Retail Watchers

Thanks for posting the Free Press article. TBH the tone of the article kind of matches how the reception for the closing RA stores seems to have been for RA throughout Michigan--it's not "oh noes....RA on it's way out"; rather "oh, the local RA is closing, here might be why, the next ...

I wonder if there might truly have just been a bookkeeping/accounting error (pulling the severance funds out of the payroll account or something odd like that). In the times I've gotten severance pay, it seems like though it's been run through the payroll system the accounting is quite different (fi...

Drove past Desert Hot Springs CA in late morning---at least 5 cars lined up at drive thru (I would guess this store does a big drive-thru business).

A small example from SE Michigan. In various local FB groups near where we live in SE Oakland County, people will throw out requests to find slightly esoteric groceries (produce, meat, dry groceries---think starfruit/dragonfruit/walnut oil/Mr. Pibb/...) or slightly ethnic groceries (Middle Eastern, ...

That last item is a key---I am ordering stuff online for in-store pickup because I can get the Circle discounts (where I cannot if I shop in-store--I refuse to use their app or print out a barcode after tagging the coupon).

We've had some good luck with men's big and tall at Franklin Park/Toledo at Dillards. They seem to have a reasonable selection of better and designer at that store (including long neckties---surprisingly difficult to find).

The sugar cane cartel here in the US is the big reason for the migration to foreign jams/jellies (together with the HFCS use). There is a big processor in Canada which seems to have a lot of the "natural-ish" market sewn up---the formulas and labeling requirements for US products made by C...

yeah, if they don't have grab-and-go decor (tealights/plants/dishware/pots and pans/pillows/linens----roughly comparable lines to a Marshalls/TJX/Home Goods--they probably will not do well...the store I referenced in Toronto certainly had that.

I went to the Pacific store in Rancho Mirage/Palm Desert a couple years ago (mid COVID--height of supply chain problems) carrying a bagful of dishes to test-fit them into higher-end dishwashers. I had exactly that experience...extraordinarily well prepared folks who were glad to help. If those peopl...

[/quote] The problem is that outside of small local markets like Palmdale there is little awareness in LA. They would have to spend a fortune on advertising in the 2nd most expensive ad market in the US (1st being NY). They would have to open dozens of stores to offset just the advertising costs... ...