BajaNomad - streets seem empty in TJ

streets seem empty in TJ

makana.gabriel - 1-16-2009 at 10:09 AM

On new years day, we drove thru TJ with no traffic and chalked it up to the holiday. But yesterday when we had to do some business in Rosarity & Tijuana, I could not believe that there were so few cars on the streets. You could have fired a cannon down Ave. Los Heroes. We come down a few times every month but this is the first time I've really taken notice on how empty everything is.
We were going to have a late lunch at Senior Frogs next to Pueblo Amigo but it is now out of business.
By the way, at least yesterday the Sentri entrance in front of the hotel was closed. Don't know how long that has been or if it will continue.

tjBill - 1-16-2009 at 10:17 AM

Things are closed on New Years day.

This morning the traffic was heavy as usual.

Woooosh - 1-16-2009 at 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by makana.gabriel
On new years day, we drove thru TJ with no traffic and chalked it up to the holiday. But yesterday when we had to do some business in Rosarity & Tijuana, I could not believe that there were so few cars on the streets. You could have fired a cannon down Ave. Los Heroes. We come down a few times every month but this is the first time I've really taken notice on how empty everything is.
We were going to have a late lunch at Senior Frogs next to Pueblo Amigo but it is now out of business.
By the way, at least yesterday the Sentri entrance in front of the hotel was closed. Don't know how long that has been or if it will continue.

You won't get an honest answer on this board- people who live there are SOS and very defensive. TJ is empty now because TJ is empty now.

There is no crime in TJ , the economy is booming, tourism is on the increase and it's safer than a day in Disneyland. You didn't see those full open-air tour busses running around the streets? Maybe you just need new glasses.

[Edited on 1-16-2009 by Woooosh]

BajaGringo - 1-16-2009 at 10:59 AM

I was in Tijuana the last few days and it seemed to me that the normal local business traffic seemed pretty close to what it always is. What is down is the tourist traffic that normally fills the Revolution Ave area.

tim40 - 1-16-2009 at 11:29 AM

I have been going to TJ since I was a baby...very frequently. From my vantage point, the city is as busy as ever, BUT there is a HUGE difference.....There is almost NO gringos to be seen anywhere. No shortage of locals....but the gringos and their bucks are almost not existant.

Bajahowodd - 1-16-2009 at 11:46 AM

And that has to hurt the locals alot.

David K - 1-16-2009 at 11:57 AM

Tijuana would not be there (as we know it) if it weren't for the location next to San Diego... Rosarito as well because of the attraction of the Rosarito Beach Hotel, attracting Americans.

Can 2 cities born from tourism survive without it? Yes, but what a difference it will make when the anchor industries are gone. Why did Mexico wait until now to put the hammer down on the violence... if they even have with their threat of 'military death squads'?

I wish a speedy recovery for the area...

[Edited on 1-16-2009 by David K]

BajaGringo - 1-16-2009 at 11:57 AM

It does if your business is mainly tourist related. Revolution is not a very happy place right now...

Bajahowodd - 1-16-2009 at 12:17 PM

It creates a vicious cycle. Folks that relied on tourist business to make a living are more likely to consider shadier occupations. At least history shows that crime rises during bad economic times. That goes for the states, as well.

BajaGringo - 1-16-2009 at 12:25 PM

Definitely a very bad cycle we're in right now. But I am still going out for tacos, even if they aren't low-fat!

:lol:

Woooosh - 1-16-2009 at 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
Tijuana would not be there (as we know it) if it weren't for the location next to San Diego... Rosarito as well because of the attraction of the Rosarito Beach Hotel, attracting Americans.

Can 2 cities born from tourism survive without it? Yes, but what a difference it will make when the anchor industries are gone. Why did Mexico wait until now to put the hammer down on the violence... if they even have with their threat of 'military death squads'?

I wish a speedy recovery for the area...

[Edited on 1-16-2009 by David K]

All must be well now... the new Rosarito Burger King with a drive thru is open for business!

movinguy - 1-16-2009 at 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaGringo
I was in Tijuana the last few days and it seemed to me that the normal local business traffic seemed pretty close to what it always is. What is down is the tourist traffic that normally fills the Revolution Ave area.

The SENTRI wait in the morning has been worse than ever, according to those who cross daily. :mad:

But definitely no tourists . . . more tacos for me! :tumble:

Bajahowodd - 1-16-2009 at 12:48 PM

How long ya figure the Burger King stays open? The initial investment and the franchise fees require a pretty large cash flow. With no tourism, their only hope is if BajaGringo switches from tacos to Whoppers.

Woooosh - 1-16-2009 at 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by movinguy

Quote:

The SENTRI wait in the morning has been worse than ever, according to those who cross daily. :mad:

But definitely no tourists . . . more tacos for me! :tumble:

once again- for anyone who feels this is TJ bashing... tourism is down everywhere in the world. No one is leaving home with or with or without their AMX cards.

Las Vegas, Disneyland, Indian casinos- no one is spending money anywhere. They can't give cruise ship rooms away. Vegas thought is was bulletproof from recession or depression until the last few months. Lotto sales are way up though (??).

TJ/Rosarito Beach/Baja happen to be our closest reference points- but the lack of tourists problem is eveywhere.

[Edited on 1-16-2009 by Woooosh]

Cyanide41 - 1-16-2009 at 01:05 PM

I was just reading how military personel now need written permission to go to Mexico. So I highly doubt any Commanding officers going to approve a trip to Revolution. Crime or no crime, many people are afriad to go to TJ.

Woooosh - 1-16-2009 at 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
How long ya figure the Burger King stays open? The initial investment and the franchise fees require a pretty large cash flow. With no tourism, their only hope is if BajaGringo switches from tacos to Whoppers.

I think the Burger King has about the same chance as the Applebees next to it. WalMart seems to be doing OK though and I don't think Home Depot cares if their store is empty all the time (he racing car carriages for the kids are great though). It (WalMart) did kill the business at the huge Commercial grocery store that opened next to the cuota last year though. I think the first to go wil be the new Office Depot. I don't think a business is still open that needs what they sell-- all the realtors must be selling tupperware these days.

Bajahowodd - 1-16-2009 at 01:20 PM

Office Depot is in big trouble in the U.S. Hope their Mexican partners have deep pockets. So Wal-Mart is hurting Commercial Mexicano? Down in Cabo, Soriana and CCC have encountered the same. Not sure who paid for it, but the Wal-Mart/ Sam's Club combo got their own dedicated overpass and off ramps from the four lane.

movinguy - 1-16-2009 at 01:29 PM

Quote:

TJ/Rosarito Beach/Baja happen to be our closest reference points- but the lack of tourists problem is eveywhere.

[Edited on 1-16-2009 by Woooosh]

Yeah, if 14 pesos to the dollar doesn't bring 'em, not sure what will :?:

Woooosh - 1-16-2009 at 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Office Depot is in big trouble in the U.S. Hope their Mexican partners have deep pockets. So Wal-Mart is hurting Commercial Mexicano? Down in Cabo, Soriana and CCC have encountered the same. Not sure who paid for it, but the Wal-Mart/ Sam's Club combo got their own dedicated overpass and off ramps from the four lane.

If there wasn't a sign on the roof- you couldn't tell the WalMart from the Commercial Mexicana. Both mega-stores are laid out a little differently- but pretty much the same. Kind of like putting a PeMex a hundred yards away from a PeMex.

The ONLY Mexican with deep pockets has them sewn shut. I always thought it was telling that Carlos Slim said "the only difference between me and BIll Gates is that I don't give away my money." As much as I hate Microsoft (especailly with Vista now gone and to soon be replaced by Windows 7), Bill Gates giving most all his money to worldwide charitable foundations takes the sting out. An amazing role model of what one man can do to help the world. Mr Slim... not so much.

Bajahowodd - 1-16-2009 at 01:40 PM

I think you may be underestimating Sr. Slim. He's behind a number of charitable foundations both in Mexico and Latin America. The Telmex foundation alone has granted tens of thousands of scholarships. I think it's just hard to be so rich and therefore so envied. No one expects either Slim or Bill Gates to make vows of poverty.

Woooosh - 1-16-2009 at 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by movinguy

Quote:

TJ/Rosarito Beach/Baja happen to be our closest reference points- but the lack of tourists problem is eveywhere.

[Edited on 1-16-2009 by Woooosh]

Yeah, if 14 pesos to the dollar doesn't bring 'em, not sure what will :?:

That's an intersting point. Why aren't Americasn flocking to the TJ or Ensenada CostCo's? Maybe they are. I did a price check a few weeks back for an item at the TJ CostCo near the border and it was fairly busy- not Chula Vista busy though.

BTW- The price was about 10% higher and the sales tax is near 10% in TJ I think. But they do take Visa/Mastercard- the USA ones only take AMX and debit cards.

It is worth looking into if you are paying at CostCo in pesos. Nothing is ever apples-to-apples down here though and it's hard to compare prices. The meat selection is nothing like north of the border.

Woooosh - 1-16-2009 at 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
I think you may be underestimating Sr. Slim. He's behind a number of charitable foundations both in Mexico and Latin America. The Telmex foundation alone has granted tens of thousands of scholarships. I think it's just hard to be so rich and therefore so envied. No one expects either Slim or Bill Gates to make vows of poverty.

Gates gives 85% away and has vowed to leave less than 5% to his children. Those billions that remain are enough to ensure they don't live in poverty.

Interesting charitable comparison. The Gates Foundation has wiped smallpox off the face of the globe. It's doing so many good things worldwide that Warren Buffet turned his whole foundation over to Gates to give away too. It;s what Gates does full time now. When Slim joins them for lunch and writes a check... well, when Mr Slim himself says he doesn't give away his money- I tend to believe him. The best thing TelMex could do is lower its ridiculous phone rates so poor people could afford a phone- not give a small percentage of their fleecing of the people away.

Bajahowodd - 1-16-2009 at 05:25 PM

Not saying Slim is Gates. But, just wanted to be fair. And who knows? Maybe he'll have an epiphany some day. I really think there's something to be said for the vast inflation that has hit world currencies in the past 30 years. Combine it with the concentration of the wealth, and you've got people who have more money than they know what to do with it. Mexico has long suffered with the concentration of wealth with the few. And sadly, we're going their way. The richest 300,000 Americans have a combined wealth equal to the bottom 150,000,000.

BajaGringo - 1-16-2009 at 05:37 PM

I don't think anybody can call it Tijuana bashing. The reality is what it is and TJ has taken more than its share of hard hits in the area of tourism. I really take my hat off to the hard working/dedicated souls still keeping their doors open. In the face of such dwindling numbers of visitors it has to be very hard...

[Edited on 1-17-2009 by BajaGringo]

Bajahowodd - 1-16-2009 at 05:45 PM

Love Tijuana. Now if they just stop the epidemic of headless bodies. Seriously, it is my understanding that such violence is more or less confined to the Eastern part of the city. It's like people not going to Hollywood because there are drive-bys in South Central. Hollywood seems pretty busy.

fdt - 1-16-2009 at 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Woooosh
for anyone who feels this is TJ bashing...

I would never ever think that of you, honest! :rolleyes:

Woooosh - 1-16-2009 at 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fdt

Quote:

Originally posted by Woooosh
for anyone who feels this is TJ bashing...

I would never ever think that of you, honest! :rolleyes:

[/quote

BajaGringo - 1-16-2009 at 07:08 PM

Don't make me stop this car!!!!

:mad:

SDRonni - 1-17-2009 at 09:22 AM

BajaGringo: That statement brought back so many childhood memories of my dad looking in the rear-view mirror at my brother and me in the back seat!!! LOL!!! :lol:

BajaGringo - 1-17-2009 at 09:41 AM

You and me both...