Black Friday at Steeplegate Mall - also Cyber MondaySubmitted by AMC4x4 t3_z76s42 in newhampshire
CoastalSailing t1_iy6v51a wrote
Amazon's eating everybody's lunch
AMC4x4 OP t1_iy6zdja wrote
Was at the Claremont Walmart over the weekend and couldn't believe how huge it was. I had never had occasion to go inside. I'm kind of shocked that the town can support a Home Depot, a Runnings, a Walmart, a Harbor Freight, and a Tractor Supply. I know they all have their niches, but it seems like a lot of warehouse stores for a couple square miles, especially when Amazon is still a day or two delivery away for all but the largest items.
mydeskissawdust t1_iy7osvi wrote
The town gets lots of shoppers from the VT side of the river including Springfield, which is nearly as populous as Claremont. Also Newport and other smaller surrounding towns.
I've found that Prime can't hit two day delivery out in the boonies. It used to bother me, but that's what I get for living in the sticks.
Tullyswimmer t1_iy7xjx7 wrote
Also, Tractor supply and Runnings carry a lot of stuff you can't get on Amazon. The Home Depot is the only big box hardware store between Lebanon and... Probably almost to Keene, honestly, and then I have no idea how far east.
AMC4x4 OP t1_iy8nl9e wrote
For some reason I thought there was a Lowes nearby, but I see the closest one is in Concord, or Tilton in the other direction. Looks like they're all on the 93 corridor, with Bedford and Gilford being the ends. Seems like it would be worth putting one over by 91 but I'm sure they have their reasons.
Tullyswimmer t1_iyapgzl wrote
I think the Runnings in Claremont is actually in an old Lowe's
AMC4x4 OP t1_iybxyd8 wrote
Yep! You're totally right! That explains it!
Tullyswimmer t1_iycot2w wrote
I love runnings, though. And that store isn't super busy normally, but I did often see (and do know) people who will drive several hours to get there, just to stock up for their homestead once a month or once every few months, and drop several hundred dollars, or even more. They fit in a VERY nice niche.
AMC4x4 OP t1_iydeeyf wrote
Interesting. I haven't actually been in one. I'll have to stop in next time I'm in town. I thought they were similar to Tractor Supply.
sqwunk t1_iy85wu0 wrote
The Lebanon/Claremont region is the largest micropolitan region in the country. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micropolitan_statistical_area
This wikipedia article talks about the population sizes during the 2010 census so its a little different now - at that time both Claremont and Lebanon had populations of about 13k each but the region surrounding them was 218k people. As of the 2020 census the region is 221k people.
AMC4x4 OP t1_iy8oldp wrote
That's really interesting! Did not know that. It's interesting how the two zones are separated as well - with Claremont being on its own in Sullivan, and the other zone in Lebanon consisting of Grafton, Orange, and Windsor counties.
Also kind of puzzling how the median income is just under $41K and we all know what the price of housing is in the same area.
Also didn't know that Claremont has been losing population since the 1970's-80's when I lived there. I always was told it was around 13K so I looked it up - turns out it peaked in the 1980 census at 14,557. Today it's 12,949.
PorcupineWarriorGod t1_iy8cksk wrote
You aren't wrong.
But that mall was dead when Amazon was still just an online bookstore.
opperior t1_iy91mqu wrote
A lot of it is from the loss of a major tax loophole that was closed up. In short, in order to encourage new large scale construction projects, congress in the 50's allowed building owners to claim multiple years of depreciation on the building, allowing them to essentially pay no taxes for a long time. Once that was changed back to straight-line depreciation, malls could no longer be used a tax havens and started shutting down.
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