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bhikkhu

(10,789 posts)
18. Definitely true - "the one constant is change", as they say
Mon Feb 18, 2013, 09:20 PM
Feb 2013

In my small city, the downtown was vibrant with family-owned and owner-operator businesses for about 50 years. Then two big malls opened up "out in the sticks", which wound up sucking the downtown dry and becoming their own new business center of town. For about 40 years.

Then W-mart opened up here and the internet hit, and the mall stores (most of which were chains and franchises) have been struggling for over 10 years. There's still plenty of vacanct property and "deferred maintenance" around from the impacts, and now W-mart is struggling...who knows. I'd say things will eventually settle into to some stable arrangement, but when has that ever happened?

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I think that last sentence will make for a better world in the end. sadbear Feb 2013 #1
They're also running out of space to store all this crap Shampoobra Feb 2013 #2
at the swap meet yesterday musta been dozens of people dumping dvds for $1/$2 - most Ive never heard msongs Feb 2013 #13
Boy, does this guy not understand the supply chain in the least. Ikonoklast Feb 2013 #3
Yup. naaman fletcher Feb 2013 #7
Precisely Sherman A1 Feb 2013 #9
Definitely true - "the one constant is change", as they say bhikkhu Feb 2013 #18
+1 Buzz Clik Feb 2013 #17
Thanks... Good to have some common sense and genuine insight (nt) reACTIONary Feb 2013 #19
It always amuses me when people speak about the trucking industry.... A HERETIC I AM Feb 2013 #32
People that criticize economy of scale's doom Evasporque Feb 2013 #35
businessinsider or clusterfucknation? kenny blankenship Feb 2013 #4
Exactly my initial thought. nt Doremus Feb 2013 #15
James Howard Kunstler majored in THEATER in college. A HERETIC I AM Feb 2013 #33
Fuckin super Walmart can't keep shit in stock ..always have to go somewhere else to get everything. L0oniX Feb 2013 #5
Cost of shipping is artificially low these days jollyreaper2112 Feb 2013 #6
The dichotomy of my recent shopping trip..................... mrmpa Feb 2013 #8
Or $11 per... Generic Brad Feb 2013 #12
LOL!!!! eom mrmpa Feb 2013 #22
Macy's Why Syzygy Feb 2013 #16
That's really stupid Yo_Mama Feb 2013 #10
Capacity in the trucking industry right now is close to equilibrium. Ikonoklast Feb 2013 #14
typical response by someone who embraces "economy of scale".... Evasporque Feb 2013 #31
The past tense of 'grok' is 'grokked' KamaAina Feb 2013 #11
Yep. I always hated that word, really, artificially childish and awkward and forced, but - djean111 Feb 2013 #23
Credibility? Kunstler? That's a laugh dmallind Feb 2013 #36
Hate WalMart, but love Target. WalMart stacks stuff up in the aisles so high McCamy Taylor Feb 2013 #20
I don't see it. Every chain store in my area is booming. Curmudgeoness Feb 2013 #21
Yup, and restaurants are packed, too Iwillnevergiveup Feb 2013 #24
GOP talking points. Curmudgeoness Feb 2013 #25
Wow! chervilant Feb 2013 #26
Fabulous! Have they all closed already? SheilaT Feb 2013 #27
A Must Read. Le Taz Hot Feb 2013 #28
It's nice to dream. nt raouldukelives Feb 2013 #29
The "Economy of Scale" is unsustainable... Evasporque Feb 2013 #30
If it happens, it will be pretty quick quaker bill Feb 2013 #34
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