How the Gas Price Spike Popped the Housing Bubble and Devalued the Suburbs

[Imua 0]

When we lived in the burbs it was also only restaurants that were Mom and Pop owned.

I have no problem with small businesses and big chains coexisting. The big chains don't offend me. They serve a certain type of demand, as evidenced by the fact that the Applebee's near me has an hour wait on Friday nights.

My wife and I like the little Indian and Italian places. Dinner for two in less than $20! And it's mmmm.

I agree - sometimes you want to try something new and sometimes you crave the familiar.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Not in the burbs, but in other parts of the 5 boros such as Queens, the Bronx or Brooklyn. I love all the ethnic neighborhoods in Queens in particular.

PR, The NYC burbs ain't Pennsyltucky. You'd be hard pressed to find any burb in Hudson, Essex, Union, Middlesex county that doesn't have many ethnic restaurants.

[rebeccajo 14]

Can I interject here that I'm pretty sure the suburbs across America are very different than those in and around NYC?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Can I interject here that I'm pretty sure the suburbs across America are very different than those in and around NYC?

Yeah. Pennsyltucky sucks. I know.

[Imua 0]

When we lived in the burbs it was also only restaurants that were Mom and Pop owned.

I have no problem with small businesses and big chains coexisting. The big chains don't offend me. They serve a certain type of demand, as evidenced by the fact that the Applebee's near me has an hour wait on Friday nights.

My wife and I like the little Indian and Italian places. Dinner for two in less than $20! And it's mmmm.

AJ, all I'm saying (by joining in this discussion) is that I don't think a return to urban living is going to kill Mom and Pop biz ownership.

I knew what you were saying. I agree, especially since small businesses have been a traditional way for immigrants to get ahead and supply their fellow countrymen's/women's specialized needs - I can't see the Himalayan Connection video store(videos in Nepali and Tibetan) being bought up by Hollywood or Blockbuster anytime soon.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

When we lived in the burbs it was also only restaurants that were Mom and Pop owned.

I have no problem with small businesses and big chains coexisting. The big chains don't offend me. They serve a certain type of demand, as evidenced by the fact that the Applebee's near me has an hour wait on Friday nights.

My wife and I like the little Indian and Italian places. Dinner for two in less than $20! And it's mmmm.

AJ, all I'm saying (by joining in this discussion) is that I don't think a return to urban living is going to kill Mom and Pop biz ownership.

I knew what you were saying. I agree, especially since small businesses have been a traditional way for immigrants to get ahead and supply their fellow countrymen's/women's specialized needs - I can't see the Himalayan Connection video store(videos in Nepali and Tibetan) being bought up by Hollywood or Blockbuster anytime soon.

Small businesses that can stay in business, do.

[Imua 0]

Can I interject here that I'm pretty sure the suburbs across America are very different than those in and around NYC?

Yeah. Pennsyltucky sucks. I know.

So does Fresno - I would rather eat a diet consisting entirely of karela than live there.

[rebeccajo 14]

Can I interject here that I'm pretty sure the suburbs across America are very different than those in and around NYC?

Yeah. Pennsyltucky sucks. I know.

Well, that's what I meant by 'land of strip malls and WalMart'. I lived in the burbs for 25 years. When I first moved out that way, there was hardly any trade at all and what we had was Mom and Pop. As the area expanded, they couldn't compete at all with the big concerns that muscled in. There just wasn't enough 'population' for it.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Can I interject here that I'm pretty sure the suburbs across America are very different than those in and around NYC?

Yeah. Pennsyltucky sucks. I know.

So does Fresno - I would rather eat a diet consisting entirely of karela than live there.

I like karela. What the hell is your problem?

Can I interject here that I'm pretty sure the suburbs across America are very different than those in and around NYC?

Yeah. Pennsyltucky sucks. I know.

Well, that's what I meant by 'land of strip malls and WalMart'. I lived in the burbs for 25 years. When I first moved out that way, there was hardly any trade at all and what we had was Mom and Pop. As the area expanded, they couldn't compete at all with the big concerns that muscled in. There just wasn't enough 'population' for it.

Yeah. Livable suburbs tend to be higher density. JMHO.

[Imua 0]

I like karela. What the hell is your problem?

So do my inlaws, apparently...

I guess it's an acquired taste, rather like Tibetan butter tea, which I love

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

i grew up on the stuff. I love it! Anyway back on topic now

[Sister Fracas 5]

mmm, I knew someone was talking about lovely ethnic foodies in here...

[Imua 0]

Can I interject here that I'm pretty sure the suburbs across America are very different than those in and around NYC?

Yeah. Pennsyltucky sucks. I know.

Well, that's what I meant by 'land of strip malls and WalMart'. I lived in the burbs for 25 years. When I first moved out that way, there was hardly any trade at all and what we had was Mom and Pop. As the area expanded, they couldn't compete at all with the big concerns that muscled in. There just wasn't enough 'population' for it.

I literally can't imagine living in a place where there are no interesting (usually 'ethnic') neighborhoods to walk around - I would go totally bonkers, especially if there were no parks either . I am fortunate to have always lived in walkable, interesting cities - Honolulu and New York. Sadly I can understand the current obesity epidemic - if I lived in a place like that probably cooking and eating would be the most exciting activity(besides the obvious, LOL)

[Imua 0]

i grew up on the stuff. I love it! Anyway back on topic now

If my MIL cooks it, I eat it. It's supposed to be good for diabetes I hear.

That's the last I will say about karela...

You can buy a lot of it in Jackson Heights, a neighborhood with lots of mom n pops... still I haven;t seen the Indian mangoes that GWB promised...#######????

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

The mangoes are in Iselin!! And mad expensive.