"Gloria P" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> One of the first Krispy Kreme (doughnut) shops opened a few miles away
> from our house about two years ago. Imagine my surprise to see, driving
> by about a year later that it was boarded over and had a "For sale or
> lease" sign on the building. And I never even got the chance to sample
> their wares! When it opened the lines of cars for the drive-up went
> around the block and the parking lot was jammed for a while.
>
> Evidently the mystique didn't last long or it was the wrong
> location/demographic (in an area with loads of apartments and condos.)

In Canada all the Krispy Kremes closed abruptly at the same time. They were
cooking their books to inflate their sales figures. I loved their donuts and
was sorry to see them go. You can, however, still get Krispy Kremes at one
local gas station chain.

>
> Walmarts and Targets are still springing up all around, often just two or
> three miles from an existing store which closes when the new one opens,
> leaving an empty storefront. Ugh.

If we thought urban sprawl was ugly we ain't seen nothin' yet. Around here
the biggest problem is a monomania for condos. The new shopping experience
is these box malls where separate box stores are widely spaced on a
multi-acre lot so you have to get in your car and drive from one store door
to the next. Double Ugh.