Why the persistent fantasy that there is a market in FH for the sort of thing you see in ED? There isn't, otherwise they'd be here already.
I disagree. See how long it took to get a simple coffee shop, and now see how busy it is and how many people here are praising it.
This site may not be wholly representative of FH, but I would assume (based on access to computer, internet, time to post, etc.) that it does represent those with a reasonabe disposable income.
The point here is to highlight to potential investors and business owners that there IS a market here despite appearances to the contrary. Once one or two new businesses have succesfully established themselves this will be self-evident and we can simply get back to moaning about trains or parking.
I am not saying we need the total conversion of FH and/or HOP to ED yuppie style emporia, but one or two would be nice.
Is the alternative to keep going as we are? I'd say closures are outnumbering openings by at least 2 to 1.