Duffy's Drug Store was on that site many years ago.

Maybe an antique shop or a consignment shop.

How about fast food like a Taco balls or maybe a bookie joint

A strip club is about the only thing its going to be good for, everyone knows that the North end is falling apart and this town government isn't very business friendly

Until the economy turns around I won't expect much. I wonder what the rent is on that building and the old drug store across the lot. Would a roller rink make it in today's world. Maybe a Chucky Cheese

We should have the town buy the building and keep it the way it is as a monument to our unqualified incompetent town planner, town administrator and town councilors that allow him to remain employed. We have lots of these vacant buildings in the North end however our planner is working on a bed and breakfasts in Four Corners. I forgot we have a bunch of unmaintained old schools that have not been sold after way too many years of talk and no action.

Doc, We have an RFP out and the realtors are responding . The schools are For Sale. The Legislature is the real cause of RI's vacant buildings and lack of employment.The sales tax sent most retail over the border. The fire code made many of the buildings unusable . Much blame to go around.

What happened with the Shopping Center that was supposed to be built on Souza Rd., I bet that tax renevue would be good right about now, oh ya the town government didnt approve of it, just more affordable housing and strain on the local services

Ask the people who bought the old Manchester Sea Food building . They took a shellacking. It's listed for sale again

The busiest black Friday in a decade, how come other towns who put in businesses aren't suffering? Neighbors like Portsmouth, Middletown, Newport, Bristol, Barrington, or any of the other towns in this state. Tiverton officials continue to make excuses, after dropping the ball on deal after deal... How many business deals in the industrial park has the town let fall through? One after another... It's no wonder real commercial developers steer clear of this terribly run town.

Fortunately this council is working to reverse that trend.

I don't believe that Joe, And I won't believe it until I see some real progress. What I have seen is councilors spending a shameful amount of time on various tax schemes when the only real chance that they have to actually LOWER taxes is to spend twice as much time working to attract business. And don't give me plans. Give me progress.

Tiv. Dad,When the Last several councils sent prospective Businesses away where were you? More Spin from the Over The Cap Gang. The Previous Democrat Councils are to blame for much of the revenue losses we see today. They killed every deal that came our way. No one has forgot the dirty deals and back room politics . The current council has a track record over the last year as pro business, and progress. History shows we are far better off now. I hope you don't think your spin on the truth is believable.

Actions speak louder than words. And I have not seen any significant business growth in this town. With the "proactive" council. I see more time spent on personal agendas . When does the future of the town become important???

Joe said: "The current council has a track record over the last year as pro business, and progress."

Specifics Joe? I do agree on a couple of issues like Sing our for Hunger and Little League signs, but progress on tax control - nope a municipal budget that was over 3% (and I don't count the FTR). Progress on controlling debt - nope refused to take a stand and privately supported it. Progress on zoning - nope, see Four Corners and Oyster pond issue. Let's discuss specifics. I am willing to give credit if I am missing something.

the Sousa road center and other projects were either rezoned out of the picture or just ignored,I do see this council taking steps to move toward better zoneing to make this town less hostile to business, but you can't just dismiss restrictions put in place. Even now as the wind farm moves forward some folks are fighting it,The last timei saw anything happen in that park was when the council banned deer hunting in it, so to say this council has not done anything with it just flys in the face of logic.I only hope that this council and future ones work to expand the tax base

what personal agenda's would you be speaking of concerned citizen, that seems a rather vague comment?

A recreational buidling for the kids of tiverton. almost like a boys and girls club for the kids of tiverton.

good idea, but i don't think the buuilding would work with that

"Emergency" Meeting to re-zone commercial land, Keep Tiverton Green, does that ring a bell. There isn't too much that is green in empty lots and vacant buildings. Business in town would lower taxes, which most people are in favor of, so whose agenda was it to drive out business, the tax payers or the local politicians?

@Joe

Joe,

I watch ALL the meetings. Agree that the liquor license increase was a good idea. But, Tiverton Four Corners is one of the biggest draws that Tiverton has, this council has delayed those zoning changes unnecessarily because of NIMBY's. A respected EDC member quit because of the problems with the council in getting things done for business. Other zoning changes and things that would actually do something get continued never to be heard from again. Now I sense from watching the tape that several members are going to block the wind farm.

Stethoscope and shag knee pads? I wouldn't give him that much credit. Possibly a recently appointed planning board member and one of a number of four corners rezoning opponents who have successfully worked their way on many of the boards?

I tried to move an established business here and was informed by the listing agent this property would have to be a sub-lease through Bank of America, who is in to the lease for over 6k a month. The 10 year lease they want the victim to sign goes up to 7k a month on the tail end... Bottom line this is BofA and not the towns fault

Rhode Island’s public policies important to small businesses and entrepreneurs are among the worst in the nation, according to the Small Business Survival Index 2011.

The Ocean State slipped to No. 47 on the 16th annual ranking produced by the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council from No. 45 last year.

IC FAT/I don't defend the council at every turn/ This Council has been over the top with openness/Pure Shillyness/Please get your facts strait before spinning your diatribe

It seems like the only thing that opens up now are banks and pharmacies. If there's a Rite Aid and CVS up there, it's only a matter of time before Walgreens moves in. (Am I the only one who finds drugstore-clustering wasteful & annoying? I get that it's a scorched-earth battle for market share, but what a huge waste of resources.)

Anyhow, imagining a functional economy, where people could reasonably expect to open up a small business, get financed, and find customers with some disposable income, it would be great to see something fun, unusual, or helpful, such as:

1) a music store (instruments, instruction, etc.)
2) office supply store (unless you want to buy expensively at one of the drugstores, you have to drive to Fall River or Dartmouth to get an ink cartridge, carton of paper).
3) Thai restaurant. Tiverton, your time has come!
4) Mexican restaurant. " " " "
5) Bookstore (one can dream....)
6) Toy store
7) Stationery/Card shop
8) Outdoor outfitter
9) Teen clothing shop. (We have local young children's and adult clothing shops, but what about older kids, esp. boys? Again, have to go to Fall River or Dartmouth).
10) Cooking supply store

The rent seems astronomical, though. Seems like BoA should sublet for a portion of that, to recoup some money. As it is, they are paying for an empty store.

BoA is a large national corporation that doesn't give a crap about the needs of small town Tiverton or business owners. This type of inefficency at the expense of common sense is one of the reasons that this country is in trouble.