(features)
Too Big For Bowling Green?
When I moved to Bowling Green for college, I was surprised by the unpleasant sprawl that plagued this tiny town. Coming from Lexington, Kentucky I presumed that if anything, I would be moving to a location that had more local businesses.
This was not the case. Campbell Lane doesn’t live up to its name (“lane”), as it serves as nothing more than one enormous consumer super-highway, connecting a mall with the worst offerings of national chain fashions to scattered businesses that dot the thoroughfare that slices through such low-density commercial developments.
While teabagging movement (free-market lovers, ‘freedom’-lovers, capitalists, etc) would argue that Bowling Green is the result of larger corporations moving in and providing better services, I would argue the contrary.
Sure, goods from Walmart may be cheaper, but the quality has always been worse, especially on the food side of things. Kroger is the best alternative, even though the money is going far away from Bowling Green.
In a consumer driven world, we consumers should be making the choices that are best for Bowling Green.
Yet, there is a valid grounding in reservations regarding the increased personal expenses that this type of specific consuming mandates.
Obviously, it would be absurd for me to call buying things at Walmart unethical when many people purchase things there out of economic necessity. People should first and foremost do what they need to in order to remain financially stable but should at least examine their options.
Both Greentoppers (a campus environmental advocacy group) and Kentuckians for the Commonwealth (a state non-profit committed to justice and equality) are working to help people learn about how to eat local but also how to keep it affordable.
Helping our local economy isn’t the only reason to consume regionally. Local services and businesses are far more interesting.
Another anomaly on the relatively empty map of Bowling Green is the emergence of non-local bars. You should be ashamed of yourself if you overlook Froggy’s, 3 Brothers or Tidball’s for O’Charley’s or any other bar on Scottsville Road.
There is nothing exceptional or even unique about the atmosphere nor the beverages. Also, the fact that any given individual is sipping an identical drink in an identical bar at every single location of the given franchise should make you queasy long before you make it under the table. I would feel rather meaningless and conventional to say the least.
This is not to say however that local bars are immune from their own problems. Fluid Nightclub, “Bringing the Upscale Downtown” (their self-proclaiming motto), brings a sense of mediocrity not yet known to Bowling Green.
It seems in order to get new customers, their strategy is to mimic the typical “hip and cool” bar of the franchises. I’ll let them do the talking:
excitement, sexiness, sophistication…fluid brings excitement, sexiness and sophistication to Downtown Bowling Green. The upscale, contemporary design creates an atmosphere that takes nightlife to the next level. Couple that with exceptional service and you will see why fluid is such a desired entertainment destination! Fluid offers a full service bar with VIP and reserved seating available for your convenience in a non-smoking environment!
Admittedly, I am making an unfair judgement as I am not yet 21. Yet, with a summary like that, I couldn’t resist. Based on the pictures posted on their website, all I can say is that when drop ceilings and generic stranger photos become the marks of “excitement, sexiness and sophistication,” I might just settle for tailgating with my grandma.
Reward local businesses in Bowling Green that break away from the national dull-drums. If you consider yourself bored in Bowling Green, your duty as a consumer is to reward whatever businesses you find the most unique and interesting.
I was frustrated to learn that I had not brought any coffee back from Lexington on my return journey to Bowling Green but I was pleased to discover that Greener Groundz sold fair trade coffee at an affordable rate.
Everyone should try to look for their own little niche in stores. Granted, this may prove difficult, but in the long run, it will be better for Bowling Green and best for us.
So go out to Tidball’s or Three Brothers! Eat at Greener Groundz! It will make your life far more awesome in our little Bowling Green home.
Too Big for Bowling Green:
- Wal-Mart
- SUV’s
- The people who drive SUV’s.
- Campbell Lane and Scottsville Rd.
- P.F.T.
- WKU Football Team
- The distance of Great Escape from Campus (I have a bike and can’t make it without dying on Scottsville Road)
- Fluid Night Club
Just right for Bowling Green:
- Greener Groundz
- Biking
- Crayons
- Mayor Elaine Walker
- The Square
- Tidball’s/3 Brothers
- Kentuckians for the Commonwealth
Comment [10]
Rob is 100% correct about everything, and I would be appalled if my friends suggested O’Charley’s over Froggy’s. Besides, who actually drinks at O’Charleys? (I hope nobody, but I digress.)
However, I wanted to corroborate his take on Fluid. When it opened they were aiming for cosmopolitan and upmarket. However, because this is Bowling Green, it just reeks of pretentious desperation. And the clientele are, with the exception of a few cool regulars, pretty tragic. It’s a bar that, at least in my estimation, caters to people who weren’t popular in high school yet would have given their left ear and little brother to be, and who go to an overly conceited “nightclub” to feel better about themselves now.
You do have a lot of great points, Rob. I agree that Bowling Green is too “big.”
But I would like to point out that there’s a lot more local business here than you think. Take the Shake Rag district for example. It may not be flourishing by any means, but there are plenty of local stores and restaurants in that area not so well known to most BGians. And what about Houchens? A lot of their money goes into BG’s economy, too.
But you’re right that there isn’t enough for our liking. You’d think that smaller towns would be boasting with smaller businesses, but I do think that trend has changed. I’ve seen more small business in Chicago than I’ve seen big business in the Walmart headquarters city of Bentonville, Arkansas. I’ve even noticed that here in the small town of Giessen, Germany.
Rob and Skylar,
Your opinion about Fluid is share among many locals and students living in BG. However, I encourage you to give the place a chance. I agree that it’s appearance and description are EXCEEEEEEDINGLY cheesy, but I think that you would be surprised to know that on weeknights (Tues-Thurs) from 7pm-11pm ALL of their drinks are half price. ALL of them, including top shelf alcohol. So I encourage you to walk the extra few blocks and have a very cheap high quality drink there before you go to Frogs and are served Heaven Hill for $5 dollars. The bar is practically empty during these hours and is a great,quiet place to hang out with friends before venturing into the loud smokey bars up the street.
How could you neglect to mention the farmers’ markets? This has all kinds of locally grown foods, locally made art, and now they even have locally grown wine! You should find the times for them in the SOKY Happenings mag, but if you really want to make sure that it comes from local growers, go to the one in the Medical Center parking lot. The vendors there have to get their products inspected and certified as locally grown.
First, you’re not at all pretentious. Why hate on Western’s football team in this article? Are they not from Bowling Green? Isn’t that local? Kroger over Houchens? Really? Yeah that’s local. Is this a feature or a one-sided editorial? In the future, please act like you go to a school with a pretty good journalism program.
— WKU SB&J Alum · Sep 30, 02:01 PM · #
Rob, I want to apologize and correct myself. I didn’t realize you wrote a commentary (it says features above your article). You are entitled to your opinion.
— WKU SB&J Alum · Sep 30, 02:14 PM · #
Rob, you know my opinions of the issues that you have stated.
For the other posturing “green” demagogues postulating about the evils of capitalism, I would BEG them to become more informed than the cover of last years Ad Busters.
Poor people don’t buy Walmart because they are against the posh green movement, but because there are TOUGH decisions that have to be made about how much money can be spent on essential items.
You see more local stores, because the AFFLUENCE in those areas affords people the privilege of shopping with a warm feeling in their hearts.
Why do you lament the SUCCESSFUL large firms who are able to attract business and subsequently provide jobs and cheap products to thousands of Bowling Green citizens, but you PINE for the excesses of “local culture”? People make decisions based upon self interest. If local businesses provided something useful, then people would purchase their goods.
— Chad Meadows · Sep 30, 04:47 PM · #
“Obviously, it would be absurd for me to call buying things at Walmart unethical when many people purchase things there out of economic necessity. People should first and foremost do what they need to in order to remain financially stable but should at least examine their options.”
Rob said that in the article. He knows it is not possible for everyone to boycott Walmart.
Walmart is only considered successful in the means that they threaten to not sell products if the company doesn’t lower their prices to a certain bar that Walmart determines.
Remember rubbermaid?
— Someone Who Read The Entire Article · Sep 30, 06:27 PM · #
This article is stunningly shallow. Going to O’Charley’s makes you feel “meaningless”? Your “duty as a consumer” is to reward whatever businesses you find the most unique? Get over yourself. Paying more for your shit does not make you interesting.
Children, please: get over your Wal-Mart Guilt and direct all this energy toward something that actually matters.
I work at Fluid and when we opened, our goal was to provide bowling green residents with a nice smoke free contemporary atmosphere. I’ve worked at most of the bars in BG, including 2/3 you listed. My question is, if you’re not 21 what makes you think that 3 brothers, tidballs, and froggys are so great? did you know that fluid is owned and opperated by 3 WKU grads, and 2 current students? looking at the nightlife from a student and now grad living in BG i can name countless times people went to nashville or louisville “for a fun night out.” there were not too many girls having their bachelorette parties in bowling green at froggys, three, brothers, or tidballs last time i checked as well. instead 10-12 girls would get hotel rooms, go out to eat/drink/party in a city other than bowling green. We could have gone to a “bigger” city and opened a nightclub but providing the people who are already here with a nightclub whos focus isnt smoke filled rooms with rap music, country music, live bands, “all you can” cheapest drinks and pool tables seemed like a better idea. Dont get me wrong, I still like to go out to a smoke filled bar and drink beer, but i like the option of being able to do either even more.