I needed to buy bedding recently and so I went to one of my local malls on a Friday night just a week before Christmas.
Now, normally, this would create anxiety in me because I have a bit of a phobia about crowds and hitting a mall a week before Christmas should mean battling for parking spots and waiting in long lines to pay for my goods.
Not this time.
I found a parking spot right by the door of Lougheed Town Centre. I walked in and cruised through a few stores before finding what I wanted. I walked right up to the cashier and paid and was out in under 15 minutes.
Incredible.
Shocking.
This is a Christmas like no other. I saw the same thing at Brentwood mall, only on a larger scale. With so many stores now closed as the mall makes its transition to the new section, it was pretty empty too.
Metropolis at Metrotown is definitely busier based on a couple of recent visits, but nothing even remotely what you would normally see during the Christmas season. Once again, I got a sweet parking spot near the door. Anyone who has ever tried to park at the Metrotown mall will know how it’s usually like Mad Max movie in that mall’s parking lots.
It’s all just so sad.
Businesses are struggling mightily and Christmas was the big hope to somehow salvage the 2020 financial picture.
Instead, we get a final glimpse of Le Chateau closing down after decades in Burnaby.
Things had been on a small upswing, with Statistics Canada recently reporting October sales showing another increase across the country. But then the second wave of COVID-19 really hit and more restrictions were put into place. Many people simply aren't buying Christmas gifts because they can't actually see anyone over the holidays. Meanwhile, online sales are skyrocketing, but I imagine Amazon is the biggest benefactor of that.
Things are so bad that Small Business BC just announced it had launched the BC Marketplace, a digital platform featuring small businesses across the province.
“Small businesses continue to be hit hard by the impacts of COVID-19, so we are doing everything we can to support them,” says Tom Conway, CEO of Small Business BC. “We want to showcase BC entrepreneurs and encourage the public to buy local, especially during the holiday season. The BC Marketplace connects shoppers with products and services, while helping business owners discover customers who want to support the BC economy.”
I hope it works, but it feels like desperation.
Follow Chris Campbell on Twitter @shinebox44.
