Amen! Now that we are about 2-3 generations into the retail-consolidation-big-box-mega-supply-chain-cheap-crap-from-China-price-is-the-prime-consideration era, the smallness of retail establishments is the thing of black and white movies for many. I'm 62 and I can barely remember the local "bodegas", butcher shop (with sawdust on the floor!), local department store and repair shops in the city I grew up in (New Bedford, MA). Fortunately, in many segments the smallness of retail services is coming back; craft brewers, coffee shops and Mexican restaurants being the most notable and they provide these unique third spaces. As long as there is older downmarket retail space available, I think these and hopefully more will thrive because they can offer unique products and experiences that people are willing to pay for and don't require huge economies of scale to be profitable. I think the trick is to figure out how to get the newer "retail industrial complex" (per your last post) to somehow accommodate this small scale into their business model. That's one thing I have been trying to figure out how to incentivize in my work with the City of Annapolis as newer and larger spaces are developed. Any thoughts on that would be welcome!
I think you'd like digging in on the North East Development Cooperative: https://www.neic.coop/
Cool story, cool people, and a tested model to help local businesses succeed (that should be replicated elsewhere!).
I would love to start something like that in my town. And just encourage more cooperatives in general!
Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community
2000, Book by Robert D. Putnam
Amen! Now that we are about 2-3 generations into the retail-consolidation-big-box-mega-supply-chain-cheap-crap-from-China-price-is-the-prime-consideration era, the smallness of retail establishments is the thing of black and white movies for many. I'm 62 and I can barely remember the local "bodegas", butcher shop (with sawdust on the floor!), local department store and repair shops in the city I grew up in (New Bedford, MA). Fortunately, in many segments the smallness of retail services is coming back; craft brewers, coffee shops and Mexican restaurants being the most notable and they provide these unique third spaces. As long as there is older downmarket retail space available, I think these and hopefully more will thrive because they can offer unique products and experiences that people are willing to pay for and don't require huge economies of scale to be profitable. I think the trick is to figure out how to get the newer "retail industrial complex" (per your last post) to somehow accommodate this small scale into their business model. That's one thing I have been trying to figure out how to incentivize in my work with the City of Annapolis as newer and larger spaces are developed. Any thoughts on that would be welcome!