I agree with you, Sister Bee, it is of great concern (let's not bemoan the loss of Footlocker, necessarily - they ARE a chain, too!) that maybe the small businesses cannot afford the rent in Central Square anymore. I think what is healthy is to have mixed use - they say the chains are "anchors" that ensure that there is enough traffic for the smaller stores to also make enough to hang on....but we sure wouldn't want the intimate, small town character of Central Square to go away...
I agree with you, Sister Bee, it is of great concern (let's not bemoan the loss of Footlocker, necessarily - they ARE a chain, too!) that maybe the small businesses cannot afford the rent in Central Square anymore. I think what is healthy is to have mixed use - they say the chains are "anchors" that ensure that there is enough traffic for the smaller stores to also make enough to hang on....but we sure wouldn't want the intimate, small town character of Central Square to go away...