Worcester Business Journal

30 Worcester Business Journal • March 14, 2016 www.wbjournal.com Join the WBJ's LinkedIn discussion group by scanning the code to the left on your smartphone. To scan the code, you need the NeoReader. Visit get.neoreader.com to download it onto your phone. Want to participate in the conversation? F L A S H P O L L T A L K B A C K INCREASED SMOKING AGE A new bill would raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco in Massachusetts to 21 years old. "I am totally on the side of this act. Because this can prevent many young people from smoking at their early ages. Once this act is carried out, I think this will be more effective and welcomed by many parents. As a drug toxin analyst, I think this should be banned." WBJournal.com commenter henrrymo WORCESTER A GREAT PLACE Worcester was ranked the second best city in Massachusetts in which to live and beat out long-standing rival Providence in the ranking. "Great pubs, great colleges, great townies, great location. Two hours to anywhere worthwhile in New England." Facebook commenter Chuck Mullen Do you think the Greendale Mall should continue as a shopping center? Readers split on Greendale Mall's future T he Greendale Mall is in financial trouble, with a 77-percent drop in its value over the last 10 years and key leases set to expire soon. There may be a foreclosure looming in the mall's future as a result of its financial position, and if that happens, it's possible that the property could be repurposed as something other than a mall. When asked, Worcester Business Journal readers were split almost down the middle whether the mall should continue. COMMENTS: No. Demolish the building and build something entirely new. 22% T he golf course has long been a key space for casual business meetings, but in an era of advancing communication technology, coupled with tighter schedules, many Central Massachusetts golf courses are seeing a decline in companies hosting clients on the course. WBJ readers, though, stil see a round of golf as a valuable selling tool. Business leaders still golfing with clients "It is a great way to have quality face time with clients, but you need to be selective due to the cost and time." Do you use the golf course as a meeting space? Yes. Turn it around by adding modern amenities and securing leases. 30% COMMENTS: "You can tell a lot by the way your client, customer or fellow worker plays golf, honesty, integrity, humility, self-control, just to mention a few traits." Yes. Rethink its existing model and add local stores. 22% No. Keep the building and repurpose it for something other than a mall. 25% Yes. Only for relaxing among employees. Yes. It's still a great way to get face time with clients. 50% No. Golf doesn't have the appeal it once had. 16% No. A golf outing takes up too much time. 28% "It is the only mall in Worcester. It is convenient and needs to be reinvented but kept as a shopping destination. Get a couple of decent restaurants in there. It is a good location; folks will go to eat there and shop. Replace Best Buy with a Nordstrom or Neiman's." "Turn it into a youth sports athletic complex capable of hosting major tournaments and events for basketball, swimming, soccer (indoor and outdoor), volleyball, etc. Look at the model for what is planned in Attleboro with the New England Sports Village." "It's a really bad place location and access- wise for a mall. It would be a great location for a high-tech company HQ." 6%

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