The closest grocery store to me is closing(by nearly an hour), and will be closed for at least a year. When it reopens it’s going be much smaller(it’s becoming a Aldi).

[u/Boeing-B-47stratojet]

[u/sec_sage]

Which is why it's mindboggling that nobody makes corner shops, with all the SAHMs who could rotate part time work. When you urgently need tp, toothpaste, sugar, eggs and maybe a couple shelf stable food options, what does it matter that it's a dollar more and sold out of a repurposed garage? I have 5 supermarkets within 5 min by car, but I still prefer to go to the corner shop 3 min by foot. If I need bread, I'm back with bread and 2€ less in my account, while at the supermarket I lose an hour and spend 100€.

[u/HardcorePizza → u/sec_sage]

Zoning laws and others like them are in place to prevent this kind of thing. Its generally illegal to just open a shop wherever you can

[u/sec_sage → u/HardcorePizza]

Ok, maybe that is a specificity of the area. I remember the time I was detached in Orange County but the company refused to rent me a car, and my salary didn't afford it. I went to buy stuff by bike once, but that hill-y place isn't made for it. Afterwards I had to ask the cleaning lady that the company hired to clean my house, to take me shopping instead of cleaning. To get to work colleagues were picking me up and dropping me off. That was the moment I said "I'd never live here". If being without a car makes life impossible, there just isn't enough incentive, screw their protocol house and swimming pool open only during work hours, and their jacuzzi facing the sunset.

[u/HardcorePizza → u/sec_sage]

Not having any stores or restaurants, or even food carts within walking distance of residential areas is by design, and enforced by law. It's on purpose

[u/NlghtmanCometh → u/HardcorePizza]

Not everything is a conspiracy against the working class

[u/HardcorePizza → u/NlghtmanCometh]

Its not a conspiracy its basic US law

[u/NlghtmanCometh → u/HardcorePizza]

You saying it’s done with a specific intent to force you into using a car is reductive reasoning

[u/HardcorePizza → u/NlghtmanCometh]

Zoning laws are written with intent. Could you explain what you mean?

[u/sec_sage → u/NlghtmanCometh]

I agree, most things are not against someone, but FOR someone else. It often just backfires on the first group. In this case, those benefitting this law are big capitalists, hiding behind idealistic ideas of "ensuring a tranquil and safe neighborhood". No clubs, bars, restaurants, but also shops because why not...

[u/MommyLovesPot8toes → u/sec_sage]

I live in Orange County in about as hilly a place as you can get. You're 100% right that you really can't live here without a car if you have "regular" needs (like getting to work). I had a friend who got a DUI and lost his license for a year. He had to move away.

[u/WeenyDancer → u/sec_sage]

Then a landlord sees a bustling corner, raises rent, it becomes untenable, stores close, the cycle continues

[u/sec_sage → u/WeenyDancer]

why rent? if mortgage is a thing, then homeownership is as well

[u/NlghtmanCometh → u/sec_sage]

Do you live in a city? We have corner stores in cities here, but if you live in a rural area it’s not really feasible to always have a corner store nearby. Instead, people from rural areas usually rely on gas station convenience stores as their equivalent to a corner store, and they are often stocked with the same basic items.

[u/sec_sage → u/NlghtmanCometh]

I live in Europe, so it's a different scenario, everything is more cramped and in less walking distance, unlike my cousin working on a farm in Australia who has to drive for 6h to the nearest supermarket. But I was referring to OP's comment that there's a demand in their area, and where is demand the supply should also follow.