« Commission to hear request for entrance | Main | Pennybyrn at Maryfield »

June 1, 2005

Las Vegas vs. High Point

It's June 1, and I just got back from a week in Vegas. I lived there for a while, met my wife there, and she's still got family there. It was my first time back in six years.

Anywho...at the last furniture market, there was a lot of loose talk from buyers about how the upcoming Las Vegas furniture market could be the death knell for High Point. Not just the market, mind you, but for the city itself.

But I don't know about that...North High Point seems to be going pretty strong, with its various office parks, including the very large Piedmont Centre. And while some of the businesses in that park cater to the furniture industry, many don't.

Let's just pretend for a second that the gloomy prognostications come true and the High Point furniture market vanishes. How much of an impact do you believe this would have on north High Point? Could Sin City be the end of our fair city? Should High Point start offering 99-cent shrimp cocktails and showgirls to compete with our competitor to the west?

Posted by at June 1, 2005 9:08 AM

Comments

In April of 2005, I completed a three year study of High Point that asked similar questions. I do not believe that the end of the Market will be the end of High Point. I believe that High Point's identity and pride may be tied up in the Market, but not its economy.

I think the most compelling question is this: what will become of the 12 million square feet of showrooms downtown if the Market leaves for Las Vegas? Will the city plan this transition or will it leave it up to free market forces? I would love to hear folk's answers to this. (jj.schlichtman@nyu.edu)

Posted by: Dr. John Joe Schlichtman at October 25, 2006 9:50 PM

Yes, High Point should indeed begin offering 99c shrimp coctails! They should do something--anything to reverse the perceived abuse of market-goers over the past few decades. Come on...$295 a night for a Hampton Inn....$90 a day for a rental car? Oh..and recent 'concesssions' by the local lodging industry reduced SOME lodings by...$6 a night! Oh baby...I hate Vegas, but they sure know how to treat loyal customers.
Please...the last one out of High Point...turn out the lights.

Posted by: T J R at February 27, 2007 1:18 PM