I recently read about a Melbourne Irish pub closing to be redeveloped, as a new Irish pub. A snip from a news report about the closing pub, "showcasing traditional music, poetry, dance and food and sponsoring a Gaelic football team". I don't get why the successful pub has to close, with the leaser kicked out and it being reinvented. Well, I do know. It is about money.
I am reminded of the visit to my doctor last Friday, with my hopes of him being able to ensure I didn't expire from sepsis in mind. I had a spare ten minutes and went into Prahran Market to buy some notepads from the shop where we have bought notepads for over 25 years.
I thought about my return home and Phyllis asking why I bought such cheap and dull notepaper, so I lashed out an extra 50 cents and bought bright white notepaper pads. I had forgotten Phyllis had put some brightly coloured notepads in my stationary drawer. He reminded me after I proudly displayed my new bright white notepads, seeking his non forthcoming approval. Oh well.
I was reminded of our city hairdresser closing, when the building owner increased her rent to an impossible amount, and she tearfully told Ray she was closing. A new hairdressing shop opened there and lasted a few months, perhaps a six month lease.
The aforementioned stationery and paper shop in Prahran market has been operated by the same Australian Asian couple for 39 years, as she told me. The market has decided to not renew their lease. Just like that, their business has been taken away, with no goodwill to sell. It will become a food place, she told me. Gosh, I felt sad for her, and sad for our wider society that business avarice dominates our society. Of course Prahran Market has to be a profitable enterprise, beholden to the local council who owns the site and the building. Perhaps City of Stonnington could be a bit more interventionist to ensure the market is not just about food.
Signed,
an ageing man who is becoming increasingly grumpy about what happens in our society.
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This ageing grumpy woman is in total agreement with you Andrew.
ReplyDeleteLandlords of local commercial properties here are just as greedy and many small businesses have been forced to close as a result of the increasing rents.
I agree with the aging, grumpy man. Everything is about increasing profit, but not making life better.
ReplyDeleteAndrew, Prahran market has changed so much over the years and it seems it is becoming more cafe type market. I was there a couple of weeks ago , many fruit stalls have closed . Essential Ingredients which occupied a huge space has left. Fruit and veg there are not the same quality and are quite expensive , still I will continue to go there when in Melbourne, it’s a tradition now.
ReplyDeleteMaker and Monger are among my favourite stalls. Always have a coffee at Jasper, great for people watching, not the coffee, and Greek Sweets is a terrific shop
My son goes to a barber in one of the lanes , has done so for 20 years. He tells me the barber is the gayest Greek barber in town!
I didn't know Essential Ingredient closed. That is a huge loss.
DeleteIt seems like it would be in the best interests of the community for landlords to help existing businesses survive, rather than pushing them out for the next trendy thing. (Which by definition won't last.)
ReplyDeleteMessage from another ageing man who is becoming increasingly grumpy about what happens in our society... "Stationary" with an "a" means not moving but "stationery" with an "e" means paper, envelopes, notepads etc..I hope you will not mind me pointing this out Andrew.
ReplyDeleteI corrected it thank you YP. As soon as I went back to correct it, it stood out as being very wrong.
DeleteThis grumpy old cow gets mightily pissed off when landlords raise rents, tenants leave and then the shop sits empty for month and months. Don't give a damn about the greedy landlord losing rent but get angry for the tenants who lose they livelihood.
ReplyDeleteSoon Saria law will dominate our country too. Speaking of high cost of running anything these days, I am only winding back my efforts in my industry.
ReplyDeleteI have to say, even eing short of money most of the time, if my favourite notepad shop was to close I'd go in and buy as many notepaper pads that my wallet would allow, maybe even a few extra. I used to buy them at a small shop in the city, not a Cheap as Chips, but similar and they came in packs of five for $2.50, then they were $3 but I bought a couple every time I was in the city so I have still plenty even though they closed unexpectedly one week, I guess their lease was up. I can get the same from Officeworks for a slightly higher price, but I wait until Cheap as Chips has them then buy up. And I prefer the bright white ones, with my eyes going bad it's easier to see what is written on the white paper compared to the coloured stuff.
ReplyDelete*being*
ReplyDeleteOh, how I agree with you, Andrew. The profit motive is a vise gradually squeezing all the decency out of society.
ReplyDeleteI think this aging grumpy man should get one of his new note pads and put together a letter to the local newspaper. I would find some local websites and post it on line too. Nothing might happen or something might happen. Throw it out there and see.
ReplyDeleteWhat local paper Debby. They have gone.
Delete💯 Andrew!!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree. Prahran Market is just a glorified food court these days. The addition of Lolly shops and high end ‘showcases’ reduces its appeal as a place to do all our everyday shopping. I think it’s very sad that the stationery shop will be the next to disappear.
ReplyDeleteGrumpy is an accurate response to the world. If you were bouncy and giggly, I would recommend some balancing tablets. If you were depressed and half comatose, you would be friend free and very hungry.
ReplyDeleteAs I told a boss one time, "it is a good sign that I am angry, it means I still care."
ReplyDeleteIsn't it the same the world over? Sad and aggravating.
ReplyDeleteRich people are so entitled.
ReplyDeleteI hate to see small business pushed out and empty shop fronts take their place. How can landlords profit without tenants?
ReplyDeleteI try to focus on happier things, though it's not often easy. Spreading tiny bits of joy helps. Just yesterday I plucked a few garden blooms and ran them over to a friendly mother and daughter passing by. :D It seems to me that little annoyances can break us while tiny positives balance them out. Best wishes!
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