Gerald Ensley: ‘The urban myth’ of Gaines Street, Tallahassee
A couple of weeks ago, I made the mistake of posting on Facebook a few words of admiration for the opening of Bass Pro Shops in Tallahassee. I don’t hunt, fish or camp. But I know a dazzling retail operation when I see one.
Of course, it led to a string of posts by others about the evil of chain stores and how they are killing local businesses. It’s a pointless argument against progress.
We have national chain stores because they provide products at prices people embrace. Bass Pro Shops didn’t come to Tallahassee to drive out competitors; it came to Tallahassee because we have consumers who want to shop there. And even national chains add jobs and property tax revenue to local communities.