[BenLurkin]

McMansion neighborhoods surrounded by WalMart-Kohls-Target-Home Depot shopping centers, with the same chains of restaurants: Olive Garden, TGI Fridays, Starbucks, Red Lobster,

I don't find that disturbing at all.

[HairOfTheDog]

LF: McMansion neighborhoods surrounded by WalMart-Kohls-Target-Home Depot shopping centers, with the same chains of restaurants: Olive Garden, TGI Fridays, Starbucks, Red Lobster...

BL: I don't find that disturbing at all.

I do find it sad that communities and regions that used to be unique and quaint are fading. Instead of the Ma and Pa cafe that we used to make a point of stopping at on the way to Reno, there are the same fast food places we have at home. We can travel anywhere in this country now, and never see anything new, at least in terms of architecture and services. This land has great diversity in landscape, but the towns are all the same. It ~is~ a loss.

Here at home we still have a few local businesses... our local grocer who now has huge chain groceries on all sides of him. We'll shop there as long as he stays open... because I like that I know the name of the man who owns it, and went to school with his kids. It means something to me.