Are local businesses not eligible for Poke Stop Nomination?
Heroice18-PGO
Posts: 2 ✭✭
Recently I nominated a local ice cream shop as a pokestop. However, a few days later it gets rejected with no description as to why it was rejected. A few of my rejections don't have descriptions as to why so it makes it uncertain as to why it happened.
Are local businesses eligible to be Pokestops? I see them as a category during the submission process so I would believe it would be eligible.
On another note, can you only repeal one Pokestop at a time? And is there a way to get more in depth reasons as to why my stop was rejected?
Description
A locally owned and operated Hispanic ice cream store
Answers
Yes they are. But local community standards differ. Where I am from this would have been a slam dunk as every non-chain ice cream shop is basically auto-accepted. Are other ice cream stores in your area stops?
Yes, local businesses can be valid IF they are places to be social, or they have interesting art or displays to explore.
The fact that it's local means it won't get rejected for being a national chain, but why should it be accepted?
Are there often people hanging around there? How long has it been there? What's an interesting flavor you've seen there?
You'll see many things as a category during the submission process that are NOT valid wayspots, so don't go by that! It's just a list from OSM, Open Street Map - free to Niantic.
Try reading all four tabs here: https://wayfarer.nianticlabs.com/new/criteria/eligibility
In many communities, Ice cream stores are basically an auto accept. They make an EASY argument for the "Gather" Criteria. After every kids baseball, soccer game.... go to the ice cream parlor in uniform. 10+, 20+, kids wearing identical uniforms are definitely gathering there.
Now, if your community doesn't have such a culture of youth sport teams going to ice cream store after games, then yes, treat the ice cream parlor like you would a restaurant and your advice is solid.
But like I said, figure out first what you are going for and what your community views. It might even be worth tossing an upgrade on if your local community and the larger upgrade community view differently.
This nomination could definitely make it to approved but it’s going to take some attempts and more info on your part. I absolutely love the frozen bars with chunks of fruits as a Hispanic I’ve cream staple but if they are generic I’d be less interested. Homemade items should he mentioned and if they sell anything year round like pastry or coffee mention that as well. This one can be tough but with the right reviewers and supporting info a great poi. If there is any seating nearby get that into the supporting info picture as well.