What’s the Best Way to Fill Retail Space?

A few days after after years of serving meals to North Shore residents, Mayor Harriet Rosenthal asked Village Manager Kent Street to find ways to keep sales tax revenue flowing when businesses change in Deerfield.

Mayor Rosenthal made her comments at the April 2 Village Board meeting and a Patch article published Thursday drew 21 comments from readers with some of their ideas to fill retail and restaurant space and develop other fiscal measures.

Patch now wants to know what its readers think and its latest unscientific poll to measure ideas around town asks people to express an opinion on what, if anything, the Village should do to increase sales tax revenue.

One reader, Barry, wants to ask companies like Lettuce Entertain You and the Levy Organization why they have no outlets in Deerfield. He thinks everyone can learn from their knowledge and expertise.

“Asking them why and listening to what they say may offer some insight as to what needs to be corrected and changed,” writes Barry. “There must be other reasons why major players are avoiding obvious opportunities here in Deerfield. Let’s find out what they are and fix them.”

Henry Steindler thinks doing something about traffic in the vicinity of Lake Cook and Waukegan Roads at the noon hour is another way to generate sales tax revenue.

“The Lake Cook corridor lunch hour congestion (even without the construction) has to take away an incredible amount of lunch business from anyone trying to make it in that area,” Steindler writes. “Not sure what can be done about.”

Another reader, , thinks someone should try drawing a prominent restaurateur from Chicago to Deerfield. “The city is flooded with the hottest chefs in the country,” he writes. “Half of them want to use locally grown products. Where is it easier to receive locally grown goods? In the city or three minutes off of 294 or 94?” Voting will remain open through Friday and the results will be published Monday.