The Loft: Butches and Femmes in their 40s, 50s and over.

[introverted1]

Yes, it's a dime store and it's wonderful... the owner of the building is raising the rent to the point where they are driving small businesses out.

[Dean Thoreau]

They had one of those Ben franklins in lambertville N.J., I loved that place, now it’s some terribly expensive fusion restaurant where you pay 40 dollars for 2 pumpkin ravioli with a tiny sprinkle of rabbit food on top.

I really dislike restaurants that don’t serve food but decorative plates instead; and the whole purpose is to be seen there, or tell of your trip there and who you saw. Food rarely enters the reasons.

I’ll ttake a nice mom n pop diner/restaraunt that has great food, great owners, and you don’t have to say who was there cause you know every body, you r a regular and before you can sit at the table your coffee and glass of ice is already on its way.

[introverted1]

Originally Posted by Dean Thoreau

They had one of those Ben franklins in lambertville N.J., I loved that place, now it’s some terribly expensive fusion restaurant where you pay 40 dollars for 2 pumpkin ravioli with a tiny sprinkle of rabbit food on top.

I really dislike restaurants that don’t serve food but decorative plates instead; and the whole purpose is to be seen there, or tell of your trip there and who you saw. Food rarely enters the reasons.

I’ll ttake a nice mom n pop diner/restaraunt that has great food, great owners, and you don’t have to say who was there cause you know every body, you r a regular and before you can sit at the table your coffee and glass of ice is already on its way.

I hate those "Small Plates" places as well...so pretentious!

[Lyte]

Unless... it's a tapas bar... those are wonderful!

Originally Posted by introverted1

I hate those "Small Plates" places as well...so pretentious!

[homoe]

BUMP..........

[GeorgiaMa'am]

Originally Posted by introverted1

Yes, it's a dime store and it's wonderful... the owner of the building is raising the rent to the point where they are driving small businesses out.

I hate this phenomenon. One of our iconic shopping centers (Toco Hills) was bought about a year or so ago, and they have raised the rents to the place that all the good mom-and-pop stores are moving out. Just last Friday, Bagel Palace closed - the source of the best and most authentic bagels in Atlanta, not to mention the best whitefish salad. They have also closed a shoe store, a jeweler and a pub I liked. The stores that are staying are big chain grocery stores and places like Ace Hardware. This same development company has bought other shopping centers in Atlanta, and they have become all the same, no more locally owned businesses, all chain stores.

I don't care how many Massage Envy chains move into Toco Hills, all my reasons for shopping there are leaving.

[Gemme]

That's happening here too. Our Job Lot had to move to another plaza because their rent is so high and we lost the nearest Olympia Sports too. Same plaza. If they lose the grocery store, the whole plaza will die.

[JDeere]

Sounds like a few stores here as welll. Toys r us is out amongst other places.

[Chained Daisy]

A lot of chains are suffering this side of the pond too. Poundworld has just gone into receivership, Marks and Spencers a very popular dept store reported a big fall in profits, Toys R Us are all closing here too, House Of Frazer are closing a lot of stores and numerous other's all what we call here `High Street` big names. When these stores disappear from smaller towns it has a drastic impact on trade for other shops and jobs. Again its often the rates being so high that leave little profit left.

I live in quite a rural area so often shop on line and also often feel bad about that so I make a point most weeks of driving to one of the little villages scattered about and picking up a few bits and bobs. In particular I pop into the chemists and post offices as I know when they close it can really be troublesome for the elderly to access the services they need close at hand.

And I`ll say I invariably end up chatting to several people along the way, smaller independent shops always seem to have a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere and have time for those who want to chat as well as shop. After all, for some solitary souls it may be the only conversation they have with anyone all day.