with the city's Bridge aveanue plan. They are planning on extending Bridge and having it come to a "T" with main. If they get it done, the Chamber of Commerce building, and pretty much everything on that block to the west of Eddies would come down, and the new Bridge Ave would go right through Quizno's and come to a T with Main at the to of that hill. I don't think Eddies is slated to come down, but the Dentist is already thinking about moving his office because the parking situation will be a disaster. This could all be 10 years out, but if the city Manager gets her way, it will be started in 2 years. Speaking of Quizzno's, did you know that building used to house a HD (and Triumph I think) dealership back in the day? I forget the name of it, but I have a calandar with historic pictures of Albert Lea, and there is a picture of the place. It looked pretty cool. Pic looked to be around the WWII era... | ||
| Coldwthrrider |
Congrats on the kid Nils, nice Norwegian names! If you buy a bar I'll try to stop by as often as I can. But seeing as how I always think it's a good idea to go to Betty's Bikes and Buns I rarely ever actually get there. At least the Buell dealer in Albert Lea stocks brake pads for XB's. | ||
| Nguzzi |
Bettys is closed. I guess the Aveda girls didn't buy enough coffee. | ||
| Coldwthrrider |
Aveda girls spend all their money at Chipotle and Panera. Last June BBnB was going to go under but people chipped in to pay their rent. I didn't know they wend under for real, too bad. But it's hard to sell coffee to bikers in the winter in MN. | ||
| Naustin |
What have bikers got to do in the winter other than buy coffee and hang out? The problem was their potential customers were spread out all over the metro and it was easier for them to hit their neighborhood Starbucks 3 blocks from home than drive all the way downtown. | ||
| Nguzzi |
No the problem was a messy divorce. | ||
| Naustin |
That's an excuse I hear all the time. "All my problems are because of my divorce." Usually its the other way around. The divorce (or the reason for it) was probably precipitated by the failing business and the impending financial disaster... Though, I realize I have no actual information to draw on in this particular case - that's just what I see more commonly. I'm not trying to pass judgement here... There is a statistic out there about foreclosure and divorce. Don't quote me on this because I don't remember exactly, but a large majority of couples that go though a foreclosure on their home end up getting divorced later. The divorce doesn't cause the foreclosure. Financial problems and foreclosure usually cause the domestic problems that ultimately lead to divorce. | ||
| Coldwthrrider |
What do bikers do? Other things like ski, snowmobile, and everything else you can do in the wonderful MN winters! I'm so excited about winter, I'm going to flood my backyard to make a skating rink for kids. I just feel bad for them. The owner was a nice guy, bought me breakfast at Al's Breakfast a few days before BBnB opened. He was really excited to open the place and it was unique, but I guess things didn't work out so well. | ||
| Ravensmith22 |
It's that time of year, again. Sunday, Dec. 17 will be my ninth annual birthday dinner at Saji-ya. This is my gift to myself: good food and good friends. If anybody is interested, let me know by this weekend so that I can make reservations. We'll be having teppenyaki. If anyone has questions, call me at (651)398-2274, or e-mail me at ravenxb9r@yahoo.com Nils, congrats on bouncing baby boy!  | ||
| Bluzm2 |
Nils, Congrats on the new addition!! You are in for the ride of your life. Enjoy all the sights along the way. Eric, I used to play a lot of hockey. Now I work on stuff in the garage! Man, ya gotta love heated garages. A backyard rink is great! They are hell on the grass but who cares? Oh yea, I intend to spend a lot of time in our hot tub sipping a beverage of choice.... It's too bad about Bettys, it was kind of a neat funky place. You never knew who you were going to see there. Some VERY interesting characters. I used to love it when the scooter club showed up. There was one dude that must have had over 50 mirrors on his scooter. The arrives in a pack, sat arond for a while and sipped some foo foo coffee then all headed out in a pack. It was comical. They sounded like a bunch of mosquitos. Quite entertaining. Neat to talk to. Most were like flower children of old. Lou, your pick of days stinks!!! Our calander had been over booked for 2 months now. Your event would be the 5th one for that day... Hope all attendees have a great time. Brad Brad | ||
| Coldwthrrider |
Dates are already posted for next year's TrackAddix events! I've already put some on my calendar for BIR and MAM. Here are the dates, if anyone is thinking about any, let me know. I have access to a trailer with wheel chocks for two bikes. 2007 Track Day Schedule April 14/15 - Mid America Motorplex May 26 - Mid America Motorplex June 18 - Brainerd International Raceway June 18 - Mid America Motorplex July 14/15 - Mid America Motorplex July 23 - Brainerd International Raceway August 19 - Mid America Motorplex August 27 - Brainerd International Raceway September 10 - Mid America Motorplex October 6/7 - Mid America Motorplex | ||
| Surewin |
Eric, Keep me in mind, but the more the merrier. If there is interest, I'll bring a trailer with room for 4. Karl | ||
| Dwolfe |
I would be interested in just about any of those dates, April might be a little early but the rest are great. | ||
| Ravensmith22 |
Took my bike to work last night. It was 43 degrees when I left at 8:30. I've had the bike out 7 or 8 times this month. Goofy weather for December. | ||
| Coldwthrrider |
Good for you Lou, I saw a bike riding past Rosedale last night! I usually ride all winter but haven't been out since mid-December. Finally a gerbing jacket liner popped on eBay so I grabbed it but haven't used it yet. That will make cold weather riding even more tolerable. A note about the track days. It's looking like I may be moving to Chicago in a few months. If that's the case I probably won't have a trailer, and won't be going all the way to Brainerd. Odds are I'll have to look into track days at Blackhawk farms or Road America. If I get a trailer I may be able to make the MAM dates but won't know for a while. Eric | ||
| Surewin |
Sorry to hear that you're moving. We'll have to meet up in Elkhart. I was on the trackaddix website, and saw the schedule, but they haven't updated registration and prices and such. What does an event cost? Is there an extra charge for the "new guy" class, does that get reimbursed at the track day? That reminds me, I saw a banner for existing customers to bring a new guy and you each save $20. So if Eric, or someone else wants to help show me the ropes, I'd be in. Anyone going to the cycle show? I'll probably go on Saturday, the 3rd. | ||
| Coldwthrrider |
Well hopefully everything is cool with the move, it is kind of an abrupt change but it should be a good adventure. My wife is being transferred for work and I'm working on getting a transfer there also. If everything works out we'll be back here in 2-3 years. Blackhawk and Elkhart lake are not that far from Chitown. It's also not too far from the Buell factory for homecoming. Trackaddix is $195 for the first event and then $160 after that. The first time you have to take a track orientation class for half of the day and then free riding the rest of the time with instructors available if you want. Plus you get the added bonus of wearing an orange t-shirt over you leathers so everyone knows you're a newbie. | ||
| Nguzzi |
If any one is looking for a 98 S1, there is one on craigslist.org (minneapolis) for $2700. | ||
| Ravensmith22 |
Nils, how's the family doing? | ||
| Nguzzi |
The boy is getting huge. Don't forget to stop at the Buell booth next weekend with your key. All Buell owners get a free gift. | ||
| Vr1203 |
I'll be at the Cycle World show Feb 2-4 in MM ,if anyone wants to hook up  . | ||
| Coldwthrrider |
OOoohh what's the free gift this year? Is it a t-shirt that nobody understands? I probably can't make it, busy getting the house ready to sell. Odds are I'll be gone before riding season, well the comfortable riding season that is. The ice patch on the street in front of my house is almost gone....can almost get out to the highway! |
