It’s definitely not a new thing. I grew up in a small town and remember when a large national discount chain store came into town - it was front page news that they would be open after 6 pm and on Sunday. Gasp! National chains changed how stores are run and it’s been brutal for small businesses.

Keeping a store open all day every day is not sustainable for small businesses - the cost of staying open is not supported by sales during those hours. It’s s delicate balance for small businesses to determine the best hours to be open to meet the needs of most customers. I don’t think the hours you have listed are particularly unreasonable. Not every works 9-5 (it’s actually pretty astonishing how many don’t) and local stores often offer personalized shopping by phone or email.

There are several local stores in my town with similar hours and I call them to see if they can help me get what I want within my timeline. I strongly believe in shopping local and will work within their hours to shop there. I find that local stores can provide some services better than national chains and will often go out of their way for regular customers. I have had them text or email me photos of merchandise for me select from - what national chains offers this kind of personalized shopping? They’ve wrapped gifts and had them hand delivered on their way home when I’ve forgotten someone’s birthday - note only when they offer this service I have never demanded it. Some keep a record of what I buy so I can order it again very easily.

One of the little secrets of large national chains are frequently subsidized by developers and/or local taxes. Small businesses don’t get these handouts to do business. And they have no ties to the community. Too often we hear news of a national chains closing stores in multiple locations/cities for reasons that have little to do with the success of a particular store.

For my company, we close at 12 noon on Friday’s simply because we want to enjoy our weekends. These hours are probably after they took their kids to school and before they get home or something.

We do 9 to 430 M-F. It’s because those are the hours I want to work. I didn’t start a business to work someone else’s hours.

We do 9 to 430 M-F. It’s because those are the hours I want to work. I didn’t start a business to work someone else’s hours.

Does this town have lots of older folks / retirees? I see this a lot with antiques / hobby businesses. Run by someone older, customers are mostly older, with a fat wallet. They don’t consider the hours of working folks.

That might be their sweet spot and the owners are happy with revenue as it is - being open for more hours doesn’t necessarily mean more profit. Obviously a business that is totally out of touch with its customers needs regarding shopping times won’t have longevity.

That might be their sweet spot and the owners are happy with revenue as it is - being open for more hours doesn’t necessarily mean more profit. Obviously a business that is totally out of touch with its customers needs regarding shopping times won’t have longevity.

We have the same issue further up the coast.

You basically can’t work a 9-5 job and shop outside of big box, go to workout classes, go into the bank, do activities at the library etc. Eating at restaurants in the winter can be a challenge too (open 2-7pm weds-sat, etc). We also have a lot of restaurants take weird month-long breaks at random, which I’m sure doesn’t help them keep customers or staff.

I think it’s a function of a lot of the small businesses being more of a hobby than a job. I’m sure the current hiring situation in low end retail jobs doesn’t help either.

I guess in some instances, it may be based on the owner’s preferences but, especially in rural areas, it is often a function of staffing and traffic.

We have the same issue further up the coast.

You basically can’t work a 9-5 job and shop outside of big box, go to workout classes, go into the bank, do activities at the library etc. Eating at restaurants in the winter can be a challenge too (open 2-7pm weds-sat, etc). We also have a lot of restaurants take weird month-long breaks at random, which I’m sure doesn’t help them keep customers or staff.

I think it’s a function of a lot of the small businesses being more of a hobby than a job. I’m sure the current hiring situation in low end retail jobs doesn’t help either.

Those are the hours that the people who own the business would prefer to work, and they seem to get enough customers to justify those hours.

I could set up shop at 6am and get the early bird crowd most likely but then I’d have to get up before dawn and fuck all of that.

Those are the hours that the people who own the business would prefer to work, and they seem to get enough customers to justify those hours.

I could set up shop at 6am and get the early bird crowd most likely but then I’d have to get up before dawn and fuck all of that.

There’s an Italian restaurant in my city that is incredibly popular. But, everyone knows the owner is a huge jerk to his employees so he has trouble keeping staffed and therefore has trouble keeping the doors open. The restaurant hours are sporadic at best.

There’s an Italian restaurant in my city that is incredibly popular. But, everyone knows the owner is a huge jerk to his employees so he has trouble keeping staffed and therefore has trouble keeping the doors open. The restaurant hours are sporadic at best.

A lot of small businesses are a family affair and things like kids activities, volunteering, volunteer fire etc impact them and their business. If they are not there, they have to close the doors. It always used to be this way before big corporations, but remember, who is there to pull you out of a fire?