The continuing disappointment begins

We have lived here for the past seven plus years and have watched the Grove decline. We stayed here as "sailing tourists" for ten years prior. Since we live here we have to walk past the street garbage -- human AND open trash dumps -- just to get past Johnny Rockets. Then the continuing disappointment begins.

The business closings we all know about. "Tacky" replacing the traditional. We make believe that we are still an "art district." If you live here, there is nothing you want to buy. If you are here for a business meeting you leave at the end of the day. If you are a "tourist" you leave also -- with disappointment.

We sail. We are active with regattas and support our "boating" clubs. God forbid in this economy -- I use the word Yacht Club! We do not own a boat here. We love the view, we love the sailing activity, and we are not going to leave, but we are too embarrassed to invite non-sailing family to visit.

Papered (boarded) windows, stink from exposed garbage waiting for pickup, smell the Clorox rinse in the morning at some bars, and hustlers wanting to be your new best friend. We find restaurants with deceptive advertising for "deals." Code 33 is a joke. Use it and try for service next time! These are only the tip of the iceberg of Grove issues.

We honestly know a hundred sailors who come here to sail and avoid "downtown" Grove! Overpriced, dumb help, and servers who think we owe them a pay check. This feeling also translates to the tourist who will never come back. I don't blame them. Blame it on the economy. No!

Blame it on greedy landlords? Blame it on the city -- we get announced openings for new businesses -- delayed for months due to "code enforcement." They should enforce the current code for some of the crap we deal with now. Do we have an advocate? The BID? Ha Ha. Lots of funding for them, going where? Or to whom? I don't know.

Our family spends summer at the "Jersey Shore." The Grove is now at that stage of presentation as far as I am concerned. A successful TV series -- yes!. A bad business model yes! Lets have some tee-shirt shops, tatoo parlors, piercing centers for earings, more beer and liquor, and business owners operating with cash only. Just like the "Jersey Shore! If you spend enough time here in the Grove, what is happening is obvious. Do we want to be like that?

Our few stable, long time businesses, will be here long after the other crap left. But then - WHAT WILL BE LEFT? Why are the long time restaurants full, and the new guys closing soon after opening?

We are personally not going to leave or live anywhere else. Unless the Bay becomes as polluted as this town and it's vision for business in the future. NO PLAN, NO BRAINS, NO FUTURE! GREED?????

Walt (the mad russian) Rogachenko
Coconut Grove