For Rent

BITING THE APPLE
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DO YOU HAVE SQUARE FEET?
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Well, the Gold Coast of Madison Avenue, NYC,
has many to spare. Because? Empty. Why?
Quoting a real estate broker, "This is as bad
as I've ever seen".
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Seems that retailers on the ever posh avenue
are caught between, "Let's stay", and "Let's
get outta here". Depending on if a sale or two
can be made that day. Everyone's sitting on
their money.
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The cost of a square foot on Madison Avenue?
About $1250. And everyone knows you need more
than one leg to stand on.
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Desperate times in New York. The money addicted
deeply feel the affront of approaching a favorite doorway
and seeing a "store for rent" sign posted.
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A dawning reality: some retailers are taking the bait
and moving a couple of unfashionable streets away
where landlords are offering cheaper rents. The retailers
who are still selling $3000 handbags, $1500 shoes,
$3500 hand embroidered tablecloths, may have to move,
perchance to lower prices. As may the tailors stitching up
Bespoke suits for some uppa-uppa scoundrels, at $7000
or more, a pop.
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The rest of us used to shop at the ordinary stores, quite nice,
not posh. I'd like to welcome the Madison Avenue elite,
but where will I go? The Hudson River's already been
spoken for.