Yesterday, Gossips published a post about the law prohibiting "formula retail uses," in other words, chain businesses, in Hudson. A formula retail use is defined in the law as "a type of retail sales or service activity or retail sales or service establishment that has four or more other retail sales establishments in operation."
Since publishing that post, Gossips learned that Westerlind opened its fourth location in Kingston last weekend. Its other locations are in Manhattan, Great Barrington, and Millertown. Here are notices about the opening in Kingston that were posted on Instagram.
With its Kingston location, Westerlind becomes, by the definition given in our city code, a formula retail use, which is prohibited in Hudson. Yet its logo appears on 417 Warren Street with the message "Coming Soon."
§ 188-27 Fortune-telling prohibited.
No person shall use or pretend to use or have any skill in physiognomy, palmistry or like crafty science, or pretend to tell destinies or fortunes.
The law notwithstanding, a business claiming to do exactly what the law prohibits has been operating at 134 Warren Street since the beginning of 2021.
 |
| Photo: Trixie's List |
it's not just that we all know the city code is an outdated embarrassment not worth regarding, reading or even enforcing. It's that city hall treats it the same way. That's why you see so much garbage in the alleys, graffiti, sidewalks blocked for long periods of time or permanently when they shouldn't be, weeds 2 feet high in front yards, cars [parking on the sidewalk, ice covering the sidewalks 5 days or 2 weeks after a snowstorm, generally dangerous sidewalks, and on and on and on. Over the past 8 years I have never heard one person in city hall speak of making a serious effort to redo the code to make it appropriate for these times. Not once. Not Ed Moore, Not Rob Perry, Not Craig Haigh (who doesn't attend common council meetings anyway), and not one mayor, including our present inhabitant. It's a daunting task, for sure, but at some point it has to take place. It should have already! In the meantime, the nonsense continues as if it doesn't matter. Expect this store/code violation to open with great fanfare and maybe even the mayor will attend the ribbon cutting ceremony.
ReplyDeleteB Huston
It seems like the law as written only affects the business as it applies for permits. Assuming the have their paperwork in order and all their ducks are in a row, Westerlind looks well-positioned to join the growing ranks of businesses catering to a clientele with more money than taste, and good luck to them.
ReplyDeleteVince Mulford's beautiful store as a gym?? Oh dear. Warren Street is going like Soho.
ReplyDeleteNot a gym, but an outdoor outfitter. https://www.westerlindoutdoor.com/
DeleteIts not fair to call out the palm reader to make a point about chain stores. What if they get shut down if someone complains the code isn't enforced equally.
ReplyDeleteI’m sure the palm reader knew Carole was going to call her out — right? Palm readers should be run out of town on a rail.
DeleteThe reason "chain stores" don't open in Hudson is because the numbers simply don't add up. I suspect it will take one winter for Westerlind to wake up to that fact...unless its a vanity project, in which case no worries.
ReplyDelete