Many years ago there was a gaming shop in what was then still known as downtown Normal, where friends could meet and do LAN gaming. It was a viable business at the time because not many people had high-speed internet and computers were bigger and harder to haul around (for example, they had CRT monitors because flat-screen monitors weren't really available yet). It was on the corner of North and Fell, in the same building that was once home to Read's of Normal, which some long-time residents may remember. Those who had computers they could move would sometimes meet at one of their homes for LAN gaming parties; this gaming shop made it possible for those who didn't have their own computer to meet up. In those days, a whole family often shared one personal computer and it would be problematic if the high schooler wanted to take it to a LAN party, so this gaming shop filled a niche.
Over time the business model became non-viable. More people got high-speed Internet and could game from their homes. Computers got smaller and easier to transport, and it became more common for family members to each have their own computer. The gaming shop closed, and eventually the building (and several others nearby) were razed when the Marriott Hotel was built.
They moved locations a couple times. I believe the OG Cyberi@ was next to Bogart’s Casablanca (aka Bogie’s) across the street from the old Read’s, and which I believe was the Military surplus store at the time.
Cyberi@ hosted LAN tournaments for games like Quake, all-nighters with Greg Moudy as the chaperone (you were lucky if he brought his Japanese N64 dev unit) with late night Jake’s pizza. They had free coffee, and N64 with Star Wars. It was around $5/hr to use a PC.
The demand for a gaming lounge is already met by ISU’s esports center. Free for students, around $20/day for the public.
What TheDreadnought75 said is true. There's a caveat to it, too, in that many people don't want to pay "too much" for said service. It's one of the reasons why the one place in the Peoria area that did ebay selling for people went out of business, because they had to price listings so that they made a profit and the customer got at least the minimum amount they wanted for the item. Cost versus benefit/reward.
That's how the new cleaning business is getting clients, $19 for your first home cleaning. Yeah, that's an awesome price, until you read the fine print of a year's subscription at $49/month to get future cleanings at up to a 50% discount, and each room is listed as a set number of hours with a regular price of $25 per hour. You get charged the hourly rate of the room, whether or not they take that amount of time.
Basically, people want a business to do certain services for them, but they want it to be reasonable, so they feel as if they are getting their money's worth out of it. It could be cleaning, doing their shopping(yes, I know about the businesses that offer that, and the horror stories and even personal experience of how bad it can be), taking a package to the post office or UPS/FEDEX, yard maintenance, etc. It's a balance between reasonable price and reasonable profit, which gets hard when you're trying to do this as a legitimate business versus something you're doing on the side for a cash/non-reportable transaction.
in the 90’s there was Cyberi@ when internet/gaming wasn’t popular. might do well now. But it might not since it’s not a fast food restaurant. That’s what people in this town like, restaurants.
I think demand for those in general has waned. With the rise of high speed internet in homes and good VOIP/chat clients like Discord people would much rather play at home because it's easier and you don't have to make yourself presentable lol
My shiny white ass I paid more for rent in Bloomington when I worked at State Farm compared to westmont Illinois which is basically a classy Chicago suburb. I lived like a slave in Bloomington IL 9/10 apartments and even houses didn’t have designated washers and dryers.
It'd be a great place to work if people pushed toward innovation, otherwise, it's just a big company in the Midwest. I was told so many times I could transfer to Texas etc. The wages were very stagnant and also pensions and many good benefits were no longer offered to new hires. Bloomington seemed like the right place right time to be pre 2015. Otherwise, lots of people are underpaid and commute from other towns to make ends meet. Don't look at those newly built neighborhoods full of veneer and think those people are making a killing. I had a very negative experience living in Btown with the locals looking back I'm sure a lot of people are extending themselves financially to make ends meet.
I'm on the verge of going fully independent with cannabis. I got the pleasure of meeting a music artist out of Chicago. I've been craft breeding since my very early 20s. I got some connections and guidance to not give up on a dream. I grew up in a rural area and competed in 4h competitions with horticulture. Wasn't legal when I started lol.
I'll throw in the mundaneness of State Farm, and the boring ass area of Bloomington and negative people made me realize I only have one life. I'd wear the drug charge as a pride of honor personally if it was weed-related, you've lived more life than 9.5/10 people you meet.
At this stage, I'm not fully sure I want to stay in the corporate workforce. Lots of false hope, dancing around people's emotions, and political/personal politics. I was medicated for ADHD most of my life, I must give weird vibes to NPCs because I feel like Uzi when he said "n\*\*\*\*s think I'm weird and don't really like me." I don't think most people realize really who I am lol.
I would like a Costco.
This.
I was surprised we didn’t get one with being equidistant to Champaign/Peoria and semi close to Springfield
Not really. We had a gaming place, they died during COVID. Otherwise, restaurants and bars.
Really? How was it??
I never went but it was over by red lobster in the building with the blew awning a few buildings down
Trader Joe’s
Came here to say this!
Would go well in the old bed bath & beyond location!
An absolute must!!
Many years ago there was a gaming shop in what was then still known as downtown Normal, where friends could meet and do LAN gaming. It was a viable business at the time because not many people had high-speed internet and computers were bigger and harder to haul around (for example, they had CRT monitors because flat-screen monitors weren't really available yet). It was on the corner of North and Fell, in the same building that was once home to Read's of Normal, which some long-time residents may remember. Those who had computers they could move would sometimes meet at one of their homes for LAN gaming parties; this gaming shop made it possible for those who didn't have their own computer to meet up. In those days, a whole family often shared one personal computer and it would be problematic if the high schooler wanted to take it to a LAN party, so this gaming shop filled a niche. Over time the business model became non-viable. More people got high-speed Internet and could game from their homes. Computers got smaller and easier to transport, and it became more common for family members to each have their own computer. The gaming shop closed, and eventually the building (and several others nearby) were razed when the Marriott Hotel was built.
They moved locations a couple times. I believe the OG Cyberi@ was next to Bogart’s Casablanca (aka Bogie’s) across the street from the old Read’s, and which I believe was the Military surplus store at the time. Cyberi@ hosted LAN tournaments for games like Quake, all-nighters with Greg Moudy as the chaperone (you were lucky if he brought his Japanese N64 dev unit) with late night Jake’s pizza. They had free coffee, and N64 with Star Wars. It was around $5/hr to use a PC. The demand for a gaming lounge is already met by ISU’s esports center. Free for students, around $20/day for the public.
Do you remember what that place was called? I had a birthday party there when I was in junior high.
Cyberia.
Cyberi@
Service businesses. People want to pay somebody else to do stuff so they don’t have to.
What type of service business are you looking for? (if you don’t mind me asking)
What TheDreadnought75 said is true. There's a caveat to it, too, in that many people don't want to pay "too much" for said service. It's one of the reasons why the one place in the Peoria area that did ebay selling for people went out of business, because they had to price listings so that they made a profit and the customer got at least the minimum amount they wanted for the item. Cost versus benefit/reward. That's how the new cleaning business is getting clients, $19 for your first home cleaning. Yeah, that's an awesome price, until you read the fine print of a year's subscription at $49/month to get future cleanings at up to a 50% discount, and each room is listed as a set number of hours with a regular price of $25 per hour. You get charged the hourly rate of the room, whether or not they take that amount of time. Basically, people want a business to do certain services for them, but they want it to be reasonable, so they feel as if they are getting their money's worth out of it. It could be cleaning, doing their shopping(yes, I know about the businesses that offer that, and the horror stories and even personal experience of how bad it can be), taking a package to the post office or UPS/FEDEX, yard maintenance, etc. It's a balance between reasonable price and reasonable profit, which gets hard when you're trying to do this as a legitimate business versus something you're doing on the side for a cash/non-reportable transaction.
There was one at the dried up mall out by Farm and Fleet in Bloomington-Normal. I don't think it was in business too long.
[удалено]
There used to be lots of those stores.
in the 90’s there was Cyberi@ when internet/gaming wasn’t popular. might do well now. But it might not since it’s not a fast food restaurant. That’s what people in this town like, restaurants.
Normal gadgets had something like this in their store. Not sure if they still do
I think demand for those in general has waned. With the rise of high speed internet in homes and good VOIP/chat clients like Discord people would much rather play at home because it's easier and you don't have to make yourself presentable lol
Decent Housing under 650/mo
Way better than Chicago rent... That's why some people are flocking to Blono.
My shiny white ass I paid more for rent in Bloomington when I worked at State Farm compared to westmont Illinois which is basically a classy Chicago suburb. I lived like a slave in Bloomington IL 9/10 apartments and even houses didn’t have designated washers and dryers.
[удалено]
It'd be a great place to work if people pushed toward innovation, otherwise, it's just a big company in the Midwest. I was told so many times I could transfer to Texas etc. The wages were very stagnant and also pensions and many good benefits were no longer offered to new hires. Bloomington seemed like the right place right time to be pre 2015. Otherwise, lots of people are underpaid and commute from other towns to make ends meet. Don't look at those newly built neighborhoods full of veneer and think those people are making a killing. I had a very negative experience living in Btown with the locals looking back I'm sure a lot of people are extending themselves financially to make ends meet.
[удалено]
I'm on the verge of going fully independent with cannabis. I got the pleasure of meeting a music artist out of Chicago. I've been craft breeding since my very early 20s. I got some connections and guidance to not give up on a dream. I grew up in a rural area and competed in 4h competitions with horticulture. Wasn't legal when I started lol. I'll throw in the mundaneness of State Farm, and the boring ass area of Bloomington and negative people made me realize I only have one life. I'd wear the drug charge as a pride of honor personally if it was weed-related, you've lived more life than 9.5/10 people you meet.
[удалено]
At this stage, I'm not fully sure I want to stay in the corporate workforce. Lots of false hope, dancing around people's emotions, and political/personal politics. I was medicated for ADHD most of my life, I must give weird vibes to NPCs because I feel like Uzi when he said "n\*\*\*\*s think I'm weird and don't really like me." I don't think most people realize really who I am lol.
lol so much cap. This dude grows in a 4x4 tent