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Chris Maier, one of the original SP editors and a former C-U resident, now contributes to the magazine as an editorial adviser, occasional writer, and general helping hand. These days, he's the creative director at Poccuo www.poccuo.com, a Washington, D.C.-based interactive communications firm.
Workers braved temperatures in the teens this afternoon to keep the construction moving at 507 E. Green Street in Campustown. The new building is set to house Urban Outfitters in its first two floors with five stories of office space up above. According to a representative at the University of Illinois News Bureau, the project remains on schedule and Urban Outfitters — as well as the university’s Office of Public Affairs and other occupants to be determined in the coming months — will be open for business by August 2008.
Comments (4)
Thursday, January 31, 2008 4:12 AM
While I applaud "progress" and the addition of new places to shop, I'd like to remind folks to think twice about where they shop. I know there are a lot of creative minds in CU, and a good appreciation of all things indy. Urban Outfitters has a notorious history of kidnapping ideas, even products themselves, from indy designers. People that are interested can check out http://urbncounterfeiters.blogspot.com/
Thursday, January 31, 2008 8:31 AM
It's certainly a good point to keep an eye on who we buy from and what those companies are doing behind the scenes. And there do seem to be some particularly egregious cases of ripping off there. From a Campustown growth standpoint, though, I wonder if the infusion of one or two (or three or four) corporate stores wouldn't generate the sort of consumer attention and traffic that will allow smaller, local shops to make a decent go of it on Green Street--and give the campus a more dynamic and robust feel.
I'd love to hear what others think.
Thursday, January 31, 2008 9:01 AM
Certainly, this happens at every level of commercial sales. I agree with Stephanie here, but only in the most ideal sense.
It's a bummer that these designers were "hacked" but —— that's kind of the name of the game, eh? I am doubting that Crown Farmer had totally original ideas either and just because UO has the means to move the product doesn't necessarily mean that they should be ostracized on the whole.
Pick and choose your battles: put down your car and ride a bike before you worry about whether or not that t-shirt you are wearing was lifted from an indie designer.
Buy those good eggs, organic milk and beef, (or no meat at all!) before you start feeling bad about buying a cool looking hat from UO.
A store like this will help grow our local economy.
http://tiny.cc/nmgBy
Plus - they promote excellent music for the most part, and do in-store performances for bands —— something that is seriously missing from our local culture.
All in all, I share your concerns Stephanie —— but in the end, I think that accepting certain evils is a natural part of life as long as we continue to be mindful of the way that it affects our economy, and of our indie kin.
In the end, if you aren't comfortable with it, don't buy band T-shirts from places like UO, Hot Topic, etc unless you are handing over cash to the merch person of your favorite band. But, no shame in buying a pillow or couch from a store like this. They aren't killin' kids in Africa - they are just selling clothes and goods to wannabe hipsters. Pretty OK in my book.
Otherwise, we should just feel ashamed for everything —— the computers we are using, the energy it takes to use it, the coffee we drink (yes fair trade isn't always fair trade) etc etc etc...
Thursday, January 31, 2008 4:21 PM
Wouldn't it be great if the Urban Push on Green St. were "Greener"? Just imagine a "Greener" Green St. How cool would that be?