" you have a wal-mart...."local business" is pretty much a thing of the past. niche markets are the only thing that survives the plague that wal-mart brings to a whole area. "

" Charleston had the biggest drop in median income in 2007. Local leaders on many levels, dismissed it, excused it, and left it lay. Stepping right on over it, as they went back to buy local promoting. Many said the students were what brought the figures down. What if they didn't. What if they were propping it up, like they have the city for generations.

As long as cycles have gone on in that town, many folks who have been there for years still don't get it.

Good jobs, drive every local economy. The more that are shed and not replaced, the steeper the decline the lemming herders are leading the area straight at.

Coles together and others, don't feel there are properly qualified applicants to bring good jobs to town, but service and menial labor is a more fitting goal. There are two higher education facilities in the county, and its not catering to the graduates they produce every year in any field. There are many people working in jobs below their education or degrees. Underemployment is prevalent. Many people hold 2 or more jobs, because 15 to 20 an hr in wages has been thinned heavily in the county. Two part time jobs, is not as good for the economy, or its contributors as 1 satisfying, well compensating one.

Business that caters to students usually has 2 four month windows, to make their annual profit, and the other 4 months are split up with 1 at christmas, and 3 in the summer, with just paying the monthy bills tough to pull off.

Many students go home or somewhere else, not just at breaks, but on weekends. Many landlords loose 4 months rent a year, every year. What if they offered their student tennants, discounts for the months between regular semesters. What if Charleston had jobs that actually utilized its resources better. Both students and residents are resources. Either half of the population being ignored or having its contributions discounted, is counter productive to any long term success. This has been going on for decades.

Two local higher education facilities, and no real complimentary business that partners with them is a waste of available resources in the county. Both facilities offer niches, that haven't been attempted to be met. Nothing has been developed to address many needs or opportunities that have existed for decades.

Developers want a chance at 8 months a year rent gouging, and many business's want several weekends to do some price gouging. Those that rent or lease the space they occupy, have it tough. Until something changes, they usually have 4 months of bills, that their off season markets won't bear.

Instead of acting like this and other realities exist, and properly addressing them, local leaders on many levels, keep their heads down, keep trying to make the same stuff work under the same or worse circumstances, and decline and stagnation is the end result.

Coles Together was supposed to be a catalyst for uniting effective market responsive action. They hide behind non profit status, and some developers and individuals have thrived, while the county steadily declines. At least one person there, that just got appointed to a local board, does additional economic development consulting for hire to surrounding counties.

Effingham developers now have 3 different convention centers in the pipe, when they couldn't keep their own afloat. One is green, and happening around Tuscola. One is an old riverboat, and going on in St.Elmo. The other is Coles Centre', which has fallen silent as to what its situation or status is. Agracel which is pushing it, bought up industrial parks, and prime eventual development land, so they now hold more of the keys to what transpires or doesn't, and how affordable it is or isn't.

Long term planning has been ignored, at many levels, so some quick small gains can come and go as much as the same tired old markets will bear or won't. "

" I have to agree with most everyone I talk to that feels like Charleston just lacks those exciting businesses that other communities seem to have. I also agree that the feeling exists that businesses in Charleston just seem to have a hard time staying around. However, I would like to point out a few things that I see as good things for Charleston.

In fact, there are many businesses in Charleston that are doing quite well. Although, Papa Murphys and Villa are gone, consider Pagliais Pizza. Locally owned, Pagliais has been in business for over 20 years. I feel that, staying in business for so long even with the recent rise in the amount of pizza restaurants in town says a lot about how Mr. Pagliai manages his business. Also, Bike and Hike started out on Lincoln Ave. just two doors down from a competitor and did so well they had to build a brand new building on 18th St. to expand to and they even have a store in Effingham. It seems like that guy knows how to run a business. El Rancherito and Los Portrillos are always packed on the weekends. It sure is hard to get a table at Whats Cookin on a Sunday morning and their dining room is always crowded on weekday mornings as well. Battery Specialist does so well they had to build a new building. The Razorz Edge outgrew its location on the square. And lets not forget Jimmy Johns started right here in Charleston. Town Square Jewelers, County Office Products are a few more. And even though I know folks complain about big apartment buildings going up those count as new enterprise and development for the City also. The list could go on.

The point is that, the businesses I have mentioned have all flourished in the same business environment as Villa Pizza, Lulus, and other businesses that have had to close their doors. Admittedly, there are several factors that contribute to the success or failure of a business in Charleston. However, lets not forget the importance of education, good business management skills, hard work and dedication. A closer look into each of the businesses I have mentioned shows an individual or individuals who have demonstrated what it takes to make a business successful. It isnt impossible to have a successful business in Charleston.

In order to help struggling business managers keep their businesses profitable they only need to learn what successful Charleston business owners already know. "

" Use to love shopping and a big thing for us on Friday evenings. As aged the thrill is gone. I thought because older but the places are BORING. Same ole things to sell and after 50 years we have a lot of things. Going to Lakeland College for their music specials is a good thing and their plays. Like the basketball at Lakeland and Charleston. High School girls and boys are good. Not much else going on.
The Mall tries entertaining events but after hear that blind woman on piano,one has heard it often and we just doesn't go there.

We tried archery in bacyard and had safety bales for targets be on. Only
thing hit was a squirrel. But it was sideways and just scared the squirrel do out of him.

Maybe squaredancing in the empty areas at the mall be a good thing. Bingo tables. FREE arts and crafts, and not hit up the people so hard for their mone and hadn't sold a thing yet.
Teens could have tables there and music there to enjoy. I never saw some bad teens in all the teens, just a FEW made it bad for the others. Have parents chaperone the room,,,,,watch the kids behave better maybe. If we had misbehaved when teens, dad had a strap
and a bar of soap. Neither did we want.
I still behave. hehehe. "

" The problem is we need jobs that pay decent. Take a look around at local companys. They are laying off the people that were making a decent salery and replaceing them with low cost/inexperienced workers. "