Franchises...........

No I'm not talking about Dem Franchise Boys, no white tees nor do I like them. I'm talking about franchises replacing local businesses in the neighborhoods. I've been here a week and it's sad to see local businesses gone, replaced by big business or franchises. I went walking on Jamaica Ave, (little Jamaica)went to go to my local stationary store and that have been replaced with a damn Citibank. There used to be a Woolworths many moons ago, and that store was the only one left. So my walk was in vein and had to think of another place to buy a damn calendar.

The emergence of Golden Crust in Queens is crazy. I knew they were on a growth track when I left but now I see them everywhere. Not that I dislike Golden crust, I prefer it to any liquor store or Chinese take-out store, or even McDonalds. But, damn not everywhere, they even put on right across the street from a long time Caribbean restaurant and bakery on Hempstead Ave. Things like that I hate, I know business is business, but give direct competition to a local business of the same type is disrespectful. It's funny because that same restaurant had done a little expansion to include an outside eating area, but I guess they scrapped that when they Golden Crust started taking their profits. Please I love Golden Crust food, the people that work there are typical Jamaicans, they see you walk in they ignore you and chat way with their co-workers and after they see your not leaving, "may I help you?" Crazy!

Well I still think the local business man is the key to any neighborhood's success, I hope sincerely that these franchises do try to help the area they have occupied and not just try and make their meager profits and leave.