This week has been a bit of change for me since I spent all of it at home resting so my photo choices are a mixed gallery of memories, sights from a typical work week, followed by a slow Saturday walk along the waterfront. Changing views indeed.
We started the week with a fun image of street art on Decatur Island and then spent a few days with some of the contrasting views I see during a more normal week. If you stop to look at what’s happening to traditional brick-and-mortar retail you see an illustration of the haves and have-nots. I remain a strong supporter of small, independent shops but everywhere you look big businesses with cash on hand and access to credit are reinventing while those without are quietly shuttering. The number of store closures will be in the thousands this year while only a small amount of our existing retail square footage will be renovated into new spaces adapting to consumers changing habits. I’m not going to predict how this will all end but I do know that the volume and variety of in-store choices customers are used to today will be very different by year’s end.
I have plenty of photos of mall remodeling and store closure signs left but midway though the week decided I was done sharing them and was ready to look at something new. Thank goodness I was able to go outside for a short walk Saturday! I’m ready with a few new images and inspiration for a prettier week ahead.
As with past year-long photo challenges I don’t plan to post here every day, I’ll save that for my Instagram and Twitter accounts, but you faithful blog readers will get one weekly recap every Sunday.
Northwest Frame of Mind 
We count the number of store closures in Auburn, too. Downtown is gradually drying up.
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That makes me sad D’Arcy. When big box stores close the high number of job losses hurt and when small downtown shops close each town’s identity becomes harder to preserve. Visiting a store to see an item in person then going home to buy it online and save a few dollars up front might feel good but I’m afraid consumers are taking those brick and mortar retailers presence for granted. A lot of them won’t be there much longer if all they are is a showroom for the internet.
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You’re absolutely right, Lisa. Towns are so homogenized now, traveling isn’t even as fun as it used to be. The successful towns are those that capitalize on their uniqu history.
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I am
Glad you are doing the weekly recap here – and also glad you had that Saturday walk
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Interesting thoughts on retail and the changes upon us
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Thanks, Y. Walks are great medicine (took another today. 🙂 ) and I have plenty more to say about how retail is changing but will save those thoughts for another day… 😉
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The division between haves and have nots really is widening
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Where can I find the “nude beach” sign? I go to Edmonds frequently. Thanks!
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Hi Chasing! The “nude beach” sign is actually on Decatur Island and I took the picture during a visit there with some friends from Edmonds. Sorry I didn’t go into too much detail about each image here in this post! Some weeks I’m better about discussing individual photos but this time around I went with a more general recap. If you’re on Instagram or Twitter you are welcome to click on each individual picture in my sidebar to read more about when and where they were taken.
It’ great to hear you’re in Edmonds frequently, we love it here! Lisa
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Hope you’re ok, Lisa? Sounds like you’ve been ill? 😦
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Hi Jo! I’m fine, thanks for asking. 🙂 I just took advantage of a slow month to take care of a few issues that required surgery. Now I’m trying to be good with my resting instructions and looking forward to resuming my normal schedule very soon.
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That’s good to know 🙂 🙂
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I hope your reading and resting regimen is going well, Lisa. 🙂 And your photos, as always, are really interesting. Nude Beach, huh? LOL! The number of businesses closing in our area is staggering. We live in such a high population center I would have thoughts we could continue to support many of these major chains and businesses, but we have been counting the closures and shaking our heads. Not only do we feel personally inconvenienced, but I am deeply concerned about the jobs lost. The changing view leaves me feeling very sad at times. Do continue to take care of yourself, my friend.
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Thanks so much for your kind well wishes, Debra. I continue to rest, read, watch more than a little tv and feel better every day. 🙂 I wish I could say the same about so many businesses across the country but I’m afraid the store closures both big and small will continue to change our communities… The job losses are tough because they affect so many young people and working moms as well as the hit cities and towns take in the loss of sales tax revenue. It’s a problem with many parts…
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