Monday, November 18, 2024

Town Realities

We set a coffee date with Bob and Bard this Monday morning but small town realities struck us unexpectedly.

It shouldn't have been unexpected, but then this is no longer a small town, so it kind of was.

So, what happened, Mr Anvilcloud?

Well, we got to the coffee shop near us, but it was closed – because it is Monday, doncha see. We are familiar with most stores on Main being closed on Mondays, but this was a cafe and not on Main. And as I have already mentioned, we are no longer a small town – a town yes, but small no.

Without thinking we headed to Freska where we usually meet for breakfast. Yes, Bob was keen on more than just coffee, so I agreed.

Guess what: Closed.

Being somewhat determined, we next chose The Gourmet on the highway through town, and, as the saying goes, the third time did turn out to be a charm. I think they stay open to try to capture passing traffic and also to pick up folk such as us desperate townies. This was not a franchise place, but many new stores and eateries that are springing up along or near the highway are franchises, and of course they open, even on Mondays.

It remains to be seen whether the locally operated, in-town businesses will adapt or whether the old, town ways will prevail and then we shall see if those places willsurvive.


15 comments:

  1. Here, the only stores I check to see if they are open on Monday before leaving are Mexican and Asian restaurants. For some reason, they are often likely to be closed on Monday. Other than that, I just assume everything else is open on Monday... at least as long is it isn't a federal holiday.

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  2. My friend and I went down to a local nursery to look at their decor and have a coffee in their coffee shop (on Monday) and it too was closed. Must be a thing.

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  3. You made me curious, so I checked the 2 coffee shops in our county---yes, we are that small here, only 2 in the whole county, but then with a population of about 29,000 i guess that's all we can sustain. Anyway, the one in our smaller town is open Mondays, the one in our county seat is not. Most other businesses in our towns are open Mondays, but there are some with unpredictable hours, like the barber, one antique shop, the computer guy. Just have to take your chances with them. At least the two stores where we have booths are open 7 days a week.

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  4. It is amazing that the small businesses survive these days. The franchises dominate the market here for sure.

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  5. It used to be the case that shops closed on Wednesday afternoons and Sundays. Now, most places are open all the hours they can, though I have noticed one or two opening later or only for five instead of six days. Running a business is hard work.

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  6. Yeah, it is frustrating to find an open cafe on Mondays or any time after 14 30 pm

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  7. For many years it used to be that here in the suburbs of Melbourne it was hairdressers and fish and chip shops were the ones known to be closed on Mondays….that is changing.
    Small cafes/coffee shops and some small independently owned businesses have decided to also ‘take Mondays off’. A friend jokingly remarked that they need to remember that any day can be wash day, women are not tied to the home now and like to shop and socialise any day of the week.

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  8. It's so true. I occasionally get to work from home on Mondays and outside of the post office and library, all the places are closed. *sigh* I need to change my WFH day, I guess.

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  9. We have most of the local restaurants with closed signs on Mondays. But one nice Sushi place (I like the Tempura) is closed Tuesdays, so they reap a lot of the Monday business. Of course the franchises are open as much as they can squeeze their poor overworked staff.

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  10. How nice to have an option from the franchises! I always like to support a small business and or a family. Although even the franchisees and their employees are local.... Life used to be so simple!

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  11. Closed on Mondays seems odd. Are they open on the weekend?

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  12. I hate it when that happens! How frustrating!

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  13. I hope the 3rd place worked for you, in that the coffee and food were delicious.

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  14. Many places here also have varied closing dates, some on Mondays and Tuesdays, others just on Tues or only Wed. We have learned to check the hours first before committing to a place.

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  15. Yes Monday closing is a fact all over our part of the world. And, sadly, some good eateries are closing permanently, either from lack of staff or lack of customers. It is a somewhat strange postCovid world. If, though, it WAS actually post Covid. We just got our sixth round of shots. And some of the groups I belong to are still meeting either virtually or very, very cautiously.
    Your town has several really fine spots, on most of the week's days.

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