Are Banks and Pharmacies the only thing being built?!?

tempo_n_groove
tempo_n_groove Posts: 41,636
in A Moving Train
I've noticed a trend over the last 5 years or so that pharmacies are popping up one a block. There's two to three banks I've never heard of popping up all around or changing names.

It used to be a challenge to find a bank. Now they're everywhere...

Is this the only moneymakers in society now? Banks and pharmaceuticals?

Loan sharks and drugs?

Spend your money and when you're depressed that you're broke you get prescribed a pill for that?!?

Has anyone written a good article(s) on why this is happening?

Thoughts?
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Comments

  • rr165892
    rr165892 Posts: 5,697
    Don't forget Oil change places and Dunkin Donuts.
  • dudeman
    dudeman Posts: 3,183
    Or Dollar General stores.
    If hope can grow from dirt like me, it can be done. - EV
  • SD48277
    SD48277 Posts: 12,243
    I noticed this trend in the past few years when I go into NYC. It used to be that bookstores were on almost every block; now it is banks. I'd rather have bookstores.
    ELITIST FUK
  • tempo_n_groove
    tempo_n_groove Posts: 41,636
    Whenever I travel I count the banks and drug stores now.

    In NYC there is a Duane read every other block.

    One place I used to live there were 2 pharmacies and four banks. Now there's 8 pharmacies and 20 banks...
  • oftenreading
    oftenreading Victoria, BC Posts: 12,856
    Well, pharmacies aren't really pharmacies anymore; they're pharmacies/"grocery" stores (mostly packaged foods)/electronics stores and sometimes clothing stores. No wonder they're expanding, as retail outlets homogenize and try to be all things to all people.
    my small self... like a book amongst the many on a shelf
  • Bentleyspop
    Bentleyspop Craft Beer Brewery, Colorado Posts: 11,546
    Add coffee shops to the equation.

    Was in Manhattan in July and couldn't help but notice the proliferation of Starbucks everywhere.
    Did a Google search and I think there are like 280 Starbucks just on the island of Manhattan.
  • Who Princess
    Who Princess out here in the fields Posts: 7,305
    Where I live it's freestanding ERs. Although mainly in affluent neighborhoods.
    "The stars are all connected to the brain."
  • hedonist
    hedonist Posts: 24,524
    Where I live, not so much on the brick-and-mortar side, but in the bombardment of commercials for banks (and "quick" loans) plus even more for all sorts of pills - the latter accompanied by provisos which have made me vow to keep away from that shit unless my life depends on it.

    (and even then)
  • HesCalledDyer
    HesCalledDyer Maryland Posts: 16,498
    We've had a shit ton of bail bond places pop up over the past 2-3 years. Like, we never had a single one until then. Now there's about a dozen of the damn things.

    Fucking prison. Yeah it brought jobs to the area, but it brought families of prisoners, too. Heroin & oxy are all the rage. Stabbings & shootings happen almost monthly now. Ten years ago the big crime was stealing car stereos, now people are getting knifed for no reason.
    Star Lake 00 / Pittsburgh 03 / State College 03 / Bristow 03 / Cleveland 06 / Camden II 06 / DC 08 / Pittsburgh 13 / Baltimore 13 / Charlottesville 13 / Cincinnati 14 / St. Paul 14 / Hampton 16 / Wrigley I 16 / Wrigley II 16 / Baltimore 20 / Camden 22 / Baltimore 24 / Raleigh I 25 / Raleigh II 25 / Pittsburgh I 25
  • tempo_n_groove
    tempo_n_groove Posts: 41,636
    HesCalledDyer said:

    We've had a shit ton of bail bond places pop up over the past 2-3 years. Like, we never had a single one until then. Now there's about a dozen of the damn things.

    Fucking prison. Yeah it brought jobs to the area, but it brought families of prisoners, too. Heroin & oxy are all the rage. Stabbings & shootings happen almost monthly now. Ten years ago the big crime was stealing car stereos, now people are getting knifed for no reason.

    Dyer do you live in Cumberland, MD?
  • tempo_n_groove
    tempo_n_groove Posts: 41,636
    Who Princess said:

    Where I live it's freestanding ERs. Although mainly in affluent neighborhoods.

    They just build random hospitals? Mobile ER's?
  • Who Princess
    Who Princess out here in the fields Posts: 7,305
    tempo_n_groove said:

    Who Princess said:

    Where I live it's freestanding ERs. Although mainly in affluent neighborhoods.

    They just build random hospitals? Mobile ER's?
    They aren't hospitals and don't seem to be associated with any. They are bricks and mortar clinics that supposedly offer all the services of an ER. They are popping up like crazy in certain areas.

    Lots of news coverage of them. Apparently health insurance doesn't always cover the care received at one and they can be very pricey.
    "The stars are all connected to the brain."
  • oftenreading
    oftenreading Victoria, BC Posts: 12,856
    Who Princess said:

    tempo_n_groove said:

    Who Princess said:

    Where I live it's freestanding ERs. Although mainly in affluent neighborhoods.

    They just build random hospitals? Mobile ER's?
    They aren't hospitals and don't seem to be associated with any. They are bricks and mortar clinics that supposedly offer all the services of an ER. They are popping up like crazy in certain areas.

    Lots of news coverage of them. Apparently health insurance doesn't always cover the care received at one and they can be very pricey.
    How odd. To me, "all the services of an ER" includes being attached to a hospital so you can access the staff, specialists, equipment, ORs, etc. of that hospital. I suppose they transport if someone is seriously ill.
    my small self... like a book amongst the many on a shelf
  • Who Princess
    Who Princess out here in the fields Posts: 7,305
    I think it's weird too. The fact that it isn't attached to a hospital is probably why insurance doesn't want to pay for it.

    I think the gimmick (and I consider it more of a gimmick than a service) is to convince people that they won't have to travel far and they'll save time.

    They are on busy intersections in nicer neighborhoods. Definitely not my part of town. :lol:
    "The stars are all connected to the brain."
  • hedonist
    hedonist Posts: 24,524
    Now that you mention it, I have seen a couple of fairly-new urgent care centers in the heart of West Hollywood.
  • dignin
    dignin Posts: 9,478
    Around here it's pay day loan and liquor stores.....usually side by side.
  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,677
    SD48277 said:

    I noticed this trend in the past few years when I go into NYC. It used to be that bookstores were on almost every block; now it is banks. I'd rather have bookstores.

    Couldn't agree more! And not just because I'm in the book business but because I've always loved bookstores ever since I bought my own first book while in elementary school from a bookmobile. There are so many great Bay Area bookstores I used to wander into that are gone now- Cody's, Chimera, Sunset Books, Wessex, Books 'n Bears, Ames and on and on. We're very fortunate to still be doing it.
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • tempo_n_groove
    tempo_n_groove Posts: 41,636
    Who Princess said:

    tempo_n_groove said:

    Who Princess said:

    Where I live it's freestanding ERs. Although mainly in affluent neighborhoods.

    They just build random hospitals? Mobile ER's?
    They aren't hospitals and don't seem to be associated with any. They are bricks and mortar clinics that supposedly offer all the services of an ER. They are popping up like crazy in certain areas.

    Lots of news coverage of them. Apparently health insurance doesn't always cover the care received at one and they can be very pricey.
    I went through that in Oklahoma while working on a job there. My company had very good insurance but this little bullshit ER didn't take that insurance. I ended up paying out of pocket quite a bit.
  • PJ_Soul
    PJ_Soul Vancouver, BC Posts: 50,777
    edited October 2015
    Interesting... i am happy to say that I haven't noticed this up where I am. I'm trying to think of what has been cropping up a lot suddenly... and I believe the answer is marijuana stores, lol. Apparently something like 100 of them have opened up in Vancouver over the past 3 years. And right behind them are probably all the weed accessory and vaporizer stores to compliment all the new pot shops.
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • oftenreading
    oftenreading Victoria, BC Posts: 12,856
    PJ_Soul said:

    Interesting... i am happy to say that I haven't noticed this up where I am. I'm trying to think of what has been cropping up a lot suddenly... and I believe the answer is marijuana stores, lol. Apparently something like 100 of them have opened up in Vancouver over the past 3 years. And right behind them are probably all the weed accessory and vaporizer stores to compliment all the new pot shops.

    Yes! I was in Vancouver three weeks ago, after not having been there for a few months, and the increase in "dispensaries" was staggering. It does come close to one in every block downtown.
    my small self... like a book amongst the many on a shelf

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