Dramatics over a store moving

[XCashier]

As I have mentioned previously, we are getting a new store. The liquidation has started, stock is running out, and every customer is asking about the new store. About 2/3 of them are eager for it to be open, and the other third are bemoaning the fact that it is further away.

Granted, our town is awkwardly laid out, due to rivers and wetlands in abundance. The most direct route to the store is the main freeway, and if that has any problems, it will be difficult to get there as there are few alternate routes and they tend to be far away. Still, it's only two exits further down the freeway. This customer, you'd think she had to trek on foot through Mordor to get to our new store.

SC: Oh, why'd you have to move so far away?
ME: It's a bigger, better store. We'll have almost three times the room we have here, more stock--
SC: But it's soooo far away! I'll never be able to get there! (dramatic flourish) I guess I won't be shopping with you any more!

I waited until she went out the door and said, "Okay, we'll just cancel the move!" My coworker and the two women she was serving laughed.

Seriously, WTH? She drove to the current store, she can't drive two exits further down? And where else is she going to go? We're pretty much the only game in town, as the only other fabric and crafting stores are in the next town over!

[thehuckster]

My fiancee works at a clothing store chain. A couple years ago record flooding temporarily closed another location about 10 miles away and in the year or two it took to get it back, all she got was "OMG, when are they going to open the [other] location? Whiiiiiiiiiiine! It's sooooo far away!" as if she could get a time machine and undo the flood damage.

Granted, Rhode Islanders are known for their aversion to driving more than 5 miles for anything. It's why there are liquor stores and Dunkin Donuts on virtually every corner. Strangely enough the average commute time is about an hour, so go figure.

[Food Lady]

Wisconsinites, too. I've become one. When I was in CA my friends and I thought nothing of going 20 miles or more. But now I want to whine if I have to go downtown to the bank, which is maybe 3 miles from my apt. I have been assimilated. Oh, and funny--my friend's dad was born in this state and has never gone beyond the borders. He doesn't feel there's any reason to.

[skeptic53]

...my friend's dad was born in this state and has never gone beyond the borders. He doesn't feel there's any reason to.

I feel very bad for anyone who is that insular. No desire to see the ocean? The Grand Canyon? The Everglades? I lived in Cleveland for 4 years and many locals felt that way, it was the best place on earth and anyone who didn't feel the same could go jump in Lake Erie. I will never understand that attitude...

[telecom_goddess]

Wisconsinites, too. I've become one. When I was in CA my friends and I thought nothing of going 20 miles or more. But now I want to whine if I have to go downtown to the bank, which is maybe 3 miles from my apt. I have been assimilated. Oh, and funny--my friend's dad was born in this state and has never gone beyond the borders. He doesn't feel there's any reason to.

Wow I can't imagine having no desire to go anywhere outside of Wisconsin. I'm sure it's cool and all but man there is a lot more to see out there. Personally I have a desire to go to lots of places but no money to do it.

[bhskittykatt]

I usually stick to this side of town, but that's because traffic on the other side is a mess. I only really ever go there to go to the gym, and that's at around 5am when there's still very light traffic. I admit, I did bemoan when *fav craft store over here* moved further up *traffic mess highway*, though I never took it out on the staff (I just ranted to Hubs about it). That side of town is an excellent deterrent for me, the traffic is just so bad.

The only time I've bothered an employee was when *taco place* closed the closer location to us and promised they'd reopen a new one in the area. That was about a year and a half ago. I will periodically ask one particular employee at the still-open location (also on the highway-of-hell side of town) if she's heard anything new. I'm never sucky, though, and she commiserates with me (she used to work at the former store, and she lives in that neighborhood, so she wants a location back there probably even more than I do).

I have no qualms, though, of driving 40+ miles to find good hiking spots, of course. And Hubby has to renew his DL this year, and I'm making him get an EDL so we can go skip across the border. If I was able to get time off from the paper route I wouldn't mind travelling even further, but while I have that job, I'm pretty much grounded to day trips.

[chikenlady]

What is an EDL?

[skeptic53]

What is an EDL?

Enhanced Driver's License. Border states issue them to people who can use them instead of a passport to travel to/from Canada. Dunno if they work for Mexico or not.

[manybellsdown]

Granted, Rhode Islanders are known for their aversion to driving more than 5 miles for anything. It's why there are liquor stores and Dunkin Donuts on virtually every corner. Strangely enough the average commute time is about an hour, so go figure.

That's because more than 5 miles in any direction takes you out of Rhode Island

[thehuckster]

That's because more than 5 miles in any direction takes you out of Rhode Island

Sure, but that still makes no sense because the sales tax is lower in Mass!

Although we don't tax clothing or groceries.

[Javarod]

As I have mentioned previously, we are getting a new store.
Granted, our town is awkwardly laid out, due to rivers and wetlands in abundance. The most direct route to the store is the main freeway, and if that has any problems, it will be difficult to get there as there are few alternate routes and they tend to be far away. Still, it's only two exits further down the freeway. This customer, you'd think she had to trek on foot through Mordor to get to our new store.

Chuckles, "You don't happen to live in St Louis do you? Wait, its not the wetlands, its just someone being weird that makes it hard to get around here."

[MoonCat]

If she had to take a bus to get to the store, and the buses didn't go as far as the new store, I could see her being upset about it. I got plenty pissed when the Fashion Bug near me closed...it was close enough to walk to, and others are not on bus routes.

But if she drives, I don't see the problem. Maybe she's afraid she'll get lost trying to find the new store?

[Merriweather]

Ok, I can se the list at corporate:
Things to consider on moving to bigger better premises:

Availibility of larger store
More parking
Reasonable lease
Proximity to major roads, etc
Demographics of shoppers (upscale store near affluent neighborhoods, etc)
Zoning regulations & other laws

Oh wait, guys, can't do this - all the above are good, but that will but it a mile further for Mr. Whiney A** to drive, better leave it where it is, that trumps everything else.

Yeah, right.

[BlaqueKatt]

Wow I can't imagine having no desire to go anywhere outside of Wisconsin. I'm sure it's cool and all but man there is a lot more to see out there.

that's part of the problem, we have to return here to live

[spark]

*shifty-eyed-look* I sort of suspect I've been to the fabric store in question, given that one particular store I go to is right now in the process of moving two exits down the freeway... And it's about as handy for me in the one spot as the other, but I am hoping they'll have more of the fabrics I use so I can buy some things local instead of just on line!

I just wish they'd move already so there would be something in stock and I could quit having to go to WalMart for stuffing. WalMart's stuffing is terrible.