# 32 - Don't Like Deserted Shops

Sad Shopping Center

I carried my cellphone on my run yesterday morning. I took a detour to check out our neighborhood shopping center.

It was early, so I wasn't surprised to see the empty parking lot. It was sad, knowing that hours later, it would look pretty much the same.

Notices

I walked down the sidewalk and studied the notices on all the windows. We've lived in this neighborhood for over 20 years. We've used so many of these small businesses.

I looked at the sign on Dr. Closs's office. It made me miss our old pets, Molly and Figaro. Now is the time of all times, when I most miss having pets!

The nail and lash salons were closed. No surprise. The liquor store has not closed down. I guess that's essential. Curbside liquor shopping. Crazy.

Now Open

I'm sad for these businesses and all their employees. There are so many unknowns. How long will they need to be closed? Will they even be able to re-open?

The surprising news is, that right in the middle of all these pandemic closures, we have a new store opening. It's been over a year, since Randall's Grocery Store closed down. Now, Al-Rabba is opening, with foods from Pakistan, African, India... How about that!

At 7 am, I was able to peek at the clean grocery carts and look through the window, hours before opening. I'm so excited to have a nearby grocery store, with new and curious foods to try. But I'm staying away from stores right now. Guess I'll have to wait a while.
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