Mary Schmidt Marketing Troubleshooter

Headline: Recession-Ravaged Malls Court “Mom & Pop” Stores

After a less than stellar December at Albuquerque’s largest shopping centers, expect to see more national tenants close. Their spaces will most likely be filled by locally owned stores.

The rise of the mom and pops at New Mexico’s regional malls Coronado Center and Cottonwood Mall, is a trend already underway, but it is expected to accelerate throughout 2009…While the nationals fold or downsize, local merchants sense their opportunity to take premier space that normally wouldn’t be available. They are also being offered reduced rents.

All I can say is “about time.” One of my pet peeves is the big developments that jack up the rent so high that the M&Ps can’t afford it. Let’s have a little diversity and help our local economy at the same time. I admit, I like Pottery Barn, but I could be anywhere USA.

So, here we are – back to those “little people” who always keep the economy running They’ve got no choice; their businesses are literally their lives. The “littles” generally get little respect and even less consideration when it comes to things like tax breaks, but they keep chugging along.

This weekend – if you’re doing any shopping or dining out – do it local. The “Mom & Pop” will likely be there long after the big box and chains have pulled out, leaving behind empty real estate and unemployed people.

If you’re in Albuquerque, check out Celebro Natural Living (Free Trade. Buy Local. Think Global.) Everything from gorgeous men’s shirts to “don’t have to even think about it, it’s so affordable” hostess gifts. The owners, Melinda and George, work very hard to do the right thing, in business and life. So, I love shopping there. I get great stuff, am doing a bit to make the world a better place…and I’m supporting friends.

If I don’t feel like springing for dinner, I can always drop into Slate Street Cafe for the Fried Green Tomato and Bacon Sandwich at lunch (Trust me, it’s terrific. I’m normally a vegetarian, but…) SS also has a great Happy Hour deal, with a wonderful wine list (Myra, the always there owner is a sommelier.) Family-owned Cervantes has a fun “70s bar” vibe as well as addictive food and salsa (I can eat a truly obscene amount of chips and salsa there….I shift into mindless goldfish mode…they eventually have to cut me off.) The locally owned John Brooks supermarket on San Mateo is one of the nicest in the city (and not far from Talin Market where you can buy pretty much anything from around the world.)…This weekend, I’ll probably head to Duran’s Pharmacy for a cheap and great lunch, after hitting the monthly library sale for killer deals on books…then, yes, may drop into Celebro to see what’s on sale.

I’m sure that you’ve got some wonderful choices right in your own neighborhood. (Pssst…Think about walking...save some bucks and do a tiny bit to save the planet.)

Read More: American Independent Business Alliance

P.S. Nope – none of these businesses paid me for these plugs. I could go on for pages about all the great quirky burque businesses and groups. I bet you could do so about your community, so get out there and support ‘em. We’re all in this together.

Tags: Shop Local, Albuquerque