frenchmills's Blog

That's right. One of the beauties of the City has been (still is some) the convenience, the proximity to what you need. It hasn't been that long ago that people could walk to just about every type of business establishment or entertainment venue.

I grew up partly on the North Side, Hyde Park neighborhood, where you could find a corner market on just about every corner, a small shopping strip on Salisbury Street, and the 14th Street shopping area just a few minutes away. I walked to the Bremen Theater at 19th & Bremen and the Tower Theater at E. Grand and W. Florissant, never it made it to the Salisbury Theater, on Salisbury, near Natural Bridge.

Coming back to St. Louis in the 70's, stores and bakeries were within blocks. We had the Ritz Theater on S. Grand near Juniata, and the Shenandoah, at Grand and Shenandoah. South Grand had everything: clothing stores, pharmacies, barbers, restaurants, night spots, a bakery, meat market, shoe store, specialty stores, a bowling alley, Namendorf's Hallmark Cards (many business moved to the new Zayre Plaze (now Gravois Plaza) when it opened, and failed in competition with the discount stores there. Many remained though and the area thrived quite well.

Several supermarkets existed: A Kroger in the South Grand area, a National at Grand and Sidney, and an A & P a block south, at Magnolia. The National is now a locally owned market, thriving and serving a substantial clientele. A Schnuck's superstore spans an area between Grand and Gravois, also enjoying a large customer base. Small markets persisted into the 90's. Gustine Market. which persisted through at least three owners, just closed some time in the past month.

Still, people can walk to many establishments. Some small markets still thrive, and supermarkets are within walking distance of many people. Quik Trips and 7-11's dot the landscape also, so their convenience is not absent.

 Suburbia was built on the automobile, it seems. The nearest business of any sort is a long walk at best for most people. Getting anywhere to shop or for entertainment takes a several minute drive. The norm is HUGE as far as establishments go, if you know what I mean. Huge shopping centers, huge food stores, huge retail stores, huge barns of home improvement stores, all where most people have to drive several miles to get to them, through heavy traffic and wild drivers, competing for parking spaces. People have to sacrifice personal service for low prices.

 In the City, and some places in the surrounding area, small businesses still thrive, where you can go in, get what you need in a few minutes, and be on your way. Meanwhile, if you frequent the establishment, you get to know the owner -- that's right, the owner is right there in the store -- or get to know the employees, most of whom stay on, The employees know where everything is (naturally, since it is a small establishment).

  Where, in the huge establishments, it seems you never see the same person twice, and it is so impersonal that you can go through an entire round of shopping and not speak to a single human being.

 In the face of increasing gas prices, I personally would think that the trend ought to reverse, with smaller establishments popping up in more places, closer to where people live. Smaller theaters even, almost within walking distance. I like the City because it is what I call, "easy". Not a lot of driving and not a lot of trouble getting where you are going. I can direct anyone to just about any kind of retail establishment.

  Of course, everybody can't move back into the City; but maybe people can begin to take steps to have smaller (maybe owned by indidivuals) establishments set up closer to people. This would serve people a lot better. And there might be other savings: smaller establishments, closer, mean less driving, less traffic, less gas use. Less stress. So people might need less stress relievers. Also, walking to the stores is good exercise. Not so much need for gyms or such.

I am imagining a family walk to go shopping. Everybody together, no radio, no DVD (unless the kids bring their own portable) - maybe even a little conversation. Noticing things along the way like animals, birds, trees, neighbors -- saying hi to the neighbors -- slowing down.

 I think we need this.