Crest Hardware and Urban Garden Center, a family-owned store in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, closed its doors last week after being in business for 62 years.
Such a powerful piece, thank you. My heart breaks everytime one of those “mom & pop” shops closes - real humans creating community around a business. It’s so sad to see them all go one by one. This quote sums it up poignantly:
“That’s what this economic system has done to us. We are damaged, spiritually damaged, and this ruin permeates our lives and this world. Maybe that sounds a little dramatic, but it’s not. We’re as disposable as all the small businesses being pushed out because of market value.”
I remember that store,though I didn’t live in the neighborhood…just walked in one day because it called to me. It’s an oft repeated story, which up where I am now,is farmland being sold to speculators/developers who want to build those stupid McHouses that sit on big treeless lawns.
"I miss places that were made by someone, an actual person, not a consultant or specialist." Ugh. Yes. Shed so many tears at their farewell party. So many keys copied, so many screws holding up my curtains and art, so maay plants saved by the care and knowledge of the greenhouse staff. Five years of Christmas trees. They just knew how to do it. Thank you for writing about it.
Such a powerful piece, thank you. My heart breaks everytime one of those “mom & pop” shops closes - real humans creating community around a business. It’s so sad to see them all go one by one. This quote sums it up poignantly:
“That’s what this economic system has done to us. We are damaged, spiritually damaged, and this ruin permeates our lives and this world. Maybe that sounds a little dramatic, but it’s not. We’re as disposable as all the small businesses being pushed out because of market value.”
Thank you!
As always, perfect words and sentiment at the necessary time.
I remember that store,though I didn’t live in the neighborhood…just walked in one day because it called to me. It’s an oft repeated story, which up where I am now,is farmland being sold to speculators/developers who want to build those stupid McHouses that sit on big treeless lawns.
I can clearly how Crest would call out to you, Meredith.
"I miss places that were made by someone, an actual person, not a consultant or specialist." Ugh. Yes. Shed so many tears at their farewell party. So many keys copied, so many screws holding up my curtains and art, so maay plants saved by the care and knowledge of the greenhouse staff. Five years of Christmas trees. They just knew how to do it. Thank you for writing about it.
I really hate to be the one to say it but.... Land Value Taxation would solve this.