Dead, Dying, and my Hurting Heart
Posted by Ryan Woods
I'm not the most emotional guy that I know. I don't even think that I'm number two on that list. I tend to be pretty poor at being sympathetic or empathetic (I can never remember which is which and right now I don't really care to think about it). But I've got one soft mushy spot in my heart...
Dying business' break my heart. Particularly the small ones that are on the verge of death.
When I walk into Jansen Beach mall I want to cry because of how dead it is. It's like many churches, it's dead but no body has told it yet. The only stores that still exist there are a native American art store and a hobby shop (the kind that caters towards the Lord Of The Rings types). It's dead. Many of the other stores left are literally filled with homemade artifacts that sit on top of card tables with homemade table clothes.
Walking down Main Street in Vancouver I want to cry for two places. Moxies on Main and Renaissance Ice Cream. They're both owned by first time 20something owners right out of college. They're so excited about their new business...but it seems as though nobody else is. Renaissance Ice Cream has actually been around for a long time, but the new owner is making some changes. Instead of being open only a few days a week he changed his hours to all day every day. He added espresso to their ice cream place. It's not working, and I can feel death when I walk by that store. Moxies has the largest glass bottle display in the western United States. You can get bottled Dr. Pepper, Pepsi, and all sorts of nearly extinct old fashion sodas. It's actually pretty neat. But I fear that it's not working. Something's missing at Moxies and when I walk by I can feel death.
It makes me sad. Their dreams and aspirations are crumbling before their very eyes. And the worst part is that it doesn't happen quickly. No, when a store doesn't work it dies in a very elongated and painfully slow process. I think thats how they torture people in China (I haven't verified this yet, but I've heard rumors).
Poor, poor dying business owners. Fear not my friends, you gave it a valiant effort and should be applauded for your energy and your heart. Rest In Peace.