Another liberal progressive gift of destroying small businesses that kept downtown areas of cities bustling. Our city downtown area used to have wonderful small businesses owned by actual families and not corporations. Bookstores, dress shops, menswear, gift shops, shoe stores, theaters, pharmacies, homegoods, jewelry stores, etc.
It was fun to shop downtown. Then malls came and big box stores. The private owner was pushed out.
Our downtown area is now full of restaurants only just about and No one drives downtown anymore. I dont know how almost 50 restaurants in that area survives.
Now, big box stores are closing and small businesses aren’t opening in their place. Gangs have taken over the malls and Amazon is the only place left to shop.
I grew up near a small city that had all those things. Department stores, paint stores, jewelers, several clothing stores etc.,. All owned by individuals. The downtown was beautiful and safe. Now I never go there because it's been totally trashed.
Another liberal progressive gift of destroying small businesses that kept downtown areas of cities bustling. Our city downtown area used to have wonderful small businesses owned by actual families and not corporations. Bookstores, dress shops, menswear, gift shops, shoe stores, theaters, pharmacies, homegoods, jewelry stores, etc. It was fun to shop downtown. Then malls came and big box stores. The private owner was pushed out. Our downtown area is now full of restaurants only just about and No one drives downtown anymore. I dont know how almost 50 restaurants in that area survives. Now, big box stores are closing and small businesses aren’t opening in their place. Gangs have taken over the malls and Amazon is the only place left to shop.
I grew up near a small city that had all those things. Department stores, paint stores, jewelers, several clothing stores etc.,. All owned by individuals. The downtown was beautiful and safe. Now I never go there because it's been totally trashed.
Can confirm. I grew up in a once-properous small town that was just as you describe. Today it's a ghost town.