Thursday, August 30, 2012

We're the next Boulder! er.....whoopie?

Entrepreneur Magazine has a glowing article on Bend, touting us as the next Boulder or Austin. Do we really want to be the next Boulder or Austin?

Actually, the article made me shudder. Full of Californians bringing their blessings to the Hinterlands.

Besides, this magazine is a very dubious magazine in my eyes. Really. Always touting the next thing (that really is already on it's unsustainable way out) (Balloon shops, anyone? Scrap-booking? How about Pottery-painting? Hey, you can't lose!) with no regard to the poor saps who believe them.

So considering the source, I'd have to call this a puff piece.

Color me skeptical that we are getting huge numbers of these high-tech immigrants (over and beyond what towns like Salem, Eugene, Ashland, etc. are getting.) Color me even more skeptical about the amount of money -- local money -- they are generating for themselves and for the Bend economy.

Still.

Somethings happening.

I mean, it could be worse. They could not be coming at all.

Combine this with the article in the Bulletin about outsiders buying up cheap land (and buying inexpensive housing on it -- contradicts, slightly, the high-tech immigrant message, eh?) and you'd have to say that Bend probably isn't going backward.

I think there was a lot of damage done in Bend with the underwater houses, but it seemed to be smoothed over by our retirement and tourist industries.

It answers the question all us bubble bloggers had about the effect of the Great Recession. Buster thought the town would hollow out. I felt we might see a slight population decline and a lot of downtown stores failing.

What I didn't see is that there would be more stores opening downtown than closing -- and if I hadn't been keeping my "Downtown Comings and Goings" list, I probably still wouldn't believe it.

But I did allow as to how I thought there might be enough momentum to get us to the other side. I thought there would be more of a hole in the middle -- certainly, there were significant drops in my sales at the stores for a few years, but we seem to be recovering. Our sales this year will be below the height, but not by that much. (Of course, I think it's because of the resurgence in comics, and the additions of New Books and Boardgames, still...)

We will be at least 20% over last year again this month. That will be 14 months in a row.

9 comments:

Duncan McGeary said...

Just when I was congratulating the Bulletin for having more realistic headlines, more accurately portraying the contents of the following articles, they go and print this:

"Revenue Forecast Brightens for Bend."

These are what the experts actually said:

"Bend and Central Oregon are rally bouncing along the bottom. We've seen some improvements, along the lines of the housing market, but so far, nothing too drastic."

Overwhelming endorsement, eh what?

Mutter, mutter, well, if you insist you annoying reporter, there has been sooooommmee improvement....kinda sorta but don't get carried away.....

Leitmotiv said...

Like Walla Walla doesn't want to be the next Bend... well no, I don't really want to have a wine tasting room on every corner... but beer? heck yeah

H. Bruce Miller said...

"Entrepreneur Magazine has a glowing article on Bend, touting us as the next Boulder or Austin."

Hmm, when have I heard THAT before? Bend is always going to be "the next" wherever -- but somehow never seems to get there.

Without even reading the story I can agree with you that, yes, it is a puff piece, and further state that it's nothing more than a vehicle to sell advertising. Ten to one the "reporter" who wrote it didn't even visit Bend.

And, yes, "bouncing along the bottom" doesn't sound like a very "bright" assessment to me either. And The Bullshittin made that the lead story on Page One. Ye gods!

This town has always been delusional about itself and its prospects. Bend doesn't just drink the Kool-Aid, it mainlines it. I don't expect that to change.

Duncan McGeary said...

"Don't Bendize Walla Walla."

Signs seen in W.W.

Anonymous said...


The LONG run outlook for Bend is bright, irrespective of what Entrepreneur Magazine says.

Under climate change, Bend, and the Pacific Northwest in general, is going to do relatively well.

Water, and climate stability (provided by maritime influence), are going to be key. Much of the inland U.S. is going to become very unpleasant (as it already is).

The American Southwest (away from the coast) may become virtually inhabitable -- much hotter and drier than even now. The dust storms blanketing Phoenix this year are just a taste.

In the long run (10+ years), Bend will do well.

Source: the book "Six Degrees: Our Future on a Hotter Planet," by Mark Lynas, 2008.

Duncan McGeary said...

Go tell it to H.Bruce. ;)

Anonymous said...

I would prefer Bend just be Bend and not be the next (insert place or opportunity here). Besides wanting Bend to change to something else just leads to suffering. Accept Bend for what it is. I did that long ago and guess what? Bend is a nice place.

H. Bruce Miller said...

During the height of the bubble I went to Walla Walla and wrote a piece for the Source about the "Don't Bend Walla Walla" movement. It didn't get bent; the bubble popped before that could happen.

H. Bruce Miller said...

"In the long run (10+ years), Bend will do well."

In the long run we are all dead. Especially those of us who are already in our mid-60s. I don't have time to wait for Bend to turn into Hawaii.