An inconvenient time for a recession

Why is there a recession now when everything looked so good?

Things were going great. So great in fact that the steel processing plant in our town decided to upgrade and moved to a new location in another town. They left behind a beautiful piece of land right on the edge of town and the property developers grabbed it with both hands. They in turn wheeled and dealed and in no time came up with plans to build a major shopping mall.

Another shopping mall?

“Wait!” shouted the people of the town. “We already have a shopping mall in the center of the town and there are only about 80,000 people in this town, we don’t need another mall. As it is we take Payday Loans every second month so we can shop at the mall!”

“Quiet!” yelled the developers, you’re getting one,” and they started building.

We’re a month away from opening

Construction was efficient and speculation was rampant. The new mall is almost ready. Now they’re laying acres of asphalt in the parking lots and painting white lines. Delivery trucks queue daily bringing furniture, fittings and stocks for the new shops and the mall is a hive of activity. Over at town hall, the mayor is polishing his speech for opening day and going through the list of invitees for the twentieth time. The opening day committee is threading flags onto sticks and blowing up balloons. It’s going to be quite an event.

I may even wander down there and take notes for an article about the launching of a mall.

Back at the old mall.

Here in the middle if the town in the old mall there is an air of gloom. The mall is beautiful and modern and was built about 10 years ago after the orange orchards were uprooted and the land cleared. The various buildings are built in orangy-pink travertiny marble, the parking is underground or on the roof and unobtrusive. There is a supermarket on the top level, and the two levels of shops are varied, well stocked top end outlets.

The mall does well and is the center of social activities in the town acting much like the town square. There are 6 or 7 designer coffee shops which are always full and 8 small movie houses which draw the people. What more could we want?

Along comes a recession

First to feel the recession are the shops in the mall. The townsfolk either stop shopping or drift to the east end of town where there are cheaper shops. The quality of the goods is not the same but times are hard so we make do without or with less. The mall suffers. Day by day the number of shoppers drops. The only places that are still busy are the coffee shops and now it’s possible to find a table anytime.

As for the shops, you can see the assistants and managers leaning against the doors praying for customers. Things are bad. The winter stock is still on the shelves, unsold, and the summer goods are starting to roll in. The rent must be paid…

Down at the new mall

All is just about ready for the great day! On second thought, I may leave town on that day. I don’t want to be part of the general embarrassment.