Sunday, June 01, 2008

THEME DAY - MY CORNER LOCAL SHOP

There seems to be a pattern running throughout the blogs today that "corner shops" are a thing of yesteryear, to be replaced by one stops shops or supermarkets. Even this island has few old fashioned corner shops now. I do however shop at this tiny mall for that most British of things, my "daily newspaper." Everything else I buy online, the supermarket, or go to the biggest town on the island Douglas to purchase goods.

I admire the sentiments behind todays theme, but the sad reality is corner shops are fast becoming a thing of the past. Maybe this kind of day can help stop the march of time and make those of us who still have the local corner shop appreciate it more.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Check out my post yesterday if you are motorbike enthusiast, or know what the TT is.

44 comments:

Anonymous said...

Our corner shops are being replaced by flourescent-lit 24/7 convenience stores - even the nomenclature is not home-grown. I appreciate your image in black'n'white - apposite.

Priyanka Khot said...

I like ur write up as much as the pic. It is so true for India and today I get to know that for almost all the other cities of the world.

Thanks for dropping by. Cya Soon, once again. :-)

USelaine said...

Marvelous light throughout this image! I wonder if the rising price of petrol will have us back to walking to shops once again.

Pat said...

Yes, I agree with your comments about the corner store being almost a thing of the past. Truthfully, the store I also visit every day besides the newsstand I posted, is a large Greek grocery store nearby. Although their produce is good, it has no soul...

I love your black and white photo.

Ham said...

It's an inevitable change, really. Something lost, something gained. And for that people moan about their loss, few actually shop there.....

Anonymous said...

Nice in black and white. It makes the store seem a bit older.

Andree said...

I love your photograph. It captures the unique personality each of these old stores has. We really have to stop homogenization of all of our cultures and bring back our local stores.

Stevenson Q said...

wow! I really like the dramatic black and white effect babooshka! Nice post!

Kiwi said...

Nice photo, but very empty? Are the locals in the main town super shopping centre instead?

Happy theme day!
Stockholm by pixels

Lothiane said...

It's the same in Norway, the local shops seem to disappear, but we still have some nice smaller shops close by. I prefer them to the bigger shops as the people working there are usually very helpful and kind. It's nice for the community to have these corner shops!


Greetings from
Oslo Daily Photo

Janet said...

Very nice in black and white. We used to have a corner store closer than the one I posted today. Our kids could walk to it and get ice cream or soft drinks. It had all sorts of interesting whatnots, including camouflage clothing. Then, somebody tried to turn it into a cookie-cutter convenience store, and it didn't last long after that. Been closed now for quite a while.

Marie-Noyale said...

An Antique look for this mall,good choice!
I don't know why, but our corner store does very well,and I don't think there is one person living in Larchmont who does not go in that store for whatever reason.. let's hope it continues!!

Neva said...

It is such a nice entrance.....

Chuck Pefley said...

Time does march on, whether we approve or appreciate the forward motion or not. I like that lonely wooden chair in today's photo and the way it stands out in the shadows ... very inviting.

Chris said...

I think you're correct in saying cmall shops are a thing of the past. Unfortunately, the big-box stores (Wal-Mart, Target, etc) here are taking business away from the independents because they can get the bigger discounts from manufacturers that the independents can't get, and they underprice the indies and put them out of business. And, cash-strapped customers have to go for lower prices. Sigh.

Thanks for your comments on my blog. I wish you could have visited my store! ;-)

• Eliane • said...

I like how you matched your melancholic reflections with the nostalgic b&w picture. My corner shop was featured in the NYT yesterday - it's a NYC institution, so no big surprise there. But what was interesting in the article is that it explained how the success of this shop helped keep the character of the neighborhood: the owners made it a point to buy real estate on several blocks so that small shops can go on and that the block is not replaced by yet another high rise luxury appartment.

Jim Klenke said...

The B&W is nice. I havent been to a mall in ages. I dont even like going to the big supermarkets or discount big box stores.

George Townboy said...

Very cool, photo and text!

Stevenson Q said...

Thanks for droppin by and congratulatingme babooshka! it really means a lot! God bLess you and have a great week!

Tanya Breese said...

I love the photo and your post! That looks like a nice place to shop!

Knoxville Girl said...

The b&w really plays up the lighting inside the mall. I'm old enough (heh) to remember corner shops - when I was a child, my grandfather used to walk with me to the corner grocer and buy me a vanilla popsicle, it's a nice memory. I've noticed with my walkable downtown neighborhood, the corner shops are slowly coming back because they have customers again.

The D in D & T said...

Gorgeous photo, makes the mall very inviting. After looking through today's selection of photos I have to agree, I am far more appreciative of the corner store than i was before.

Mark said...

Great shot!

Black and heright choice for this shot. It creates the scence of times past.

Well done!

Chuckeroon said...

B&W + an apposite comment. Everyone agrees, but what are they all going to do about it?

Profile Not Available said...

I loved reading your post! It fit the photograph perfectly! I am so glad you did the photo in black and white, because it really makes it timeless, and reflects the sort of nostalgia I think we are all feeling as we think about our own corner shops! Great job!

Gerald (Ackworth born) said...

Is that Red Cross sign above a charity shop?

Jane Hards Photography said...

Hello Ackworth Born(hyde in disguise)

The wall the sign is attached to is the shop. The entrance is outside along the High Street. Yes it the Red Cross Charity Shop. Wonderful place for mooching for books.

marley said...

Yes, it is a shame that there are so few around. I like this photo though :)

raf said...

Yep, too bad about that pattern of corner shops disappearing. It's like seeing bits and pieces of the best parts of humanity slipping away. Like that b&w shot! The biker shots are great too. Wondering if your CDPB shirt is helping with the coverage.

Sakiwi said...

You are probably right. In this age of fast living, people no longer have demand for the good ol' corner shop.

crittoria said...

I agree with your sentiments about the downfall of the corner store. It's too bad, but what can you do? Maybe with gas prices keeping us from driving around as much, people will start to buy local again...Great photo today!!

Mo said...

Great photo for Theme Day love the black & white.

Louis la Vache said...

"Louis", who has spent most of his life working in retail for large chain store operations, supports the small local shop as much as possible...

iBlowfish said...

I think this is one of may favorite local shop to me. I love the picture. Excellent choice.

magiceye said...

looks so desolate

Rosie said...

What a great photo Babooshka!
It is a shame to see so many small shops closing. I am quite lucky because I live in a town where there are still a few small shops around.

Olivier said...

belle photo en b&w, très bon choix pour le thème du mois.
beautiful photo b&w, very good choice for the theme of the month.

Dragonstar said...

Our shopping centre is a small town, so most of the shops would count as corner shops. We do have three supermarkets though, and another being built. Supermarkets tend to have lower prices than the small shops can manage, and carry a larger stock, so the small shops have to rely on loyalty.

Greg said...

Great shot in black and white. It never occurred to me until this theme day how few corner shops there are around these days!


Greg
Hobart Daily
Bicheno Daily

Kim said...

Yours is one of the nicest photographically today. Nice black and white exposure, and I love that lone chair.
We still have plenty of corner shops here on the US west coast, dispite the "malling" of America, as someone put it.
-Kim
Seattle Daily Photo

Maria Verivaki said...

living on an island with limited resources has that effect on people - we want the same variety as big city dwellers, so we go on online, or to the biggest store around. we have little choice really

Fabrizio Zanelli said...

I agree with you and your reflection even if, honestly speaking, actually we most go to local supermarket that may be not exactly an iperstore but just a small supermarket where everybody knows everybody. So, again, we put together that tradition we lost. Nice pic and really pretty reflection.

Greyhound Girl said...

I love this! Even though it's a mall, it still looks so quaint!

Jilly said...

You are so right. We have a village shop - as I showed on Theme Day - but she only sells odd things so I still have to go to the market - or a supermarket. Slowly village shops, corner stores are dying. We do try to support our village shop but I do fear for it at times. We are now told our post office may be going. oh dear....

Love your shot.

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