If you've had the opportunity to travel around the US much, and if you've been paying attention, you've probably noticed how much one place looks like every other. If you want to go out for dinner, you'll find lots of Olive Garden's, Outback's, Chili's, Applebee's, McDonald's and Taco Bell's, but you'll have to look hard to find a Mama's Cafe.
Most towns will have multiple branches of Bank of America, Citibank, Chase, and Wells Fargo, but it's doubtful you'll still find a local First National Bank. You'll find lots of Chevy, Ford, Dodge, and Toyota dealers that may have a sign that says "Proudly serving _____ since 1974", but if you'll Google it you'll probably find it's now owned by one of the hundred-dealer auto conglomerates.
You probably won't find a local Tip Top Grocery, but you'll find plenty of 7-11's, Quick Trip's, and RaceTrac's. And almost all sell gas, too, which has put the locally owned and operated 4-pump Exxon's and Texaco's out of business. Grocery stores are now dominated by big names like Walmart and Kroger's. Find yourself in need of a pair of pliers or a screwdriver? You'll likely find a Lowe's or Home Depot before you find a Floyd's Hardware.
Have an unexpected day free for some fishing? You'll burn up a tank of gas looking for Bubba's Bait and Tackle, while you drive right past Cabela's, Bass Pro Shop, Academy, and Dick's. Need a dress shirt? Ken's Man's Shoppe is long gone, replaced by Men's Wearhouse, Dillard's, and Joseph A Bank's. Rick's Furniture was killed off by the likes of Nebraska Furniture Mart and Haverty's, who are themselves now keeping a wary eye on Wayfair.
This is true for every midsize and large city I've been to in recent years. It may or may not be true if you're in some place like East Bull Turd, Alabama. Even then, if East Bull Turd happens to be within 30 or 40 miles of a major city, it will soon be a growing suburb and will see this phenomenon, too. And if it's too far away to attract city commuters, then it will likely continue to just wither away.
The little guys don't stand a chance these days, and even the big guys are now feeling the heat from the 500-pound gorilla in the room....Amazon. I guess it's true what they say: "The only thing constant is change." *sigh*
S
I recently had the misfortune of going to the mall where I was reminded again of just how skewed retail stores are in favor of women. Go into Macy's or Nordstrom's or Dillard's and it's obvious. Quite frankly, I think those big stores would be happy if men just stayed out of the way, or better yet, just stayed home and sent their women out to shop for them.
Think about it: On the first floor you'll find perfume, tall women's shirts, short women's pants, large women's casual clothes, skinny women's bras, and jewelry. Upstairs you'll find petite women's professional clothes, skinny women's beach attire, tall women's skirts, short women's shirts, large women's evening attire, and most undergarments. Women's flip flops and boots are on one floor, and sneakers, sandals, and all other shoes are...umm...scattered around. Same with socks and belts. Oh, and purses...I think they're grouped by size...S, M, L, and Luggage, on at least two floors.
Meanwhile, the men's section takes up about 2500 square feet on the second floor. (Women are allocated what seems like 800,000 square feet.) Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, is there. Shirts (LS, SS, dress, polo, casual, and tee's), suits, pants (dress, business casual, jeans, and shorts) swim suits, shoes, socks, underwear, and belts. You name it...if it isn't in that 2500 square foot section, they don't have it. Go home.
This is because men are disciplined shoppers. We go into "our" section, find what we're looking for, buy it, and leave. It ain't rocket science. Women define "impulse shoppers". They buy the shirt they went in for, then look around and start squealing..."Oooo, look, I want, I want, I want!"
Want more proof retailers prize women shoppers? A man's blazer is, say, $200, while THE SAME blazer in a (smaller) women's size sells for $350. Jeans...men's $40. Women's...$95. Men's underwear...3-pack for $20. Women's underwear, $15 each minimum. Cha Ching!
And have you ever noticed there are no windows in those big retail stores? Men will walk in, turn left and right and left and right a few times, look around and realize they're lost, then panic and look for a window to try and figure out which way is north, and therefore where the door is. They want to traumatize men so we'll never come back. Women could care less if they ever find a door. They just figure at some point during their wandering around they'll find one, and that's good enough. No hurry.
The bottom line for men is this: Admit defeat. Malls don't want us there getting in the women's way. Stay home. Shop online. It's our only sane option.
S
