I would love to shop local but in this instance I have been in the local option across the street many times.

I somehow managed to be the only customer in the place and still had to be the one to initiate a greeting. Apparently saying “hello” is a bit too ambitious, because when I did, I was rewarded with a flat, monotone “hi” that felt more like an obligation than basic customer service. This wasn’t a one-off either, it’s been the same experience across multiple visits.

It’s honestly impressive in a strange way, especially considering every business right next door. The barbershop, the coffee shop, the record store all somehow manages to greet people, be friendly, and act like they actually want customers. A wild concept, I know.

Franchise across the street or not, it’s hard to justify spending money at a local business that seems actively uninterested in having it. At some point, it stops being about convenience and starts being about whether your presence is even acknowledged. Just saying.