It's the Economy Stupid, no, its the Stupid Economy

[Terrel L. Shields]

One little town that I work quite a bit in has too many cafes, many are small operations, marginally profitable. But 1 for every 300 people is way too much. The largest, back when there was only 3 cafes, was well run by the same woman for the past 10 years and she bought the place from her boss when he bought another larger cafe in a larger town. The menu hasn't changed but the building crews are gone and several small manufacturers are slow or closed, and she and one other waitress handles customers. That waitress had been there since the beginning some 15 years ago. It used to require 3 waitresses but one was laid off about a year ago.

I stopped by for lunch...it was almost empty. She handed me a menu and said, "Saturday is our last day." I asked her what she was going to do. "I don't know. I just can't go on any longer." She had a quiver in her voice.

Luckily, she rents the building from the old owner. It's his problem now. Unless he decides to run the show again, that building is likely to remain vacant for some time.

I think a lot of people are starting cafes because they simply don't have other work. Ditto for flea markets, etc. But an oversupply has meant many are trying to keep prices higher. They know that they cannot compete with Sonic or McDonalds (a new one just opened in tiny Gentry)... but it is very tough out there....

I left a $20 tip and this
---
Keep your head high and your stomach dry
The sun always shines after a rain.....

 

[Tom Woolford]

There is a little "corner" restaurant I used to frequent regularly. Great food, super staff. But they have had to raise their prices so much I can no longer stop there as much as I would like. There just is no sense paying 8 bucks for 2 eggs, 3 pieces of bacon and toast, when I can get an egg Mc Muffin for a buck. I still stop in a couple times a month, but not like I used to. Their lot used to be packed, but now there is always an easy spot to get.

 

[EDWARD BERRY]

I Was In Gentry Saturday For The Annual Antique Tractor Show(and Other Old Items)

The Mcdonalds Opened Wednesday And Saturday There Were At Least 30 Cars In The Drive Thru Line At Noon.

Many Familys With Kids On Way To Or From Week End Activities.

They Would Never Visit The Downtown Sit Down Places. Things Change. It Hurts Some People.

For Me, I Took Three Of The $ Sandwiches And Two Small Waters For $3.09.
(a Large Water Would Have Been $1.00 More)

The Tractor Show Was A Tribute To American Ingenuity On Many Farm And Home Inventions.

Many Steam Powered Items. Most Running On Propane.

Paradox In The Ozarks.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

Antique Tractor Show

I have to use all my tired iron, so I wasn't there....actually I forgot it and was working on a huge project....12-16 hr days from Friday thru Wednesday plus considerable time before hand.

 

[Restrain]

Went by the outlet mall on the OK/TX border. They used to bring busses down to the casino for a weekend, take them to the mall, stay at the hotel by the casino, gamble, then go back north. Those don't run any more, and the outlet mall is half-empty now.

Went to our regional mall. It's being run by a management company, just foreclosed on. Lot of empty spaces. Some are being rented but by Sept-Dec Christmas stores. Major mall in Dallas just lost its two major anchors.


Foreclosures were at their highest level last month. Drillling rigs are slowing due to declining demand. Inventory purchases went up, but only because people had been holding off buying. Sales for clothing and books were up, but it's because its back-to-school. It'll be off next month.

Do you have to buy it? If not, make it work. Fix the old car, don't buy a new one. Use last year's coat. Work a little harder, and don't hire another employee.

And things slow down, and slow down, while Washington touts its actions to improve the economy. It's gonna get worse, folks.

 

[Mary Tiernan]

I heard a story the other day about a Micky D's in Cali - they upped their $1 menu items to $1.50. Evidently the town council passed a law that they have to offer them for $1 as increasing it to $1.50 has hurt the town's homeless population.



Wonder how true it really is?

Can a town actually pass laws affecting small business? (Tongue in cheek there folks. Not experienced at those emoticon images. )

 

[Greg Bell]

I am amazed how this whole system stays together.The stock market keeps climbing just like it did in 1933.We all know how that turned out.Since the whole American economy is now only accounting tricks and a few mirrors , oh yea , and smoke.I can only surmise that the coming crash will not be a slow painful death that we are experiencing today but a sudden "Wake up in morning and the banks are closed" scenario.When that happens all you know what will break loose.Better to have your own musical chair hidden somewhere so when the music stops you can sit you ***** down.My wife knows something is wrong but is still in the the Ostrich pose , you know , head in the ground.Most Americans are waiting for that recovery that we are all promised by the money changers.Not this time , we are just looking for a soft place to lay down.Plenty of room in most malls to take a nap becuase that's the only business that's booming.Did you buy your beans and ammo?...

 

[Big ole Boy]

. She had a quiver in her voice.


I left a $20 tip and this
---
Keep your head high and your stomach dry
The sun always shines after a rain.....

..hearing a lot more quivers in peoples voices .....

... I heard another calming tonic ........ the other day ....... "It all comes out in the rain" ......

.... I spent 20 years watching people in Naples, FL opening restaurants and closing them like flies ...........

...... in consentrated sort of way ..... you could witness the "already emerged" over-abundance of service labor and capital with no better place to invest itself .....

...... I don't know how ...... but, if we could pull off a Bulgaria model and keep all our distribution lines open ......... to avoid anarachy and start a new currency ...... state to state .......

..... not a global currency ...... whose fate is already sealed with the dead dollar .....

.... heck,

.... life after the dollar ........ and life after big government ....

.... it may be scary ..... and I and my family may not make it ........

....but ...... at least I would be free of this tyrannical monster

 

[Dee Dee]

McDonald's trivia link below. I don't know why anyone would call that crap food.

http://www.neatorama.com/tag/mcdonalds/

 

[Vetteman]

Just saw a news article on my web browser where "Snooki" of the idiotic TV series "Jersey Shore" gets paid $20,000 to walk the red carpet at any event. Does anybody else feel the disconnect? Jennifer Lopez is going to be paid $12 million to be a judge on the next season of American Idol. Professional athletes are signing mega million dollar contracts. All this to be paid thru incessant advertising, which only raises the cost of most everything consumers buy. Our economic rubber band is being stretched tighter by the minute and it is only a matter of time. Me...I'm heading out to the store to buy some more beans and ammo before the prices go up.