Email
RSS
Twitter
FacebookThe myth of conspiracy in Hastings.
A recent survey of Hastings area consumers asked a number of questions about the retail environment in our town. How often they shop in Hastings. What they buy in Hastings. And the types of stores they’d like to see in Hastings.
But perhaps the most intriguing question was this one:
Do you agree or disagree with this statement: “Growth in Hastings is controlled by a select group of people.”
64% of people in Adams County agreed with this statement. Almost two out of three!
Seriously?
Do two-thirds of the people of Hastings really believe that there are cigar-smoke-filled, backroom meetings taking place during which insidious captains of industry plot and scheme to protect their interests and stunt the growth of Hastings for their benefit?
Really?
The only conspiracy this writer has seen is when a group of dedicated people in Hastings work together to make good things happen. Art festivals. Fundraising events. New parks. Starting new businesses. Refurbishing old buildings. These successes involve people of all ages and from all walks of life. Longtime residents to newcomers. Business leaders to stay-at-home moms. Students to retirees.
Too often, we focus on what we don’t have rather than appreciate what is here. TheHWord.com is designed to highlight the resources, retail and talent that we have here in Hastings. And it is hoped that everyone will learn something about Hastings. A new place to eat or shop. Or maybe a simple reminder of a place you’d forgotten about.
We all want Hastings to become even more energetic and economically vibrant. It’s easy and convenient to blame someone else when things don’t happen as quickly or in the manner in which we would like. But that’s a cop out. The next time someone asks you what to do, where to eat or where to shop in town—that’s your opportunity to either share something positive or something negative.
Choose positive and you leave a good impression about the community. Choose negative and…well, that’s where the conspiracy theorists tend to congregate.
Tags: conspiracy, Hastings, retail, Shopping
About the author: The Masked Blogger
Loading ...
Did you write this from the very smoke filled room you speak of?
I agree with some of the “Masked Blogger’s” comments and also disagree with others. I would like to say I’ll not comment any futher until the “Masked Blogger is unmasked. I placed my name to this article but not knowing who you are is in your own terms ” A Cop Out “.
Jeff Hodson
I also agree. The old families control the business and government. All you really need to do is pay attention who is doing what, when, where, and with whom.
How is this whole H word thing any different than Uniquely Hastings or Let’s Grow Hastings or any of the other things we’ve seen in recent years? And how does this “masked blogger” dispute this smoke-filled back room theory other than scoffing at those who think it’s true?
I just found The H Word on Twitter @TheHWordUpdates. If this blog post is any indication, this looks like it could be pretty cool!
As one of the people responsible for developing and initiating TheHWord.com, I take exception to Mr. Locke’s comment about this being no different than “Uniquely Hastings” or “Let’s Grow Hastings.” Case in point: Did any of those previous one-way (business-to-consumer) advertising campaigns invite comment or conversation of this nature? Was any of those previous campaigns comprised entirely of content generated by Hastings people? And did any of those campaigns raise the types of questions or issues raised by Pat McCoy or The Masked Blogger? Say what you will about this being a rehash of the tired old rah-rah Chamber booster “Shop Local”campaigns. I respectfully disagree. And I, for one, am excited, interested and energized to see just what the people of Hastings do with this innovative forum…and how Hastings businesses, consumers and visitors react to the opportunity to have a say in what they feel about this community…and what they intend to do about it. Write on, Hastings. This site is in YOUR hands.
Please make note that City Council Meetings, Hastinsg Utilities, School Board meetings just to name a few are all on the Public Access Channel for your viewing. Most of these meetings have public comment times and the public doesn’t seem to visit very often unless it’s a special topic. The freedom of information and Public meeting laws have really helped open up information to everyone. Executive sessions of these different public groups is more well definded and monitored by the news media than ever before.
The Mayor appoints people who are willing to become involved and if you are reading this and really want to be part of the future of Hastings and have knowledge of a needed board or special talents let him know. I spent time on Uniquely Hastings and even have the original fingerprint on my wall and helped with Let’s Grow Hastings too. If you would like to be part of the future just get involved and go do something you feel is important to Hastings. Every possible need is present in Hastings so just find one and help solve it. Just because things have been tried in the past and new things are being invented today doesn’t mean something was wrong with the past but something new, as technology changes, will help get people to continue the task ahead of us. Solutions are never perfect but help get us to the next challenge.
I just saw Mr. Buchholz on the news on NTV talking about this. I thought it was interesting that he said they got a lot of community input in this site, not making it just another business effort. I think that speaks to the point “John” made. As a reporter, I often hear the comment that Hastings is run by a select group of people. If that’s the kind of discusion that happens here, I’d like to see more of it.
Ours in a family who leaves town maybe once a month, unless traveling for sports, but that might mean a trip out and back. Most of our shopping and dining out is done in town. My biggest complaint is the lack of affordable variety of clothing and shoes for our kids. This forces me out of town. There are simply not enough choices for families who must “shop around” for the best price. For the last four years I have had to go to other towns to find shoes and jeans for my preteen and teen daughter and son (appropriate clothing can be an issue, too). I hate having to take a whole day to do something that I really should be able to do in a town this size. We love Hastings and will stay, but I will continue to have to go north or east to shop for my kids.
I used to come to Hastings to shop more than I do now. The reason is I loved the Hastings ShopKO store. It was my favorite store as it was a great place to shop. I felt the Grand Island store was smaller and was not as clean as the Hastings store. Good old coorporate decisions closed the Hastings store. I do not want to go to GI its becoming too rough of a city for my liking and it is further to travel from my home.
Well all I can say about shopping in Hastings is that it is a frivilous venture. Look at the business Hastings has lost. Then they try to convince Gordmans to stay. Give me a break, it was a business decision and a bunch of complainers who couldn’t support it won’t change that.
The retail in this town is not good….unless I want to buy a loaf of bread for 8 bucks.
I agree shopping in this town is depressing.
Mr. Singlinin I believe you need to rephrase your comment. I believe what you meant to say is there are no big box stores where you can get the lowest price possible while getting service from a high school kid in between his texting to his buddy.
Now if you want a quality product at a fair price, while getting service from a knowledgeable employee at a store that will stand behind it’s product and help you if you have problems, I can’t think of much you can’t get in Hastings.
No. Actually I said what I meant and meant what I said.
We wouldn’t want any of those ‘big box stores’ bringing their capitalistic ideas and low prices. ARG!!!!!
I guess I don’t see that price and value are the same thing.
How can a town of 24000 support two McDonald, 3 Subways, and 2 Burger kings but can not bring in a food chain like Darden restaurants’? Why do all the sit down restaurants’ around town only serve bar food? Is that all Hastings people want in food, greasy fried food.
I was born and raised in Hastings raised my children in Hastings now have a sister and daughter that work in Hastings. I have moved away to find work that pays a decent wage. When I was growing up we had fun in Hastings there was all kinds of things to do. We had 2 swimming pools a skating rink 2 bowling alleys sirloin stockade – Golden Correl, Chubbyville, Whirl a Whip, Papa Rays Pizza, a mom and pops restaurant all over the place, Treasure Island – Harleys – Rhiels Cafe – the A&W Rootbeer stand the drive-in theater, Movies for a quarter and 5 RC bottle caps at the Strand, Bernardo’s which was the Ivanhoe when I was young and you could get a job doing all kinds of things. BUT NOW…… I go back home and HASTINGS IS DEAD!! If you don’t work for Good Sam or Mary Lanning you basically have no job. The grocery stores are ridiculous on the prices, a loaf of bread is almost 3.00 and there is a bakery in town. Grand Island and Kearney keep growing. What’s up HASTINGS? Juniata will be becoming the county seat again if you aren’t careful.
Oh yes, I also wanted to say the so called mall is a joke. If it wasn’t for WALMART what would you do. I remember on Saturday mornings we’d hit 2nd street and go into every store from Burlington to Kansas both sides. Root beer floats at Woolworths and a tuna sandwich at Hesteds, christmas shopping at Western Auto and Big G. Chinese food and tacos are not the only thing people want to eat. These are down home folk we like meat and potatoes not noodles and shells. Cruising Burlington is a waste of gas, kids get into trouble when they have idle minds and hands. Where is the graduating class of 2010 going? How many are leaving for college and leaving for good? When I retire in 15 years I pray Hastings isn’t a ghost town. When my time comes, I’d like to leave this world in the same place I came into it.
The Imperial Mall is downright embarassing.
I agree it’s disappointing to see so much empty space at the Imperial Mall, but would also like to say something about the stores that have stuck it out…
K-Mart: a while back I purchased some furniture (two side chairs and a small couch) for a very good price on top of which the store manager moved the items to my home and helped me get them to an upstairs room… just a couple of weeks ago, we purchased some electronics from K-Mart at a price unmatched anywhere else in town or on the internet.
Herberger’s… they consistently bend over backwards to make sure we get the best deal possible, often stepping forward with suggestions or coupons we were unaware of… on the rare occasion a return has been necessary (one that I can think of) it was handled with courtesy and dispatch.
I will support businesses like these enthusiastically!
Its no secret that some in the community try to control what businesses come and go and you can watch the city council meeting to see proof of this. A few years back a local business owner was very upset and tried his hardest to keep the new Walmart from being built. There is no dark cigar smoke filled back rooms. What there is a select group of business owners that don’t want to see competition come in. They do no cohert together, they look after their own interests. If you don’t believe me go to the library archives of the Hastings Tribune and you will see these words straight from the person’s mouth.
I may be coming from a different perspective, but I don’t agree with the thought or perspective that there is a group of people who control all that happens in Hastings from a smoke-filled room, moving all the players around like chess pieces.
I am the manager from the local Walmart store and have seen how we have grown as well as the area around us in the ten years I have been here. I understand that some people may not like big box stores and not all the growth may be the kind that they like, but there has been growth. With growth, it sometimes comes with differing opinions on what is appropriate growth. I understand and appreciate that perspective. I am sure that there were some that did not want us to expand because of the things that people read in the papers and because of the impact that people thought would happen at our local grocers. I appreciated and understood those concerns. I also understood that during the process, I knew that the City Council was for a growth agenda as well as the Chamber of Commerce, and even those I disagreed with handled it in a very professional manner and I have good professional relationships with them.
No, there is no cigar smoke filled room – just people wanting to do what’s right for Hastings. If you don’t like all the decisions, get involved in the Chamber and the City Council and the other groups that have input. They appreciate the diversity of opinions, but be prepared to work for the betterment of the community.
No offense James, but there has been no growth. There’s been movement. There are no new businesses by Walmart, ok maybe Dollar Tree, but most of them just moved from Hastings pathetic excuse for a “mall”. I was VERY recently in Kmart, and wanted to go check out Herbergers after Christmas sales. Kmart no longer even keeps their door to the mall open. With the ice and snow, I didn’t bother to drive around to Herbergers entrance. How many other people have done this? How long until Herbergers closes their doors? Is Bath & Body Works even still there? Was Santa even at the mall this Christmas for pictures?
I have nothing against Walmart, I’m there at least once a week, but really it’s my only option, other than Allen’s. And I know who you are, you seem like a really nice guy. My only complaint about Walmart is to open more checkstands! There must be 40 of them out there right? So why are there never more than 5 or so open? I don’t use the self checkouts.
Thanks for the input, and let me know if you ever need more assistance and I will be there myself.
Just because I like a good debate… how about Menard’s, Tractor Supply, Holiday Inn Express, AnyTime Fitness, and the chinese buffet? I agree – we did have transfers from the mall to the north area of town, but it did create some growth opportunities. Unfortunately, I did not live here when the mall was at its peak. It has been experiencing a slow decline for a while, but so have many other malls. All I can tell you from my experience is that there are many people trying to get businesses here that will succeed and trying to keep the ones we have.
Thanks for the conversation and trying to keep your business in town!
The growth of Hastings in the past may have been controlled by a select group but that is the past. This is the future and they’ve got some pretty stiff competition. Our town hasn’t grown because it offers no jobs and no selection of goods. The choices are getting worse….not better!
Wake up Hastings.
I think Hastings and communities of similar size face the same challenges – how do you excite the community about supporting local business, and build a positive attitude about the future?
I suspect it has much to do with the changing face of retail. How do you, for example, compete with online shopping? It’s so easy to shop from a host of sites, place an order, and have your items delivered to your door in a matter of days. Does this help local business? No. But the bottom line is it can be done on your time and terms. And let’s face it – we only have so much time to shop. I try very hard to support local business, buying 90% of the items that I “need” from retailers in Hastings. But sometimes you just can’t find items you “want” in Hastings. There is a difference.
About the only advice I can offer to local business is to build an effective website and offer products online. Or advertise deals that are just too good to pass up. That’s tough to do when you don’t have the buying power of a big box store, but the buying public expects a lot for their money.
I’ve heard many complain about the lack of dining establishments in Hastings. But who among us would be willing to devote the volumes of time and money required to opening a restaurant that the people of Hastings may or may not support? If you answered “not me” (as I just did), then we have just revealed the reason why restaurants will not locate here. The risk outweighs the investment.
It’s a chicken-or-the-egg argument. A thriving business environment leads to a thriving dining/entertainment environment. There’s a host of other factors involved too, such as solid schools, an active faith community, reliable health care, etc. But you can’t have a thriving community without people who are excited about living here.
Hastings is a great city with wonderful people and tons of potential. We’re all muddling through a rapidly-changing environment the very best we can.