New Fashion Center on Main Street? > It's More Than That

The grand old man on Main Street architecture, The Pomeroy Building - one of downtown's "beige" buildings with a colonnade and red tile roof - Pomeroy's Men's Store & Mission Outfitter @ 136 has leased adjoining space under the same roof to Backstage Attire @ 138 that's been opened for about three weeks now.
Some may say that's an unlikely [and surprising] side-by-side retail business pair, but it goes to show the unexpected positive developments for the future of retail in the New Urban Downtown Mesa where the old welcomes the new. Both attract their own customers in their own ways for clothing and accessories. Pomeroy's has been doing that since 1959.

Backstage Attire has just started around October 1, 2015 with an entry that draws you into the store with large windows in front and on both sides with mannequins in rock attire, graphics, sculptures, and custom furniture,
The store is the brainchild of a cool, industrious corporate refugee from Phoenix who one day decided, after telling his wife, he wanted to do something new and quit his job . . . 45 days later, plans were made, a lease signed and it happened.
It was a pleasure to stop by and talk with Jim today - a Monday when few businesses are open downtown.
Having just made a post about the First Mesa Music Fest 2015 this morning, in walks a guy named Spaggs, an owner of Motormedia, who started plans for this live music event after talking with Mike Milano after the Super Bowl game year, figuring to feature 20-30 bands . . . it's now at 220+ for the two days in November.
Go see this new store and what it offers, meet the owner Jim  [link below to Facebook page]

The bronze statue of Wayne Pomeroy seems pleased with the arrangements - giving Backstage Attire and the Mesa Music Fest  a big High-5

 

You can find the store on Facebook >

 https://www.facebook.com/Backstage-Attire-546689302147126/

 

1st Mesa Music Fest Will Rock U Nov 13-15

This has been planned for months . . . your MesaZona blogger is catching up on what's happening next month The first ever Mesa Music Festival will be coming to downtown Mesa, AZ on November 13th – 15th, 2015! Just announced on 10/15: and here of October 14th in this 04:16 YouTube video

Hit up the website/GET INVOLVED  > http://www.mesamusicfest.com/get-involved/
Just had the pleasure of meeting Spags at Backstage Attire - this started out with figuring 20-30 bands . . . it's now at 220 bands who will be performing live

Don't Just Talk About Infrastructure > Support Getting The Money

Countdown to October 29 Transportation Deadline
Thousands of Voices for Public Transit Advocates Share Their Views with Congress
The U.S. House of Representatives is moving forward with its version of a multi-year transportation bill, which will include provisions for roads, bridges, and public transit. While it is far from a perfect bill, it is at least reassuring to know that there is finally movement on the issue in the House.
- See more at: http://voicesforpublictransit.org/blog.aspx?id=10-21-2015#sthash.Putc5WVm.dpuf

The Latest - APTA - Advocate

Sometimes, Congress works—or doesn’t work—in mysterious ways. Take public transportation funding, for example. For more than six years, Congress has been unable to pass a long-term transportation bill with increased funding for public transportation. There are many, many reasons for Congress to increase federal support for public transportation. Below, we share our top 10 reasons why Congress should move forward and pass a bill that increases America’s investment in public transportation. - See more at: http://voicesforpublictransit.org/blog.aspx?id=10-22-2015#sthash.GRwqqdj9.dpuf

Here's a very clear  visual showing the catastrophic drop in infrastructure funding - get the picture? . . . and why YOU need to take action for long-growth - not these 60 or 90-day extensions

People Move + Jobs Move

NJ Tech Council Awards 2014

Wayside gets $2.6M tax break for Oceanport move
Wayside Technology Group Inc WSTG plans to move from its Shrewsbury NJ  headquarters to the Oceanport portion of Fort Monmouth instead of Arizona after it was approved Thursday for a tax break of up to $2.6 million over 10 years, the chief executive officer Simon Nynens [in image to the left] said in an article from October 15, 2015.
Wayside would move more than 100 employees and create another 35 jobs in Fort Monmouth instead of moving to Mesa, AZ where it has another facility, Lifeboat Distribution.

What is http://www.lifeboatdistribution.com/ ?
Lifeboat Distribution, a subsidiary of Wayside Technology Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: WSTG), is an international value added distributor for virtualization/cloud computing, security, application and network infrastructure, business continuity/disaster recovery, database infrastructure and management, application lifecycle management, science/engineering, and other technically sophisticated products. The company helps vendors recruit and build multinational solution provider networks, power their networks, and drive incremental sales revenues that complement existing sales channels. Lifeboat Distribution services thousands of solution providers, VARs, systems integrators, corporate resellers, and consultants worldwide, helping them power a rich opportunity stream, expand their margin+ services revenues, and build profitable product and service businesses. For more information, visit http://www.lifeboatdistribution.com.

Lifeboat Distribution is a subsidiary of Wayside Technology Group.
In a July 30, 2015 Q2 results announcement Simon Nynens had this to say: "I am pleased to report solid financial results for Q2 2015. Overall, revenue increased 9% and Gross Profit increased 5% over the same period last year, due to continued strong performance from our Lifeboat Distribution team," said Simon F. Nynens, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "I am also pleased to announce that we have recently opened a Lifeboat Distribution sales office in Mesa, Arizona to enhance customer service for our Mid-west and West Coast customers . . .

Total sales for the second quarter of 2015 for our Lifeboat Distribution segment were $81.3 million compared to $70.0 million in the second quarter of 2014, representing an increase of $11.3 million or 16%.
http://news.sys-con.com/node/3392701
You can watch this dynamic CEO here in this YouTube video link > https://youtu.be/HC3dv8VPpNQ

Back to CityLab London 2015 > What Mayors Say About One Big Thing

Mayors from around the world, including Boris Johnson, gathered in London last week to discuss solutions to transform cities around the world. Huffington Post UK featured some mayors from around the world, including John Giles http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/10/19/citylab-london-2015_n_8328842.html
CityLab explored income inequality, safety, mobility, infrastructure and other dynamics of modern metropolises to create more livable and sustainable cities.
Mayor John Giles was featured in an online chat for the Alpine Institute about infrastructure and innovation. In this post some excerpted comments from other mayors are included about the greatest challenges facing cities in the next five years.
More about what John Giles said about  innovation can be seen in a transcript of the online chat . . .
Ahead of the event The Huffington Post UK spoke to some of the influential leaders attending the event and asked one simple question: What is the one big thing that cities need to focus on or change in the next five years? Here's how they responded:

Stairway to The Spirits > Creative Place Making @ MAC

Good example of how arts and culture intersect in Creative Place Making in this weekend's Day of The Dead here in the New Urban downtown Mesa at the Mesa Arts Center.
Here in a shot of the Community Altar - an ofrenda or offering to the spirits of the dearly departed by artist Kyllan Maney - that was the showpiece for all the festivities and activities attracting people to a celebration of life from centuries-old pre-Spanish cultures that thrived in Mexico and Central America. See a link below for more information about Day of The Dead

Forbes Magazine: Arizona #1 For Future Job Growth

65+ Heatmap from geometrx.com

What's all this about "Millennials"?? . . . It's migration, folks.
Same reason the birds do it, flying and making their nests/winter here/summer there/maybe year-round . . . "empty nests"? Baby Boomers? Maybe caused by climate change? Our attractive weather with over 100 days of temperatures over 100 degrees?
According to an article yesterday by Kurt Badenhausen, who covers sports business with a rare dip in education and local economies [good combination of interests, eh?]
"Baby boomers retiring to Arizona is the main driver for Arizona’s employment growth,” says Kyle Hillman, an economist at Moody’s focused on Arizona. This migration fuels jobs in healthcare and consumer services. Net migration into the state is projected to total 679,000 over the next five years. . .  
Companies and workers are also finding their way to Arizona as a more affordable option to West Coast locales like the Bay Area and Seattle. The state offers a diversified economy with a skilled workforce.
Did somebody say follow the money? Financial service firms have a heavy presence in Arizona with Wells Fargo WFC +1.85%, JPMorgan Chase JPM +1.59% and Bank of America BAC +6.25% among the 10 largest private employers in the state. . . "

Millennials Urbanizing, Boomers Suburbanizing in U.S.
RealtyTrac reported last year reported that many U.S. housing markets are now seeing a shift in both baby boomer and millennial population migration patterns.
According to the data analyzed, millennials are now going to urban city centers across the U.S. for higher income job opportunities, while retiring boomers are now opting for less dense,  lower-priced housing markets to retire.
Top Markets for Boomers Include Wilmington, NC, Punta Gorda, FL and Phoenix, AZ;
Millennials Migrating to Washington DC, New Orleans, LA and San Francisco, CA
Link to data analysis >> http://www.worldpropertyjournal.com/north-america-residential-news/population-changes-in-us-realtytrac-report-millennial-migration-report-boomer-housing-report-median-household-incomes-lower-priced-housing-markets-8531.php