Seen in Print

[Rufus T. Firefly]

[Rufus T. Firefly]

[MurphOnMillerAve]

The number of major retailers that are closing seems to be increasing significantly , with GAP now adding its name to the list, in addition to Lord & Taylor which has just said it's not closing a number of stores, it's closing all of them (!)

[Rufus T. Firefly]

The number of major retailers that are closing seems to be increasing significantly , with GAP now adding its name to the list, in addition to Lord & Taylor which has just said it's not closing a number of stores, it's closing all of them (!)

Lord & Taylor was in serious trouble over a year ago and was closing stores all over. No surprises there.

GAP is pretty much mall based. Nobody wanted to go to a mall for years. All the base based stores will probably go belly up.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

It all seems like a big societal change is afoot , and that there will not be any "return to normal."

I can remember when shopping was always and only done in "Downtown" areas of communities, one right after the other , up and down roadways. Then, somebody invented "strip malls " (I believe the first one was constructed by a Mr. Soffer) in the North Hills section along Rt30, just outside of McKeesport, PA, which began the end of downtowns as the place(s) to shop.

I guess we are in for another such event. But what?

[webenda]

I guess we are in for another such event. But what?

eCcommerce (WEB stores.) How about ordering a meal kit for your next meal => https://www.top10bestmealdelivery.com/

[robert.]

NJ. will bump up gas tax 9.3 cents a gallon. starts Oct.1

[chuck]

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Good businessmen with a decent business plan will figure out a way to survive. By good businessmen I mean someone that knows enough to not get over leveraged with debt and understands that you have to adjust to the market you are in and not just p&m about the good old days or bemoan the fact that everything would be fine if .....

There are a lot of folks that went into retail because they wanted to "be their own boss" even though they had little understanding of how retail really works and they are the ones that are consistently getting into trouble. They don't understand what their business really is. They don't get what the meat and potatoes products/services are. They focus on high risk potentially high margins and get into serious trouble when those don't pan out.

Plymouth has two downtowns, one is actually called "old town" and then there is a major set of strip mall type businesses on the "Mile Road" main drag that passes just south of town. The people running the stores and the products/services sold change but the real estate is still occupied. The local "office supply" place folded up when Office Max opened about three miles away. I'm not sure it's a great loss as they didn't have the products that the big box store did and they didn't have any extra value services to compensate for the lack of stock. They disappeared and a new grille/restaurant took over the space. This has been repeated numerous times.

It is a little disconcerting when a store "disappears" but it really just moved to get a better deal on rent.

The last thing I want to hear from a brick and mortar shop is "we can order it for you". Duh, I can do that. WTF do you think I drove over for?

Sometimes business just go away when it's a family owned venture and no one in the family want's to take over. We had a very nice specialty grocery chain that had been in the family for three generations. Fourth gen wanted out so the third gen owner sold out to a major chain, he owned the real estate (building and land). He and most of his customers were pretty bummed out as well as the majority of employees.

[healey36]

The number of major retailers that are closing seems to be increasing significantly , with GAP now adding its name to the list, in addition to Lord & Taylor which has just said it's not closing a number of stores, it's closing all of them (!)

I think Gap is just closing a bunch of stores for now, but will remain in business. They've had quite a bit of corporate angst over the last decade. I seem to remember reading that one of their "activist" investors tried unsuccessfully to force them to spin off their Old Navy affiliate. Banana Republic is another one of their brands. While I won't walk around with "GAP" plastered across my chest, I generally think their clothing is decent quality (as compared to a number of others). Unfortunately, most Americans favor price over quality, which has an impact on retailers such as The Gap.

Lord & Taylor was way over my pay-grade.

[robert.]

I see some retail stores in town and wounder wtf. One stores pays $3,500 rent. Only thing they sell is tennis balls. Another store in town sell only olive oil. Both of these stores are female owned. They must have come from wealthy families or have husbands that make a fortune. There is noway they can sell their product and stay afloat. Yet both are still there after 5 years.

[robert.]

[Rufus T. Firefly]

[sleepmac]

A real representation of 'high-water pants'.

Dan Weinhold

[MurphOnMillerAve]

A real representation of 'high-water pants'.

Dan Weinhold

Excellent conclusion !

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Read in print today:
Macaulay Culkin, 10 yrs old when he started in Home Alone, posted on Twitter that he is 40, now.