So, I’ve been seeing all these empty storefronts downtown lately. Felt like another shop disappears every month. Got curious: what the hell are the survivors doing differently? Grabbed my notebook and hit Main Street yesterday morning.
First stop: Harold’s Hardware
Remember when this place smelled like sawdust and despair? Walked in and almost tripped over a DIY terrarium workshop happening right between the power drills. Old man Harold grinned ear to ear tapping his new iPad cash register. Said he started hosting evening craft classes after sales tanked last Christmas. Charges fifteen bucks a head just for folks to glue succulents in jars – pays for two days’ electricity!
Then there’s Maggie’s Book Nook
Used to be you could hear crickets in there. Now? Saw three kids crammed in a corner booth sucking down milkshakes. Owner Maggie dragged me over to show off her ancient soda fountain – dug it outta storage after seeing Instagram posts about “retro cafes.” Sells more $8 shakes than $25 hardcovers these days. Her words: “Books are my passion, milkshakes pay my mortgage.”
The real shocker was Becker’s Shoes
That place reeked of defeat last winter. This time? Bright yellow sign slapped on the door: “TRADE YOUR KICKS FOR COFFEE.” Turns out Tim Becker partnered with the espresso joint next door. Bring worn sneakers for recycling, get 20% off lattes AND new shoes. He’s moved 27 pairs since last Thursday. Genius part? He resells donated designer sneakers on Mercari – pure profit.
My final lightbulb moment
At Sullivan’s Pharmacy near closing time. Instead padlocks clicking, found four gray-haired ladies learning TikTok dances between the antihistamines. Sally Sullivan films them for the store account charging five bucks per lesson – says seniors outspend teens on ice cream after shaking their hips. Watched Doris from Elm Street drop forty bucks on sprinkles cones without blinking.
Crazy takeaway? None these folks were tech wizards or business sharks. Harold can barely email. They just looked around at what wasn’t working and started slapping together weird solutions that stuck. Like watching a bunch of raccoons duct-taping ladders to climb dumpsters. Ugly? Sure. Effective? Hell yes.
