Walking through the neighborhood recently with one of my pals, the conversation turned to one of our most recurring topics: How come there aren’t more businesses in the neighborhoods that are thriving? We seem to have the density now, right?

Well, yes, I had to admit. I also put in that the only businesses that seem to be really thriving in the neighborhood are the home jewelry sales businesses. My dressers are covered with three different kinds of boxes, the gold ones, the black ones and the blue and white ones. I can’t say “no” to neighbors who are hosting parties where they sell baubles of all kinds, which are pretty nice.

Problem is, if you patronize one you have to patronize them all, so you don’t lose friends, and pretty soon you end up with a dresser full of earrings, necklaces and bracelets – not to mention a brooch or two – and you realize you won’t live long enough to wear it all. Unless you wear the pieces while showering, Googling and going through the movie offerings on “On Demand.”

In any case, after getting a feeling in the pit of my stomach about all the boxes on the dresser, I finally had an answer to my friend’s query. It’s because no one has to stay in our neighborhood to do anything or get anything done, I told her.

And it’s true. We South Loopers brag about the great transportation, our central location that is near everywhere, the ease of taking your car and driving it onto expressways that go in every direction, being able to walk quickly to the Loop, jumping on the El, hopping on buses, walking to the West Loop, Taylor Street, Pilsen and Chinatown.

Personally, I haven’t noticed any less service on the CTA, and that, too, is probably a bad sign for the restaurants and retail in the South Loop. Nothing keeps us from leaving and venturing out to try new eateries and stores. Or going back again and again to the biggies on State Street and Michigan Avenue. In the meantime, we don’t realize we are creating a depression outside our doors.

Yes, we have a cleaner on every corner, and they seem to be doing well. Restaurants like Hackney’s and Flaco’s Tacos seem to be thriving (but they are owned by third-generation restaurateurs who know exactly how to play the game). And our own Starbucks seems OK – although they close too early, but I suppose they do in every neighborhood.

But a lot of the restaurants, boutiques, specialty stores and galleries appear to have a shelf life that is way too short in the South Loop. And I daresay it’s because we don’t build up loyalty for these places.

We don’t get a chance to. We simply don’t have to. And that’s because in the South Loop you can go anywhere and patronize anyone with great ease. We don’t have to huddle in restaurants like Opera and Gioco when we can go to the company’s other outposts – like Marche, Café 33 and Carnivale – with great assurance that we will get there safely and get home early.

It’s not so easy to get out of other neighborhoods on a regular basis. Residents elsewhere are often bound to going places nearby. Those places end up doing well with the locals.

It’s a big deal to come downtown if you live way north or south. Where to park is a trial and a tribulation. But we don’t have to worry about that. We can walk or take an occasional cab ride, if necessary. If you take a bus from the outskirts of Chicago, you have to worry about a long ride home.

And yes, it seems like the same difference if we travel there. But parking isn’t usually at a premium on the outskirts, and for some reason it’s a lot easier on the nerves taking public transportation back into the heart of the city after a long night out rather than vice versa.

I’m sounding provincial, I know. Or perhaps anti-provincial, depending on how you look at this dilemma, which boils down to how to keep the South Loopers at home at night and on weekends on their own turf patronizing their own restaurants and their own mom-and-pop places and their own funky foxholes.

While we can hope that enough people from other neighborhoods come here to take up the slack, the only insurance we have of keeping the businesses here is to go there ourselves.

Without getting bored. Or responding to the call of the wild from other zip codes in the Chicagoland area.

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By Steven from Edgewater
Posted: 03/07/2010 3:34 PM

I had considered buying in the South Loop since I work downtown, but decided against it. The reason (and the reason you probably don't see more thriving businesses): the South Loop is pedestrian unfriendly and transit poor. Roads are too wide, sidewalks too narrow, many stores set too far back with parking lots in front. Buses are too slow, and there are no L stations at 16th or 18th. Hard to cross river. Too many blank walls facing the streets. Ugly, ugly, characterless architecture. Shame.

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By Jeanette from South Loop
Posted: 03/06/2010 11:38 PM

Hello "Go Elsewhere", I am a new board member for GSLA and I'm sorry you had that experience. I am a long time resident of the South Loop looking to make a difference and I would hope you would give your fellow neighbors another chance. I hope you attend our next meeting on March 20th at 9am - it will be at the 1st District Police Station.

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By Go Elsewhere Anon from South Loop
Posted: 03/03/2010 9:57 PM

ANON, I would not waste my time with the Greater south Loop Organization. There are plenty of other organizations who actually offer real support instead of taking your money and providing nothing.

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By GSLA Board Member from South Loop
Posted: 03/01/2010 9:36 PM

ANON - please contact the Greater South Loop Association so we can help bring your new business venture to the South Loop! We want to support you and want your business here. info@greatersouthloop.org

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By Solo from Motor Row
Posted: 03/01/2010 1:09 PM

To Anon who may open a lunch/dinner spot - PLEASE LOOK INTO the wonderful historic buildings on S. Michigan Ave, just south of Cermak. You have residents who currently live in Motor Row Lofts, Lofts on the Row, Lexington Park (soon to be renters or owners), but most importanly - the hundreds and hundreds of visitors to McCormick Place who aimlessly end up at the BK because there is no where else to go during their convention breaks. Offer Free Wi-Fi - You'll see me there !

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By Anonymous
Posted: 02/28/2010 11:11 AM

The 'new south loop' below Roosevelt in is a wonerful area . As more eateieries and businsses move in it will develop a profile. Your point is very good that businesses in the area need to be supported. This current and worst economic slump in my lifetime has deterred businesses from opening and expanding. It will come to the South Loop in the next few years. My partners and I are looking to open a casual gourmet lunch and dinner establishment on South Michigan in the coming year. See you then