For months the media has been screaming about the recession. In Fayetteville, until recently, we haven’t felt the crunch as much as many in the nation because to a certain extent, we are insulated by the presence of the military in our community.
   Unlike many communities across our nation, we don’t have to fear that our largest industry will close down. The military appears to be recession proof. So, in our community, unlike many other communities, you will still find a lot of people with money to spend. I saw this as I made a stop to get a pedicure recently. Yes, a pedicure is frivolous. I recognize this. But it is one of the few things that I do for me. As I relaxed in the chair over the weekend, I saw plenty of people getting not only pedicures, but manicures as well. Many women were paying simply to have their nails painted. So, it would seem that there are still many in our community who are not feeling the pain of the recession.
  {mosimage} The same cannot be said of area businesses. On Saturday, we visited two stores that were closing their doors. Probably everyone in the community knows that Circuit City will be shutting down. Over the weekend, they started the first of their markdowns. More for curiosity than anything else, we stopped in. People were shopping like crazy. Unlike the corporation that owns the chain of electronics stores and its employees, they had money to spend.
   The second store we visited had a huge impact on me — not because I personally frequented it often, but because of the impact I know the closing had on the owners and their loyal clients. Tarheel Fish and Game, a specialty outdoor store located on Raeford Road, was one of my husband’s favorite destinations. The owners were knowledgeable about their inventory. They cared about their customers and their wants. They were willing to share their knowledge and their skills. In short, they were everything that a good business should be.
   As we visited the store on its last day, I told my husband I felt like we were vultures circling their bones.
   We expressed our regret at their closing, and they told us they had had a very good year, but didn’t think they had the ability to make it in the uncertain economy. They said the risk was too big. Many businesses may soon have to assess their viability in this tough economy. Our hope is they won’t have to make the same decision.


Contact Janice Burton at editor@upandcomingweekly.com

 

Latest Articles

  • Gallery 208: Beyond Surface: Abstractions by Kellie Perkins
  • Kindah Temple No. 62 hosts annual Spring Ceremonial
  • FTCC Foundation invests in students’ futures
  • Unique Easter traditions from around the globe
  • Flawless Touch Detailing celebrates new location
  • CFRT: The Play That Goes Wrong...Again
Up & Coming Weekly Calendar
  

Advertise Your Event:

 

Login/Subscribe