Monday, March 13, 2017

A SIGN OF THE TIMES

OR JUST NORMAL CONDITIONS.  The town/area where I live is a mining area.  Oh sure, there is a college, and there is ranching and even an art district.  But mostly the area is supported by mining.  The mines have been up and down for decades, according to the economy.  Businesses depend on the income of the mining industry to survive.  Most of them, however, struggle through the down times along with the mining families and plan for the down times during the up times.  Lately, however, there seems to be a decline in businesses in this area that have nothing to do with the mining industry or even the economy. 
There has been a plethora of eating establishments come into the area.  This is an area that is proud to be known for eating chili.  Lots and lots of chili. Our brand of Mexican food, or Southwestern cuisine, if you will.  The local restaurants that have been in business for years are mostly in business.  Many of the new ones that have came in, and try to bring a different type of food to this area, usually fold up after a while.  One man who did that is now on his third restaurant, still trying to find what the locals will eat.  He may figure it out before he goes out of business for sure.  A local restaurant closed down a year or more ago, due to the older generation passing on and the younger ones not living here and not wanting to run the operation, sold it to a chain. Rumor is that we will have a Denny's there soon.  Taco Bell has closed down. We have Chinese restaurants that come and go.  We now have a Sushi restaurant but I don't know how it is working out, since I don't eat raw fish.  We do have a McDonalds that is going strong, and two Sonics and a Wendy's and an Arby's, as well and the New Mexico Lota Burger.  We have had a Golden Corral that has closed down, A Burger King that has closed down, opened up and closed down again.  There are a couple of other restaurants that have closed down and a couple more that are struggling.  Is this a case of too many establishments for the population, or just a sign of the times?
Not food related, a shoe store has shut down and sent their inventory to a store in a neighboring town.  Radio Shack is in the process of going out of business. 
 SO, IS THIS DEATH OF BUSINESSES JUST A SIGN OF THE TIMES, OR IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON.  PART OF IT IS  THE NORMAL TURNOVER OF THINGS, SOME JUST THE ECONOMY, AND THE REST I HAVE NO CLUE.
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

3 comments:

  1. Online shopping can account for the stores, but not the restaurants.

    Taco Bell closed? I find that hilarious, somehow.

    You still have that one chinese restaurant that's always been there, yes? .... Golden Palace? On the hill across from Yellow Front?

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  2. Gawrsh! Yellow Front has been gone so long I forgot we used to have one. The Chinese Palace is still open, the one that has been there for a looong time. If you ever come down again, we will have to drive around and see what is and what used to be.

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  3. What was it after Yellow Front....Factory 2 U? Is that right?

    And we'll be back. Maybe not this year, but probably definitely next year. Unless I can figure something out for later in the summer this year.

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