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*
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Absolutely true here in Butte. There are two, largely unsuccessful except for one who is owned by a couple who just don't care. The one other is safeway, the smallest of which is 4 times as large as the largest locally-owned.
ReplyDeleteThe local 'mall' is pretty much dead. All the larger, Penny's, Etc have left, the one last semi-local clothing store, Herberger's', just closed. Now it't Walmart or nothing, or drive 75 miles to Bozeman, who most do.
Our town is different in that you can still see the remains, the conversions, of what were the many local neighborhood stores. Some still have the writing on the brick sides, while the rest is obviously a residence.
I doubt things will change much in the foreseeable future. Butte has no industry to bring in the population with income it would take, and none is obvious at present.
I don't see a solution, frankly. Not for here.
I think we're way past "a solution". BIG is here to stay...that genie isn't going back in the bottle.
DeleteNear me is Home Depot, Lowes, and ACE Hardware. Two grocery stores Safeway/Carrs and Fred Meyer. Several places to eat, Thai, Chinese, Tex-Mex and a few burger places. We have a Sams and Costco nearby that also sell gas. So how do we shop? For grocery it is the base commissary and Costco, all else Amazon. We seldom eat out in Alaska. I guess we are part of the problem.
ReplyDeleteI saw a local bait shop today. Weirdly it was across the street from a small airport. There are still local banks--they're called credit unions. There are still local restaurants and also food trucks are a more popular way for small restaurateurs to operate.
ReplyDeleteI agree, the genie can't be put back in the bottle. But I'm not quite in the doom-and-gloom mood just yet. Locally owned restaurants are doing quite well here, right along with the Olive Gardens and Outbacks and Starbucks. And yes, we only have one bookstore left in town, but I understand that used bookstores are doing OK. We have Lowe's, Home Depot, and two locally owned Ace Hardware stores here. Occasionally, we go to Lowe's and Home Depot, but found that the locally owned franchise of Ace Hardware is often cheaper than the big box stores.
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