‘Sorry, we’re closed’
Planning to go out for a bite to eat? Call ahead. You might find out the eatery you went to last week is no longer in business.
Over the last month or so, Amy and I have headed for Christiansburg or Roanoke and planned to grab a bite at a favorite restaurant only to find the doors locked and a "for sale or lease" sign out front.
Restaurants tend to come and go but the down economy means some restaurants close without warning and leave both employees and would-be diners stranded.
On a trip to Wytheville Monday, I saw four restaurants closed along I-81. In Roanoke Tuesday, a half-dozen more.
Nationally, Brinkers International. announced it closed 35 restaurants and laid off 135 employees in its chain that includes Chilis. Starbucks is still finalizing its list of an addtional 300 stores that it will shutter in the coming weeks. The coffee chain will also fire 6,700 employees in the latest round of job cuts.
The closings, of course, are not limited to restaurants. After 60 years in business, Reed Lumber Company in Christiansburg is shutting down, citing both the economy and competition from the big boys at Lowes and Home Depot.
It was not Walmart that put a hurting on Reed’s Lumber. It was Lowes, Home Depot, and the poor economy. There is one of each in Christiansburg plus another Lowes in Fairlawn. Do not be so qucik to blame everything on Wal-Mart. Do you ever go a national chain when you go out to eat, maybe a Olive Garden or Panara Bread. Just think you are hurting the small local places to eat. Same thing.
Man, that is terrible news. Damn you, Walmart. I know you’re about to pee your pants with satisfaction, WallyWorld. One more hometown enterprise finally dies of malnourishment from the greatest US parasite of small towns ever. Live better, pay less. Let’em put that on the tombstone of American consumerism.
I, too, was wondering about the Walmart comment by Mr. First. People are very quick to judge before rationally thinking the process through. Yes, Lowes and Home Depot are national chain stores but so is 84 Lumber which is also in C’burg and which is also struggling mightily. How is that True Value hardware store in Floyd progressing now compared to Farmer’s supply or Ingram’s or Wimmer’s?
Rio, for some people who start a business, no matter how small, the idea is to grow larger, make a profit, and if you have the ability to open a second store somewhere else in order to grow, then by all means do so. How many stores did the Morans open? And look at all the Express marts (Carroll, Pulaski, Floyd, etc.) These are chain stores in every sense of the word, albeit not as large as Walmart or Lowes, but you have to start somewhere.
If Reed Lumber was extremely profitable and could have started a store in Roanoke, Floyd, Hillsville, etc then they would have for sure.
We had one some years ago but it’s now a vet’s office. We had a Western Auto when I was in high school but it was gone by the time I came back to the county.
My wife and I just moved into Floyd the last of January. As for where we spend our money, we have yet to have to leave town. That may change but for now, we’re spendin’ our money right here in Floyd.
I was hoping that a Chili’s may sprout up in place of the closed down Shaker’s restaurant in C’burg. BTW, please frequent Amelia’s (off of Cambria St.) and Crab Creek (off of Radford Rd.) in C’burg when looking for somewhere great to eat.
I can also recommend Amelia’s. The owner and staff are very nice and the food is excellent.
It’s also obvious that in these difficult financial times we should remember to support our local Floyd restaurants whenever we are able. If we don’t support our local businesses, we can just as easily lose them too. And don’t forget to tip your wait staff and musicians. Times are hard for all of us but it can be especially hard for those who rely on tips to supplement their income.
yes, “common sense”? it is the same thing. Barnes & Nobles and Borders Books hurt the small unique privately owned bookstores that I used to love so much. Walmart hurts independently owned businesses as do chain restaurants, building supplies and on and on. It is one of the worst examples of “free enterprise” this country has ever seen. Instead of our dealings staying in the ‘village’ or ‘community’ and stimulating the local economy, we now stimulate corporations that produce cheaper and cheaper goods, in other countries. It is a sad sad state of affairs. Because of these stores we have compromised quality, fair wages, and american made products. I am not saying the people who work at Wal Mart are bad. I’m just saying that big chains opening stores all over the world have had dire consequences….including a very poor diet (junk food), eploitation of cheap labor in other countries, and a low quality of product to name a few.
Every dollar we spend is a vote, for or against a merchant’s product, venue and business model.
We are reaping the “benefits” of vertically integrated trade now, our monetary interests have been pulled into remote coffers like a giant vacuum. If you look deeper, you find that the producers and retail traders have been squeezed, and the deal makers have been enriched.
A dollar spent locally tends to circulate, possibly back to our own wallet. The further corporate headquarters are from our home, the harder that dollar has to work to come back.
On a similar note, when the US govmint, (or even local and state) decides how it is going to spend a dollar the decisions are colored by many factors. The decisions that are made on how to spend public money are also made with a decision tree that is flawed.
Until we recognize these flaws, and call them out we are all contributing to the enrichment of a few at the expense of the many.
Educate yourself, act on your lessons, and participate in the drive to change the model. It begins with one.
Exactly my point Doug. Chain stores such as True Value or even the Western Auto dont always outlast the local stores.
That was what I meant when I asked “How is that True Value hardware store in Floyd progressing now compared to Farmer’s supply or Ingram’s or Wimmer’s?”