Hey, there! Log in / Register
South Station bookstore trying to return after station management company boots it to open yet another food kiosk
Support Universal Hub
Help keep Universal Hub going. If you like what we're up to and want to help out, please consider a (completely non-deductible) contribution.
Comments
Big, fat and lazy. They can
Big, fat and lazy. They can eat, but can't read.
Worse
Overpriced horrible food. I don't buy it except maybe a coffee.
But the bookstore? I've had at least $50.00 in spontaneous purchases in the past two months. Those monitors make me want to escape into a book.
I've probably spent less than $20 in food and coffee in the past YEAR. Why eat overpriced garbage?
Barbara's - one of the best things about South Station
That they would boot out barbara's to make way for yet more food shows how little they care for the atmosphere of the station, or the physical and intellectual health of our citizens. There is already so much nasty junk food there. Do we really need more?
And the article also talks about putting a CVS in the station when there are already three within walking distance. Nice work.
There is also a Starbucks
directly across the street from South Station.
I remember when South Station was less of a "shoppping experience" and more of, well, a train station. As the stores got added, what was removed was seating and comfortable standing areas for those who prefer to wait for a train rather than buy some crappy and/or overpriced food (the latest being Pinkberry Handcrafted Yogurt which takes like eating milk that has gone bad).
The latest "improvement" by the management company were the two huge monitors hanging from the ceiling that broadcast annoying commericials over and over.
Capitalism as its worse methinks.
Those monitors blow.
I think enough people complained and they finally turned down the volume on them.
Now, where do I complain about the bookstore being kicked out?
The monitors could actually
The monitors could actually be a great too if used properly.
I was recently in both Toronto and Montreal and most of their train/subway stations have similar monitors. Only they use them for a myriad of things.
There are a number of graphical layers of information, date/time, temperature....estimated, next train arrival.
Amidst the infomration, they also have 5-minute condensed newscasts produced by a local TV station, which usually includes a couple of hedlines, a weather report, and a rundown of the local sports scores/schedule. A "ticker" typically runs below with world/national stores. In between the different updates, they show 1 or 2 commercials, so there is your revenue opportunity.
It sounds busy/distracting, but its actually pretty well done and ends up being a useful tool for commuters.
The equipment is in place, hopefully this is where we are evolving to.
You are an optimist. I like
You are an optimist. I like that.
Let me acquaint you with South Station.
We have a board that shows train departures and arrivals. We also have what I call public service monitors, mostly used to show videos regarding public safety. No issue there.
The two monitors which I referred to in my previous post were recently added and they are indeed distracting - both for sight and sound (of which the sound factor has somewhat been addressed, as one of the posters mentioned).
And the only reason, I can see, for these two monitors are to show advertisements over and over and over and over.
I'm a frequent user of South
I'm a frequent user of South Station and am very familiar with the equipment there. I'm also a frequent visitor of other cities and am familiar with their railroad/subway stations and I have seen other cities use this equipment in a more effective and useful manner.
I stand by my statement that there is no reason why this can't be the case here, cynicsm notwithstanding.
Cynicism notwithstanding...
All of the information you listed as useful (that is open to debate, actually), better and/or more effective uses for the monitors I can get off my IPhone and/or laptop computer.
Monitors on steroids are not needed.
My apologies for challenging the transit Pope...
Well I hope you made this pronouncement from the throne in the South Station foyer...otherwise it isn't official
She's a man... gobbler
There was a hue and cry when they first tried audio advertising.
That actually cut out when the train announcements were made.
The new monitors do not cut out, they add to the noise.
Why was this allowed?
People are used to screens these days.
Can't stand it, can't make them stop.
Equity Office Properties
Equity Office Properties Trust just needs to maximize revenue.
It is their job to squeeze as much cash out of that contract with the MBTA as possible. What earns the most cash? Apparently cheap food priced high served by low-wage workers.
Seriously... how much should a pretzel, popcorn, or a grilled cheese sandwich cost? It's concession pricing. Walk out of there and go to the little store on Essex Street.
Exercise your freedom of choice.
Is there any public oversight or review of the leasing choices they make, as far as I know. Does MBTA have any sort of review/approval procedure?
CVS? Starbucks? I'm not interested in purchasing from them.
When the present South
When the present South Station was opened, it was a magnificent train station, a testament to what public space could be.
Since that time seating has steadily been removed, HVAC has become much more sporadic and occasional and the area has come to resemble the tawdriness of any food court at any Mall.
I'm sure that this is at least partly due to the MBTA budget problems of recent years. Yet I wish that the management of South Station would keep travelers in mind. Surely once travelers junk food needs are met, I can't think of anything as important to be able to buy a book to read while sitting on the train.
Equity Office
Equity Office Properties Trust is dreadful.
If making money is the highest goal for society, our society deserves them.
You want to privatize public spaces? Then you get this crap.
As compared to the BPL which
As compared to the BPL which has the same problems less the pigeons and food.
Seating is removed
To discourage loitering by the homeless. A lot of train stations have no seating, limited seating, very restricted seating with staff supervision, and uncomfortable seating that's irregularly shaped or has armrests every 20" so you cannot lie down.
I wish there was more staff
I wish there was more staff supervision at South Station. So many homeless people and drug-swapping going on (not just with the homeless, of course.)
As someone else said, it really does resemble a food court at a mall. Outdated and disgusting.
The book store was my only solace (except for when I get so distracted by reading I don't see my train arrive!)
Hmm,
I really do not see too many homeless people at South Station and the ones that I do see, keep pretty much to themselves and don't cause any problems. I have never witnessed any drug swapping. I do know, however, crimes were committed in the bath room areas (robberies and the like).
And since the transit police aadded, on a regular basis it seems, two transit cops at their own kiosk, it gives me a sense of more security.
I do agree with you regarding the food court theme to the station, however.
Zabdiel is talking about the
Zabdiel is talking about the bus depot, not the commuter rail station. Think about the demographics between the 2 - who rides the bus and who rides the train to the suburbs?
Public Space
You pointed out that it is a public space. That's what station management doesn't seem to understand about their mission. It's not to extract as much money as possible by turning it into a mall food court. That does nothing to serve the public or help create an engaging environment. A bookstore does do that. As for the monitors, having nothing but loud informationless security announcements is really annoying and I don't think it helps to improve security at all. It would be interesting to see some video art. There's a lot that could be done but they seem to lack imagination.
the bookstore was a lifesaver
the bookstore was a lifesaver when I lived in scituate and would need something for the long greenbush ride home. I really hope they bring it back.