Chip Makes The Local Newspaper!

This is kind of funny...

A few weeks ago I was enjoying a couple of Facebook groups I belong to (Watauga Christian Center '79 - '89, and ASU BCM Alumni) and I wondered, "how do you start a Facebook group?"

So I thought I'd do a practice one. Since the town we now live in doesn't have a Target or a Starbucks, I called the group "Sanford, NC, Needs Target and Starbucks". I went through the 15 minute process of starting the group and I had Melody join as my only member. Then I pretty much forgot about it.

A few days ago at work, I received an e-mail from the editor of the local newspaper. He wanted to interview me about my Facebook group! I answered his questions via e-mail and called Melody to give her a good laugh. She called back a little later and informed me that there were now 36 members of my group. I couldn't believe it. By the time the editor wrote his article, there were 67 members. As I write this, we're up to 114 members.

So here is the article that was written in our paper. What a hoot!

They long for a Target

By Billy Liggett

Dec 7, 2008


If you're one of the millions of Americans or thousands of Lee Countians with a Facebook page, then you're aware that there's pretty much a "group" for everything. The Herald even has a group page (up to 113 members as of Saturday, by the way). Well, one recently created Facebook group caught my eye this week - a group created by Chip Watts of Sanford. It's called "Sanford needs a Target and Starbucks." And so far, 67 people have joined it. And the bulletin board has a conversation going on this very subject.

"I go at least once a week to Cary for a Target/Starbucks fix," writes one group member. "I have been known to drive to Cary just to go through the Starbucks window at Crossroads," writes another. There's also, "We just continue to spend our money in Wake County, since they have stores and resteraunts (sic) that we don't have but need."

I'm one of the few adults in this world who doesn't drink coffee and therefore, could do without a Starbucks. But I'll admit ... maybe it's just the 30-something Gen X-er in me, I love Target. I never had one growing up and really wasn't introduced to it until my mid-20s, but soon after I lived a block away from one in Houston, I was hooked. It's not that I have anything against Wal-Mart. I love Wal-Mart, too. Just not in "that way." Maybe I just like Target's commercials better.

I didn't join the Facebook group for a few reasons. First, I instead joined the "Robot Dancers of the World Unite" group (seriously) and secondly, I wanted to write about the group as an outsider. So I e-mailed the group's founder to find out what it is about Target and Starbucks that made him create an Internet group dedicated to begging for them in Sanford. Turns out, Watts and his wife, like so many of us, recently moved to Sanford from a larger city (Winston-Salem in their case). "We love Starbucks," Watts replied. "We've tried some of the coffee shops here in Sanford and enjoy them (especially Java Express and Mr. Bean's), but Starbucks is our preference for taste and ambiance. It's a cultural thing, too. Facebook, Barack Obama, iPods, wifi and Starbucks - you just feel like you're current there."

He went on to call Wal-Mart "crowded" with people and merchandise, and he feels like he can "breathe" better in a Target. "The aisles are wider, the shelves aren't overloaded, you can see everything and it's easier to find what you need." These are his opinions of course, and I'm sure he's not alone.

The truth is, many in our area do leave the comfy confines of Lee County to shop in Apex, Cary and Southern Pines (all about 30 minutes away) because these cities have things we don't - — Target, Starbucks, Chik-Fil-A, Kohl's, Moe's, malls, etc., etc., etc.

Watts says growth from Raleigh and Fayetteville may one day put Sanford in position to eventually house these desired businesses. I can see a new shopping center one day opening up along the north end of the 421 Bypass (when it's finally finished in the year 2088 ... or sooner), and possibly housing a Target. Of course, with that will come the cookie-cutter sprawl subdivision we'll all just "love," but I suppose that would be the price of success.

As much as I'd like to see a Target here, I'm afraid I'm a little pessimistic about the chances of it happening any time soon. I did a little Target research and learned that the median household income of Target customers is roughly $63,000. The median household income in Lee County in 2006 was about $39,000. Cary's median household income in 2000 was more than $70,000. If Target is "targeting" areas with high-paying jobs and younger shoppers, then we're simply not there ... yet.

But think about it ... part of the reason many of us chose to move to Sanford was its lack of "sprawl." Many of us like the small-town atmosphere and proximity to the larger markets. Is a 30-minute drive the nearest Target really that bad? Sure, it may be too far to drive for a cup of coffee, but then again, a Starbucks in Sanford is something that could happen at any time. I've heard rumors that in some places, they appear out of nowhere and multiply like over-caffeinated rabbits.

So keep dreaming Mr. Watts. I'm sure many here share your sentiments. I just hope you're not holding your breath.