Non-paywall link.

Anecdotally, I had to make a run to Home Depot this morning in Topsham, and I was absolutely dreading being in the fair mall.

It was so empty you could have swore nothing was open yet.

*With living paycheck to paycheck the new norm

Small retail store owner in Southern Maine here where I make most of the items I sell…paycheck to paycheck is getting harder and harder for me to make the ends meet. I survived 2008 by the skin of my teeth. I don’t know if I can do that again 14 years later and older.

Combination of poverty and online deals make this kind of a no brainer...

I always try to start my shopping buying local and then move to online as time constraints kick in. There's a lot of great small businesses in Maine selling wonderful products if you can take the time to hunt around. Supporting your neighbors is far better than supporting mega corporations that care far less about your local area.

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You have to find like 10 more of yourself, rent a bigger space to reduce costs and have 10 businesses in 1. Maybe local government can help set it up.

I wish there was a way to find them.

Sitting in the BAM parking lot right now because the online advertised price is 30% off the in store price. Did my transaction on my phone and now waiting for curbside to message me.

That’s the way to do it!!!