The Rural Voice, 1995-12, Page 32Big changes
on Main Street
With the arrival of "Big Box" stores in some
smaller towns, the shape of main street is
changing, not only in the towns directly
affected but in the surrounding communities
as well.
By Janice Becker
Main Street, once the meeting ground of town and country,
may face huge changes with invasion of the giant "big
box" stores.
As fast as things arc changing in agriculture these
days, the changes to the main street of your
hometown may be coming even faster. While
farmers worry about the possibility of large
companies moving into integrated farming operations, big
business has already moved into small towns and is
reshaping the face of main street.
There was a time when picking up the weekly provisions
was more than just a shopping trip, it was a community
28 THE RURAL VOICE
social event. Farm families would load the entire family
into the car on Saturday night for the weekly trek to town
for grocery shopping and errands. People would meet their
neighbours on the street, and exchange pleasantries with
their urban neighbours. But times are different now.
Both the character of rural Ontario and the nature of
shopping habits have changed, possibly with a cause and
effect relationship.
Main street business people in small towns across the
province struggled to survive with the prolonged recessions
which afflicted the country in the early 80s and again as we
entered the 90s. Now they must also develop methods to
cope with the changing demands of the rural population as
well as compete with "big box" stores which have begun,
with increased intensity, to locate in ever smaller
communities.
As stated by one person interviewed, country neighbours
are no longer necessarily farmers. They may very well be
people who have moved out to rural areas from cities such
as London and Kitchener. They have ties to the city and
readily go there for shopping, particularly for larger
purchases, as well as social and cultural activities. It is not
uncommon to go 10 years without seeing your neighbour.
It may be that today's busy lifestyles and the changing
complexion of the rural population no longer lends itself to
casual social activities such as strolling down main street.
Business people are being forced to entice a population
of shoppers who are more willing and able to travel greater
distances for perceived savings.
With Wal -Mart's arrival in Canada in the last two years,
large Canadian merchandisers such as Zellers, have
realized the need to compete for those markets, neglected
for years by major discount retailers.
With the recent openings of a Wal-Mart on the eastern
limits of Goderich (there are plans ahead for a Zellers and
expanded Canadian Tire in the community) and a Zellers at
the south end of Listowel, both accompanied by mega
Zehrs food markets which offer clothing and drugs as well,
community business associations and Chambers of
Commerce are developing strategies to maintain a vibrant
downtown.
But, how does this affect the "Mom and Pop" or
independent operations which have sustained both the
villagers and their rural neighbours for decades? How will
the rural consumer react to big box stores within a 15 to 20
minute drive from home? Will there be any loyalty to local
family-owned business?
Selection or service, quantity versus quality products and
store employees who take the time to meet your needs,
answer your questions and are able to solve problems;
those may be just a few among the choices to be made by
consumers deciding on a shopping destination and the
demands to be satisfied for the business owner.
As the trend to large, multi -product stores moves through
western Ontario, communities from Chesley to Palmerston
and Clinton are acting and reacting differently, yet most
believe there is the opportunity for main street business
people to gain from the new arrivals.
For communities such as Hanover, Listowel and Clinton,
the construction of big box stores either in their town or
within a 20 km. drive, has many consumers, retailers and
business association members looking at the opportunities
for gain.
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