As I was coming home from grocery shopping today I saw a few new signs around town…

FOR LEASE signs.

Last month it was Basco’s Burgers in Cornelius.  Thirty years in the business and then gone, just like that.

Today I saw Triple Point Biologics was empty.  They were the protein lab located between Dr Tidwell’s Dental Office and Napa Auto Parts.  I don’t think they closed, but just moved.  According to their website they are now on Douglas, in the old building that used to be Jim’s Automotive.  Cheaper rent maybe?

While discussing this with my wife she noticed another business gone.  Signmesiters.  The entire store located next to OK Floral was empty.  And sadly, I don’t think this business moved, or sold, or anything else but just closed up completely.  No signs in the window, no nothing.  I remember when Tamra and Vern opened this business.  They were located in one of John Hamilton’s buildings over on Main St – pretty close to where The Urban Decanter is now….  They were a nice couple, and hard workers.  Their two dogs were always excited to see me.  And now?  Another sign of the economy?

Good luck  Tamra and Vern, wherever you are.  We will miss you.

Related posts:

1. UPS Store is now closed.

I remember when I first moved to Forest Grove in ‘97.  There were at least 3 video stores.  Video USA was in the Safeway Shopping Center, Movie Madness was in my old strip mall next to Da Boys.  And I think there was a smaller video store next to Scotty’s that rented harder to find movies.

And then came Blockbuster.

It was no surprise when one by one the video stores began closing,  leaving us with just the big blue label.  It’s not that I particularly hated Blockbuster, I was just sad to see another corporate giant move into town and do away with the smaller mom and pop shops.  But I did still give them my business.  In fact, I was just there last night to pick up a couple of movies for “Pizza and Movie Night”. I have never tried Redbox, nor do I have a Netflix account.  But after last night, I’m afraid that will change.

Beginning today, March 1, all movies (new release or older films) will be $5 for 5 days.  If the movies are not returned within 5 days, a late fee of $1 per day will be tacked on, up to 15 days.  Then you automatically buy it with your credit card that just happens to be on file.

Five bucks?  For an older movie?  Are they kidding?

Let’s see, with Netflix I can rent 1 DVD at a time, keep it as long as I want, and exchange it as many times as I want, for $9 a month.  Plus they have a 2 week free trial. Hmmmmmm, tough decision.

I realize Blockbuster is having trouble.  Both Redbox and Netflix have been putting the pressure on Blockbuster and Hollywood Video.  In fact, it’s so bad that Hollywood just closed a bunch of stores last month.  I have a feeling Blockbuster will be next.

Blockbuster plans for its total 2009 store closures to amount to 580 to 685 stores and for 2010, the retailer expects another 230 to 275 store will close. The retailer is avoiding lease termination costs, as many of the stores will close as leases naturally expire. In its January 2009 annual report, Blockbuster said it had 4,585 U.S. stores, so it has already closed 229 this year. During 2008, it closed 270 U.S. stores and during 2007, it closed 339 U.S. stores.

I wonder when our store will be next.

Blockbuster, I will miss you.  I was sad when you came because you closed down the smaller shops.  And I’ll be sad when you leave, because I liked going to a video store and browsing all the titles.  And when you’re gone, we’ll have nobody.

But when you start charging $5 bucks for a movie, even older movies that used to be $.99.  Well, I think it’s time I cut up my card.

Netflix here I come.

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I love Forest Grove.  But there is one subject I complain about when it comes to my town – and that is the selection of Grocery Stores.  Namely the ONE and ONLY grocery store.   Safeway.

I guess I’m just one of those people who loves to hate Safeway.  Sure it’s local, and been in town a long time, and I try really hard to support my local businesses, but…………     Every time I go to Safeway, I usually wish I had taken the extra trip out to Freddy’s.  Why?  Well – first it’s a giant corporation.  I’m not too fond of giant corporations.  Remember when they completed their remodel?  Starbucks?  That was like a slap in the face to all the local family owned baristas in town, including BJ’s just a few doors down.  Second – their prices are steep, especially compared to say Winco.  Third – I can usually find a much greater selection – especially with more organic/natural foods – at Freddy’s.  And fourth – there’s usually not enough checkers – which means long lines.

I’m sorry Safeway – I try to like you.  But I can’t.  If you want to win me over, start with your prices, get a few more checkers, clean up your produce, and add some more natural foods (i.e. New Seasons).

So my question is – how did we get to be a one grocery store town?  From what I have heard from folks who have lived here a lot longer than I have  – we use to have LOTS of grocery stores.  In fact – you might be surprised as to what used to be a grocery store – way back in the day.

Valley Art?  That was the original Safeway.

Assembly of God Church?  (across from Tom McCall) – that’s where Safeway moved to after they left Vally Art.

Forest Grove Health and Fitness? (in the Center Strip Mall) – used to be DaBoys.  That was actually still here when I moved here in ‘98.

Forest Grove Elks Lodge?  Used to be a Piggly Wiggly.

Fuiten/Rose/Hoyt Funeral Home?  Yep – I know it’s kinda creepy – but that used to be a Chet’s Thriftway.

There’s four – and I’m sure I’m missing a few.  I heard there was a Coopers Grocery somewhere downtown as well.

Reminds me of all the Video Rental stores we had when I moved here.  There must have been at least 3 or 4.  And then another giant corporation moved to town.   And soon after there was only one left.  Blockbusters.  I guess the same thing happened with the grocery stores.  Now you know why I dislike giant corporations…they usually put the little guys out of business.

I know people would LOVE to have another store in town.  A few years back – there was town talk about a Haagen’s coming, then it was Albertsons.  Many of us dreamed of a Whole Foods, New Seasons, or a Trader Joes.  But it never happened.  And it’s probably not going to happen.  We just don’t have enough people in this town to support a big name store.

So the only thing we have to look forward to – as far as a new grocery store coming – is Wal Mart.

You know – when you think about it – comparing our options – Freddy’s isn’t really that far away after all.

Related posts:

1. Goodbye Blockbuster

Forest Grove UPS Store

I finally got out to visit some of my old neighbors in the shopping center yesterday.  For the restaurants like Quiznos and Cornerstone, who rely so much on Pacific University traffic, this time of year can be a bit slow.  I was happy to find they are both still there, along with La Sierra, and seemingly doing ok.

But imagine my surprise to see the UPS Store with a Gone Out of Business sign in the window.  The place was completlely gutted!  I guess, as so many of us small business owners have already experienced, the tough economy got them a little behind in the rent, and the landlords decided to pull the plug.

You would think, espcially at this time of the year, that a shipping business would be booming.  But what most people did not realize was that The UPS Store was a locally owned and operated franchise.  As I was chatting with my old friend Nick, manager of Quiznos, he told me a story of an irrate customer who became very flustered when she found out the store was closed.  “Where am I supposed to drop this off now?” she asked.  As in – she already paid for the shipping online, printed out her shipping label, and was going to use the UPS Store as a drop off point.  Nick explained to her, “That’s why they are out of business.”  When we do our own shipping online, and just drop these packages off, the store receives nothing, not one single penny.

And now, just like my old Computer Store, and The Medicine Shoppe, and The Dry Cleaners, there is another vacancy.

The Center (the official name of the strip mall) was bought by a company that runs out of Portland, right after I moved in – in 2005.  They manage large commercial buildings as well as apartment complexes all around the Pacific Northwest.  The problem I have with big corporations buying up commerical real estate here in Forest Grove, is that they have no idea how our local economy works here in the Grove.  I was talking to Phil Carrow, owner of Phil’s 1500 Subs, a few weeks ago, and he told me that I was paying more rent for my little 1,000 sq ft shop than he does!  And he’s been there 20 years!    Out here in the Grove, we don’t have the same type or amount of foot traffic that they do in Downtown Portland, or Seattle.  This is a small little country town – the back 40.  And if they don’t adjust the rents accordingly, there will be more and more vacancies to come.

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