[2014-05-07] NPR: Cleveland Suburb Hopes ‘Bitcoin Boulevard’ Will Draw Tourists

[coinneo]

Very thankful to Tony Ganzer and the NPR network for featuring our initiative nationwide today on Here & Now.

http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2014/05/07/cleveland-bitcoin-boulevard

[hilariousandco]

The intersection of Cedar and Lee Roads in Cleveland Heights is a hub for films, trendy restaurants and artisan shops. About a dozen of those businesses are embracing the digital currency Bitcoin to drum up attention, and maybe some real-world business.

I think these 'Bitcoin Boulevards' are a logical progression, and it'll be cool to see more places popping up. I think all it takes is one store in a particular area to accept BTC and that piques the interest of surrounding ones who want to keep up and draw more customers, so then others follow suit, and before you know it you've got another Bitcoin Boulevard sprung up from nowhere.

It’s the first so-called Bitcoin Boulevard in the U.S., after another in the Netherlands. From the Here & Now Contributors Network, Tony Ganzer of WCPN in reports.

Where is the one in Holland? I'll probably be going back there later in the year and would love to spend some coins instead of Euros.

[medicine]

I also really like this idea. Too bad this is in the state that banned liquor sales for bitcoin.  I wish them sucess and hope this idea spreads to every other city across the world.

Btw, how have you posted over 9000 comments in under 6 months?  You sure have a lot to say.

[coinneo]

The intersection of Cedar and Lee Roads in Cleveland Heights is a hub for films, trendy restaurants and artisan shops. About a dozen of those businesses are embracing the digital currency Bitcoin to drum up attention, and maybe some real-world business.

I think these 'Bitcoin Boulevards' are a logical progression, and it'll be cool to see more places popping up. I think all it takes is one store in a particular area to accept BTC and that piques the interest of surrounding ones who want to keep up and draw more customers, so then others follow suit, and before you know it you've got another Bitcoin Boulevard sprung up from nowhere.

It’s the first so-called Bitcoin Boulevard in the U.S., after another in the Netherlands. From the Here & Now Contributors Network, Tony Ganzer of WCPN in reports.

Where is the one in Holland? I'll probably be going back there later in the year and would love to spend some coins instead of Euros.

The Hague: http://www.bitcoinboulevard.nl/ . Just had a video conference with them yesterday, and sent .001 BTC from Ohio to The Hague over skype. Bitcoin is revolutionary. https://twitter.com/BTCBoulevardUS/status/464134106729951233/photo/1

Yes, the nice thing about this concept is that is is community organized. The merchants are the ones that see the value, and they are not "bitcoiners" per se. I did very little initial cold-calling, but had every resource available to them for when they needed it. Bitcoin sold itself, when they had the material presented to them. They made this decision largely on their own, and then we worked together to make it happen. They are businesspersons who see a possible way to increase their margins, and lower the obstructions caused by aging payment infrastructures. For Lisa at Revive, she sees this as a potential way to get her payments to her artisans across the globe, without all the hassle (and fees) they often have to endure with government, banks, exchanges, wire transfers, etc.

These merchants know they are not in this for a windfall of Bitcoins, although any new income from this would be nice of course.  They see the potential Bitcoin holds for their individual and collective futures, are embracing a new technology, and celebrating grass roots innovation.

[coinneo]

I also really like this idea. Too bad this is in the state that banned liquor sales for bitcoin.  I wish them sucess and hope this idea spreads to every other city across the world.

Btw, how have you posted over 9000 comments in under 6 months?  You sure have a lot to say.

I think the liquor ban will be re-evaluated - they are working on it as we speak. The State has been very receptive, they are trying to understand Bitcoin just as everyone else is. I am hoping for a positive result from them within the next few days/week. If not, there are plans. This is far from over.

9000 comments? Surely not me right?

[medicine]

9000 comments? Surely not me right?

Ha ha, no not you coinneo.  There is an option in your profile section to show people's post counts and activity.  hilariousandco has like 9400 posts in the last 6 months. 

[bryant.coleman]

Oh... who will travel all the way from Europe or Asia to Ohio, just to trade in Bitcoins? Also they have only a dozen or so shops which accept the digital currency... I think there are more of them in London.

[coinneo]

Oh... who will travel all the way from Europe or Asia to Ohio, just to trade in Bitcoins? Also they have only a dozen or so shops which accept the digital currency... I think there are more of them in London.

This is more about capturing travelers who are coming through Cleveland already. Not just from London or Asia, but from Pittsburgh, New York, Chicago and other US cities too. Also, this is not about trading Bitcoins, but spending Bitcoins. Having a community of merchants where one can spend a day shopping, eating, and experiencing our community through Bitcoin. It is an outreach initiative for our city.

Plus, we have had people from as far as London calling our merchants directly to congratulate them. The Bitcoin community worldwide has been incredibly supportive of these merchants.

More importantly, the community (not just the bitcoin community) has been supportive of them, worldwide. This includes individuals, other merchants, and mass media alike. This has been incredibly positive news for our merchants, and Bitcoin during a time when Bitcoin could have used a lift. 2014 was a rough start for Bitcoin, and I for one thank these merchants for sticking with the project even through the adversity.

[bryant.coleman]

This is more about capturing travelers who are coming through Cleveland already. Not just from London or Asia, but from Pittsburgh, New York, Chicago and other US cities too. Also, this is not about trading Bitcoins, but spending Bitcoins. Having a community of merchants where one can spend a day shopping, eating, and experiencing our community through Bitcoin. It is an outreach initiative for our city.

Nice to hear that. So if some one is preparing a Bitcoin tourist map for the world, then Cleveland should be there as one of the prime locations. I just hope that the number of merchants will continue to grow over time.

[coinneo]

This is more about capturing travelers who are coming through Cleveland already. Not just from London or Asia, but from Pittsburgh, New York, Chicago and other US cities too. Also, this is not about trading Bitcoins, but spending Bitcoins. Having a community of merchants where one can spend a day shopping, eating, and experiencing our community through Bitcoin. It is an outreach initiative for our city.

Nice to hear that. So if some one is preparing a Bitcoin tourist map for the world, then Cleveland should be there as one of the prime locations. I just hope that the number of merchants will continue to grow over time.

We all are on coinmap.org, that seems to be a leading site for Bitcoin merchants at this point in time. We already have new merchants, and new interest form merchants.