When a Business Closes...
I drove downtown this week to buy for the last time from a business I have been dealing with for the whole 25+ years that I have had my flower business. This store has been around for 75 years, which makes it hard to watch the doors close on what was formerly a booming business.
Since they had only a little competition over the years, it doesn't make sense that they are at the point of closing. I saw more cars in the parking lot that day than I had seen there in the past year. Maybe if the current owners had paid more attention to what brings customers in the shop, they could have retained the volume of business that the former owners had. It makes me sad to see a second or third generation business being run into the ground by the current owners. It just goes to show that inheriting a business doesn't guarantee that you will have the acumen or integrity needed to keep it afloat.
Since they had only a little competition over the years, it doesn't make sense that they are at the point of closing. I saw more cars in the parking lot that day than I had seen there in the past year. Maybe if the current owners had paid more attention to what brings customers in the shop, they could have retained the volume of business that the former owners had. It makes me sad to see a second or third generation business being run into the ground by the current owners. It just goes to show that inheriting a business doesn't guarantee that you will have the acumen or integrity needed to keep it afloat.
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Canada or Bust?
As I drove downtown, I rounded a corner at a fairly good clip, in order to get out of the way of the driver barreling down the road behind me, who didn't seem to notice that I had my right turn signal blinking. After I made the turn, I had to haul myself up short to keep from running over 2 Canada geese who were leisurely crossing the street, and one had stopped to scratch fleas or some sort of vermin. I didn't have the camera with me, or I would have captured that to show you. I rolled down the window and asked him if he was lost, since the nearest water was at least a 1/2 mile away. He turned his nose up in at me; motioned for his mate to scurry along, and honked! I am sure he was telling me that he is planning to leave for Canada soon, and to cut them some slack.
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20 comments:
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That is so sad when busineses like that close. There was a column in the St. Pete paper today about a pharmacy that's closing after many years...one of those local, home-owned businesses. The owner recently became a county commissioner and doesn't have the time to keep it open. So, CVS gets the business. Sad.
Cute! Glad you and the geese were OK.
Did the goose GOOSE you??!! :0 :)
That is too bad about that floral business.
YOU should take over and make it a booming business again.
It is so sad to see a business close. After we left Columbus, my dear friend who owned The Front Door restaurant and gift shop, died suddenly. Just four months before, when I went to gather my last belongings and sign the house papers, we had had such a great time of fellowship. I hate to think of what has happened to that once thriving business.
As for the geese... it is really funny when they take the little ones out for a stroll. One leads the line, one brings up the rear and one stands in the middle of the street almost like she is a school crossing guard. And it works. Everyone stops.
Too bad you didn't have your camera! Would have liked to see those geese. ;)
Amazing that these geese were just right there in the road! I LOVE that, Judy.
It is very very sad to see a business like that go down the tubes! I have seen that here, quite a lot. And Los Angeles doesn't have that much history because things come and go so quickly....like Restaurants.
Judy,
That is good!!!
That's very sad. We used to go to this little restaurant for lunch. It was a family business...three generations. The business thrived for many years, and the family expanded it several times...that was so nice to see. We watched their children grow up and eventually take over. Then, the government exercised their right of emminent domain and the place closed. We were there on the last day...the owners were almost in tears...so sad.
That's very sad. We used to go to this little restaurant for lunch. It was a family business...three generations. The business thrived for many years, and the family expanded it several times...that was so nice to see. We watched their children grow up and eventually take over. Then, the government exercised their right of emminent domain and the place closed. We were there on the last day...the owners were almost in tears...so sad.
Locally, a lot of good businesses are closing for another reason--they can't afford the taxes or insurance.
We have another type of Canadian snowbird here that actually drives! LOL
i hate seeing local establishments that have been pillars in the community close , too. always sad! my favorite restaurant/bakery in our town in NC just changed ownership and is horrible and overpriced now....i was so disappointed when i went there over christmas. it had been in the previous owner's family since the late 1800's, and i doubt it will be able to stay open long now.
judy- i just posted a comment, but don't know if it came through......
I trade so much at business in business for generations - I've watched the children and - gulp- grandchildren grow up. I can relate to your story, how sad it will be, and the day will come, when its just over.
Geese! One at the zoo poked my daughter in the face through the fence. I don't get close anymore. Glad you didn't have to deal with goose feathers.
Please, please, keep the Canada Geese... don't encourage them to fly north, we have more than enough here already!
Are you sure it was the goose that honked and not the hurried and inattentive driver behind you ;-) hee hee! Only joking - it must ahve beena funny sight though.
It is sad when an old business goes to the dogs.
I've never seen a Canada goose in person. But I've seen an Egyptian one.
Sad about that business. We just lost our favorite restaurant because they "lost their lease." These sorts of changes seem most sad because they're unnecessary.
~S
First we have to deal with turkey poop and now you want us to take all the goose poop.....keep the geese, please....they are loud and usually rather nasty tempered. We recently had a generations old grocery store with a cafe torn down to make way for an ugly 3 story bank...not lost by the family but progress. In a town of maybe 10,000 that's pretty sad.
it is always sad to see a local family run store close....the history goes with it. you're right. It all comes down to how you treat your customers. if there is no respect and attention paid, SOL pal.
Canada Geese? I live on a flight path........spring and fall, a whole TON of them fly by my window up and down the Saint John River Valley. It's a beautiful sight. however, this country is running rampant with the darn things. Don't know why, but they seem to be taking over the population of the gulls.
The business closing is sad.
I loved the goose story.
Huggles
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