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Aaron, awesome idea.
Ultimate paradox that the COS (savior of the planet) was not even able to save a few blocks of downtown Clearwater.
Now here are some of the interesting dynamics of trying to revitalize a retail/shopping/entertainment area that has entirely vanished.
-- Irony of ironies if the "AFTERMATH" SPs can do what the OTs failed to do.
-- If Scientology doesn't like 1000 people coming together to celebrate the accelerating dwindling spiral of their "church", they can upon a moments notice send their hundreds of nautically costumed zombies back out onto the streets. Hate to say it, but that would spook the living fuck out of any prospective business owners and/or their investors, notwithstanding the $250K grant(s).
-- If that zombie dawn didn't break out entrepreneurs toying with the idea of opening up a venue in downtown Clearwater (and again, I hate to say it) the COS could then do what they always do against their "enemies". Fair Game them, or (minimally) "put a head on a pike" and make an example of some enterprising but hapless, restauranteur or enterprise; to wit, putting PIs on them, digging up their "crimes" (secrets) or just "manufacturing" them (per policy). And of course doing their "noisy investigations" of that person to collapse their clientele, PR, income, repute or even frame them for crimes they didn't commit.
The point above is that if Miscavige doesn't want businesses (NON scientology businesses) to come into the area, he can quite easily SKUNK the downtown area with some of Ron's/his infamous black ops, hate websites or worse. This is a real factor that would have to be overcome if genuine "critical mass" were to be achieved in the momentum swing of Wog businesses taking root in the heart of the cult beast.
As a founder of many different kinds of enterprise, I had to ask myself this: WHAT WOULD CONVINCE ME OR ANYONE TO INVEST TIME & MONEY INTO A 100% DEAD RETAIL DISTRICT?
Retail, in its many forms, has the same "location-location-location" fundamental that real estate does. Very few businesses can survive without FOOT TRAFFIC and CONVENIENT PARKING. People will drive to a restaurant, but less will drive there if there is no convenient parking. Sometimes, if volume merits it, valet parking can work.
Retail stores and coffee shops and the like DEPEND on foot traffic. A dead zone like ghost-town Clearwater would be a DOA for any business that needs bodies.
I think it is a totally fascinating and uniquely challenging proposition--to REBUILD Clearwater IN SPITE OF the cult's morosely prohibitive presence. I love the idea of trying to find the right way to reach critical mass (i.e. where retailers are DYING to get in while there is still space).
Honestly, the brilliant and inspiring ideas may come out of those really cool 1000 person events you are planning. But as I look at it today, there is a LONG ROAD to go from a single event to a willingness of individuals to invest their savings in a business that is being set up in the middle of a fanatical cult stronghold.
Even if the COS Pope "blesses" a new local (wog) business, it is only a matter of time that a shop owner sells a copy of the wrong (SP) book or says the wrong thing about L. Ron Hubbard in front of some nautically-clad planet savers bearing clipboards. Wouldn't the COS automatically order DISCONNECTION of all Scientologists from that shop?
It's hard enough to do a bricks-n-mortal business these days, I can't even imagine taking on a lease inside the fanatical cult's hood.
Again, I do LOVE the challenge of it. Every problem has a solution. This is going to take some real imagination and innovative ideas. What a really fun and cool venture to take on!
Sorry if I come across as a naysayer. Maybe I seem cynical. It's not that, I am an enthusiastic entrepreneur daily for decades on VERY difficult ventures to launch. It's just on this one, I am temporarily stumped how one could pull that off. Moreover, if an prospective business owner wanted to set up another (or their first) enterprise, why would they gamble on a retail cemetery, instead of taking on a friendlier and more viable location?
As I say, every problem has it's own solution. It's solvable ...but how?
ps: "If headcam people show up at my house, I am going to blame some of the people in this room." (-Vito Corleone)
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