Going Out of Business Sale

Someone tried to sell me (and Charlotte) a toy store yesterday. We were out taking a walk in Old Town when we stumbled across a going out of business sale. The owner, desperate to recoup his investment, had a 50-percent off sale. I bought a few things, finger paints, a puzzle, if only to help him out. I wish I could say it was an anomaly, but King Street is but a slice of the larger national crisis. I talked to several store owners on our walk. Everyone is suffering. Every store has whopping non-holiday sales, several businesses have gone under and more will follow. As I left the toy store the owner asked me if I wanted to buy his business. Funny and not so funny.

Minutes later I saw something in a shop window that I thought might please Paul for Valentine's Day. I went inside, saw the price tag ( too expensive) and began to stroll out. The shop owner asked me if I needed help. "No," I said politely. "I love the (sorry can't disclose said gift until after Valentine's Day). I only planned to spend X. But I'll be back to shop some other time," I promised. Without skipping a beat the guy dropped the price by half. "Huh? Are you having a sale?" I asked? " I don't see a sign." "No, he said, but it's yours." What could I do? Happy Valentine's Day Paul.