Community Chat

[Mominohio]

Store hours have been reduced here since March. Some have expanded slightly, but most stores are still running on a shorter schedule than pre pandemic.

It is to sanitize the facilities better, it is because for many, business is down and they need to curtail the expense of being open (utilities, wages), much fewer in person customers, so fewer hours. 

In some locations it might be required by the local governments or health departments as well. 

Most stores here, except those that sell groceries/necessities, are pitifully empty most of the time, very little traffic, even after being reopened for months now.

Brick and mortar, and especially malls were in trouble before the pandemic. Now with people afraid to breathe outside their homes, and people learning they can live without going into stores (shop online, or even just do without), and many people in some areas out of work and not in a position to be spending, they are in worse trouble than even before.

[ScrapHappy]

Same here. My local mall closes early, usually around 7 p.m.  Some earlier.  Target stores seem to open later but stay open until 10 pm for the most part.  Home Depot used to close by 7 p.m. but sometimes they are open till 8 or 9 p.m.  I went to the mall once just to walk around.  Very empty.  Not all stores are open and many have closed for good including Justice, American Girl Doll Store, and Disney Store.  

[Katcat1]

@Linmo   You are right.  I did not think of that.  Actually, it's a good thing that stores, restaurants and other businesses are cleaning up.  They should have been doing it all along.  

[RhondaRena]

Retail is in a huge mess. My brother in law is a corporate pilot for the CEO and family of a large retail industry in the world. They are in the process of closing many stores. last week he flew one of them to put one of their vacation homes on the market for around 8 million. They are bracing for bankruptcy because stores cannot pay rent. My brother in

Retail is hurting My brother in law is a corporate pilot for a large retail company. They are in the process of closing stores. He took the CEOs son last week to prepare one of their vacation homes to go on the market for 8 million. Retailers are behind on rent as stores and resturants just can't make it.

My brother in law  took a 50% cut in his pay and others are being reduced and let go. He thinks his job will last a few more months to help them finalize things and sell off the plane.

Another brother in law runs a large factory and they have scaled back. He says its difficult to get people to work. The large payouts hurt  no matter how you look at it. Many would rather stay home.

The housing market in my area is booming. Its a midsize college town and people are looking to get out of the cities and downsize. But I know windows lumber and building materials are increasing and becoming more difficult to get. I wanted to order Fall mulch and thats not even available in my area. 

I really believe we are going to see harder times. We planted a bigger garden

this year. I bought several canning jars in the Spring but none are to be found except some very inflated prices at Amazon and a few other places.

I think people are managing their money more carefully if they are paying attention.

[Lipstickdiva]

Stores in my area were closing early for restocking and cleaning/sanitizing.  There also aren't enough shoppers to justify late hours.