Bad economic math for local businesses

A sense of loss accompanies another set of business closings in Minden and Gardnerville.

The story tends to follow the same pattern. Customers are cutting back on their spending to essentials, and the price of goods are increasing thanks to higher fuel prices.

That's bad math for Minden retail stores like High Sierra Hobbies or Belle's Boutique.

There are some additional issues for places like Yesterdays Antiques and Collectibles, where inadequate parking, lack of visibility and a dearth of foot traffic slow down business.

An effort is under way to improve downtown Gardnerville and attract more foot traffic.

Downtown must deal with one issue that affects any attempt at encouraging pedestrian traffic: A large highway that essentially slices it in half.

There are crossings at Gilman Avenue and Waterloo Lane, but those are about a mile apart, a long ways for an easy walk carrying retail goods.

The big issue is that the people who walk in Gardnerville don't buy antiques, and the people who buy antiques need a place to park their cars. That will be the hardest thing for folks who are trying to revitalize downtown to come to grips with.