How to Replace Empty Storefronts

photo: therealdeal.com

Changes have been occurring in the retail industry. It seems there is another store closing everyday. Many people are opting for the convenience of Amazon rather than leaving the home and going to the store to buy something. I admit I'm just as guilty as the next person when it comes to this.

There is a mall that is 10 minutes away from my home. It was convenient when I needed to buy a gift or get something for myself. Unfortunately, Corporations have been closing the stores in this mall, especially Macy's and Sears. These are stores that would normally have lots of things to choose from when you're looking for something for Christmas, Mother's Day, or a birthday.

These stores are closed and the area it occupied is shuttered. Retail property owners hope that this space will be occupied and replace the lost revenue from the last store closing for good. One less store at the mall means one less reason for people to visit. All of the stores will suffer. Less people visiting means less business for the other stores and running the risk of losing business and maybe having to close for good as well.

Lots of empty spaces at the mall (Photo: patch.com)

But what if malls didn't need to rely on retail to bring in rental income? What if there was another way to remain in business? What if, instead of a mall full of stores, there was a mall full of restaurants. You already have places to eat and get some coffee at the mall. Stores are closing. There is space to fill and people want to eat. People need to eat.

This, of course, would require an overhaul. Some spaces would need to be consolidated. Would it be possible to take two spaces and convert it into one larger space? Three? Could you take these empty spaces and turn it into enough space for a place to eat and a kitchen to prepare the food? They wouldn't all need to be restaurants. You could have a coffee shop. An ice cream shop. Maybe a bakery where people could just get pastry or some dessert.

There are benches already in place in the middle of the area between the stores. There is a waiting area already built in. Another idea for the smaller stores, in addition to the coffee shops is a bar. There is no need for ovens or gas lines if you're just going to pour drinks. Just install a dishwasher. All of the retail areas have plumbing and hot water installed.

Consolidating the space means less areas in the mall to be filled. This eliminates the worry of, "How are we going to fill these spaces? There are only so many places to eat." The stores that are remaining would provide a place for people to shop. The restaurants provide a place to eat. Traffic is maintained and business remain afloat. Patrons can walk inside and look at the options available when they are hungry. The money remains in the town thanks to new businesses coming in where old ones closed down.

Let's All Blame Krispy Kreme

 The COVID vaccine is being released in stages to people throughout the world and millions of people have signed up to receive their doses. As if getting a normal life wasn't enough motivation to sign up, companies are offering perks to anyone who is getting their shot.

Krispy Kreme is one of those companies and the criticism for the promotion has already ramped up. The national donut chain is offering vaccinated people one free glazed donut per day for the rest of the year. No purchase is necessary for the donut. It is a genuinely free donut.

The offer from the chain has prompted backlash from health professionals and celebrities alike. Late night host Stephen Colbert tweeted his opinion, stating the offer is, "great news for anyone who got the shot but still has a death wish."

Another discerning opinion, coming from a physician and lecturer at George Washington University, took to Twitter to remind people that, "donuts are a treat that's not good for health if not eaten every day."

In other words, if a company is offering free donuts, there are people who think everyone is going to eat them all the time. I highly doubt this. Krispy Kreme is offering people, especially those undecided about the vaccination, an incentive to get the vaccination. They are not saying you have to get the donut and they're not saying you have to get the donut every day. They are offering a donut to anyone who would like one.

Comedian Jim Gaffigan has a routine about McDonald's. In it, he reminds people that anyone who walks into a McDonald's knows what they are going in there for. McDonald's doesn't claim to be a health food store. They sell burgers and french fries and he reminds people of that when they want to shame people for eating there or judge the franchise for selling fast food.

Krispy Kreme is offering an incentive to receive the COVID vaccine. The marketing is a good idea for attracting new customers. Any one who eats a donut every day for the rest of the year has no one to blame but themselves. Neither they, nor health experts, nor the critics, can blame a donut chain.

The Uneasy Relationship Between Donald Trump and The G.O.P.

As the Donald Trump presidency comes to a close, millions of Americans watching the events of the past week unfold and have used these events as a reason to indict Conservatives and their party.

As President of the United States, Trump automatically became the face of the party. While many within the party did not recognize him as the standard-bearer, the truth is, as President, Donald Trump would be the leader of the Conservative Party for four years.

So what happened? How did Trump become not only a lightning rod in Washington D.C. but also the target of blame when liberal Americans needed a scapegoat for their angst and frustration.

Let me begin by saying I am not a political scientist. The opinions here my own and are speculative. You may have your own opinions and you are most welcome to share them with me or whoever you wish.

In 2016, both  liberals and conservatives were seeking candidates for the White House. On the liberals' side, Hillary Clinton was the presumptive nominee after stepping aside for Barack Obama in 2008. She put the party first and the party was ready to reward her.

The conservatives had an unorthodox dark horse who was running. Donald Trump had announced his candidacy in 2015. He was not a politician. He was not your standard office seeker. In fact, there was nothing ordinary at all about the billionaire.

Trump brought with him all of the attributes of a marquee act. He was someone who could come up with a great soundbite. He was someone who could shock you. He was someone who was not shy when it came to voicing his opinion. He was someone who knew how to create a spectacle. In other words, he was just the person who could liven up something as drab and dry as a presidential debate.

Trump wanted to be the President of the United States and he was going to do it with or without the backing of the GOP. In fact, when he spoke at the first debate, he was the only one of the participants who would not pledge his support if someone else won the nomination. Already, Trump was sowing the seeds of a third-party run for President if he failed to secure the G.O.P. nomination.

Trump's hinting at a third-party run no doubt brought flashbacks of 1992 to Conservatives across the United States. During that year's election, H. Ross Perot ran for President against incumbent George H. W. Bush and Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton. Perot's withdrawal from and later re-entry back into the race sounded a death knell for future third-party candidates for office. Even more far-reaching, though, was the votes Perot took away from Bush and handing the election to Clinton, according to experts and political scientists.

This was a scenario that neither party wished to repeat ever again. The prospect of a viable candidate running for office and taking votes away from a major party is no doubt frightening to party organizers on both sides of the aisle. In 2016, Conservative Party leaders met to discuss their options beyond Trump, citing a fear that the billionaire wouldn't serve the best interests of the party.

My opinion is this: backing Trump was the lesser of all the evils for Conservatives. If Trump did not secure the nomination, he would run as a third-party candidate. This meant Trump the Independent or Hillary Clinton would win the White House. Either way, it would not be the G.O.P. controlling the White House for four years.

Donald Trump the Republican would allow party leaders and organizers access to the President and give input and advice for what would be best for the party. Trump as a third-party candidate would not afford any access for the party. Hillary Clinton in office would mean no avenues for the Conservatives to address their Agenda on Pennsylvania Ave.

The events of this past week have caused many Conservatives to address their party and what it is they stand for. It is easy to blame the entire party for the mob breaching the U.S. Capitol and no doubt Liberals have shown just how easy that can be. The decisions made back in 2016 were, to say the least, pragmatic and were the best made for the party at the time. Conservatives were plotting their strategy with the cards they were dealt. They would have liked additional cards to play. Everyone does, but that's not how life works.

Stand Down

 A day that should have confirmed Joe Biden's victory in the Electoral College has devolved into one of protests and riots that have reached all the way inside the U.S. Capitol Building.  A splinter group of President Donald Trump supporters stormed the doors of the Capitol, some of them making their way inside the chambers of Congress. One posted pictures of himself sitting in the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The protestors have sought to disrupt Congress' confirming the Presidential Election results from last November. Trump Supporters and the President himself have questioned not only the results of elections in some states but also the integrity of the election itself.

This group is challenging the results of the election, prompting President Trump to post a video on Twitter and telling these protestors to go home. These people should go home and go about their lives. The leaders of this country are chosen by voters and elections, not by crowds of people who want to force their way into a law-making body and take people hostage until they see the results they want.

Anti-Trump protestors spent the past four years protesting the election and Trump's presidency. These protests held up traffic and caused damage to public and private property. It was wrong and it is wrong to see Pro-Trump protestors trespassing on Federal property demanding a reversal to the democratic process. Some of these people have spoken in support of law enforcement. The law enforcement have been called in to restore peace. Respect these law enforcement officers.