Well RATS! I just learned last night that Van Buren's only Starbucks is closing at the end of July due to low sales volume. What a loss!
I was told by a barrista (to be unnamed) last night that the only local Starbucks will close at the end of this month due to poor sales volume. This is regrettable and could have been avoided by simply advertising more (expecially on the immediatly nearby I-40 corridor!!) and original store placement. The current location requires dealing with a traffic light and the busiest street in town in order to get a coffee - big mistake for hurried commuters, Starbucks.
I was told this store lost $200,000 last year - a drop in the bucket to mega-bucks Starbucks, but small towns count last, I guess.
So, we'll just stay home more, I guess. Thanks Starbucks!
Monday, July 7, 2008
Gas price variations
If you're interested in saving a few bucks on gasoline (I know I am, but you may be far too rich to care), don't bother pumping anything south of I-40. It's remarkable (hence my remarking on it) how much difference there is in gas prices in one small town!
Yesterday (7/6) I went hunting best gas prices in VB. Nearly everyone on Broadway was mirroring Fort Smith's price hike to $3.99 per gallon (regular unleaded). But as soon as I crossed under I-40 on Log Town Hill, the sun mercifully went behind a cheerful cloud, birds began singing louder, fellow motorists began smiling and waving ... all because, in one block, gas prices dropped 13 cents! Gas at both stations north of the interstate was $3.86 per gallon.
(NOTE: I don't count Walmart's discount - their gas is so dirty the clogging far outweighs any benefit of price - avoid them at all cost!)
Which begs the question - why aren't "south Vanburenite" gas stations in line with consumers' needs for better gas prices? Is it honestly just greed? I don't think they are being charged 13 cents more per gallon by their suppliers than their counterparts in the same state/county/town/area code/zip code! Must be price gouging!
Be warned - drive up Log Town Hill a little way and save nearly five percent per gallon - that's $3.00 on 20 gallons of gas! That's enough for a coffee!
Yesterday (7/6) I went hunting best gas prices in VB. Nearly everyone on Broadway was mirroring Fort Smith's price hike to $3.99 per gallon (regular unleaded). But as soon as I crossed under I-40 on Log Town Hill, the sun mercifully went behind a cheerful cloud, birds began singing louder, fellow motorists began smiling and waving ... all because, in one block, gas prices dropped 13 cents! Gas at both stations north of the interstate was $3.86 per gallon.
(NOTE: I don't count Walmart's discount - their gas is so dirty the clogging far outweighs any benefit of price - avoid them at all cost!)
Which begs the question - why aren't "south Vanburenite" gas stations in line with consumers' needs for better gas prices? Is it honestly just greed? I don't think they are being charged 13 cents more per gallon by their suppliers than their counterparts in the same state/county/town/area code/zip code! Must be price gouging!
Be warned - drive up Log Town Hill a little way and save nearly five percent per gallon - that's $3.00 on 20 gallons of gas! That's enough for a coffee!
Good, bad, and so-so
The purpose of this blog will be to reveal, discuss, and expose issues going on in my hometown, Van Buren, Arkansas.
We're located in western Arkansas; we are an older, mid-size to small town; we are topographically located on the north side of the Arkansas river, just across from Fort Smith, and adjacent to the Arkansas/Oklahoma border. We are, literally, the spot "where the Ozarks begin." (That's my own copyrighted phrase - please don't steal it or use it without paying me for the right.)
Because of our location next to Indian Territory and Judge Parker's stomping grounds, we have a rather wild and woolly history - gun fights, out laws, etc.
Today we have a decent government (streets get fixed when they get 'way too bad or if they annoy someone important, lights and public services are spotty, but pretty good) and a very good school system. We are growing like crazy - new housing, new areas, new stores. All of which mean more opportunities and more challenges. Our local economy is steady - growth pretty much balances out any losses.
We are NOT just a bedroom community for Ft. Smith. We have our own personality, our own services, our own strengths (and our own weaknesses).
If you feel differently, feel free to state your case - I may post your comments if I feel they are appropriate. This is free press in the true sense of the word - but it's also MY free press.
We're located in western Arkansas; we are an older, mid-size to small town; we are topographically located on the north side of the Arkansas river, just across from Fort Smith, and adjacent to the Arkansas/Oklahoma border. We are, literally, the spot "where the Ozarks begin." (That's my own copyrighted phrase - please don't steal it or use it without paying me for the right.)
Because of our location next to Indian Territory and Judge Parker's stomping grounds, we have a rather wild and woolly history - gun fights, out laws, etc.
Today we have a decent government (streets get fixed when they get 'way too bad or if they annoy someone important, lights and public services are spotty, but pretty good) and a very good school system. We are growing like crazy - new housing, new areas, new stores. All of which mean more opportunities and more challenges. Our local economy is steady - growth pretty much balances out any losses.
We are NOT just a bedroom community for Ft. Smith. We have our own personality, our own services, our own strengths (and our own weaknesses).
If you feel differently, feel free to state your case - I may post your comments if I feel they are appropriate. This is free press in the true sense of the word - but it's also MY free press.
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