Business, as Usual

Off we went, yesterday, to run a few errands. Our intention was to go to the bank, the nearest pharmacy we use, those few instances when we require anything of such an establishment, and finally to our local dollar store, which we've frequented for the past decade and more. Loonie-Toonie, they call themselves. And there's also a Loonie-Toonie Two, as the family of enterprising Lebanese-Canadians who own the first store also own a second.

These stores support two extended families, and do so quite well. These particular dollar stores lend themselves to a long-gone feeling of casual friendship among constomer and shop owner. Moreover, the stores stock items of unquestionable value and generally higher quality than most such dollar stores. The two families who work long hours and who have established an excellent rapport with their clientele represent a mom-and-pop entrepreneurship that is slowly slipping away in our economic climate and culture. And we're the poorer for it.

Well, the bank was no problem; it's always there when needed, carefully hoarding our funds for us and grudgingly allowing us to take back some of it when we require them to do so. The pharmacy was obliging enough in offering up the items we needed; megavitamins (which the Harvard Medical School suggests I take with a large helping of folate to assist in avoiding some pretty insolently-nasty disease cultures), plain old zinc ointment, and Herbal Essence shampoo, on sale.

We did look around at other items, and were, as always, amazed at the high prices of items available elsewhere of comparable quality, sometimes even the very identical items, but at a fraction of the cost. We were also incredulous, as we always are, to see that a drugstore/pharmacy stocks food items including perishables, household-cleaning items, small home appliances, kitchen hardware, cosmetics galore, toys, party supplies, fast-food snacks and even items of clothing.

So where do we go as an alternate source for items readily available, equal in quality and infinitely less dear? Why our neighbourhood dollar store whose owners greet us familiarly as valued customers. All set to enter as usual, we were unable to. It was there, but it just wasn't there any more. Its physical presence was in evidence, but the warm and welcoming windows were covered by blank sheets of paper, and there was signage that informed their valued customers that they were closed, and their custom would be welcomed at their other store.

At the other store we were informed that their lease was up, and would not be renewed. The pharmacy meant to expand, and along with the supermarket were the property owners' largest and most influential renters. The pharmacy didn't like the fact that shoppers could purchase socks, gloves, small kitchen items, paper products, cosmetics and hygiene products, toys, tools and a host of other products, all of which the pharmacy also regularly offers for sale, at much lower prices for products of equal quality.

These small business owners were thrown for a loop. Their decades-long cultivation of a dedicated client base, their outstanding contribution to their community, their honest business acumen was all cast aside as though worthless.

Business, as usual.