Support your own!
Small businesses in Tempe are under attack! Local politicians conspire with developers to build a new, "better" Tempe, landlords sell their long-owned property as the real estate value skyrockets making way for yet another Yuppie housing project, and another small business is closing up shop for good, making way for progress. By now wouldn't you think that we'd understand that this is not progress that benefits us, the long-term residents of the North end of Tempe, but the rich, the parasite which has been slowly sucking the blood out of our home.
Changing Hands, Long Wong's, The Sail Inn, Bash on Ash, The Gentle Strength Co-op, and then there's the constant rumors of more closings, the only thing more frustrating than the rumors is when it turn out that they're true. It's been heartbreaking to watch so many shops close up, I'm also concerned that my business may follow this path.
We need your support. Stop renting videos online, stop buying music online (download for free all you want), stop buying coffee from Starbucks! And stop it now. Instead, go down to Eastside Records and drop some scrill, go to Wet Paint and get your art supplies, grab your coffee at Three Roots (10th st. and Mill Ave.), hell, even drive up to south Scottsdale and rent from Scottsdale Video (68th st. and Thomas). This may not fix all the problems with Tempe, the massive gentrification, and the failure of the city council to protect long-term small businesses and working class folks (These condos aren't just pushing out businesses, but Tempe's poorest residents are given the boot so yuppies can have their lofts), but it keeps the doors open for the time being, gets employees their paychecks, and gives this dying town a bit of flavor, that could soon be gone if we don't start giving a damn about our own.
That's the end of my rant for the day.
Changing Hands, Long Wong's, The Sail Inn, Bash on Ash, The Gentle Strength Co-op, and then there's the constant rumors of more closings, the only thing more frustrating than the rumors is when it turn out that they're true. It's been heartbreaking to watch so many shops close up, I'm also concerned that my business may follow this path.
We need your support. Stop renting videos online, stop buying music online (download for free all you want), stop buying coffee from Starbucks! And stop it now. Instead, go down to Eastside Records and drop some scrill, go to Wet Paint and get your art supplies, grab your coffee at Three Roots (10th st. and Mill Ave.), hell, even drive up to south Scottsdale and rent from Scottsdale Video (68th st. and Thomas). This may not fix all the problems with Tempe, the massive gentrification, and the failure of the city council to protect long-term small businesses and working class folks (These condos aren't just pushing out businesses, but Tempe's poorest residents are given the boot so yuppies can have their lofts), but it keeps the doors open for the time being, gets employees their paychecks, and gives this dying town a bit of flavor, that could soon be gone if we don't start giving a damn about our own.
That's the end of my rant for the day.