The First Leg: Tramway to Western Skies

It was a dreary Saturday, overcast and drizzly, but we headed out to Central Avenue anyway, just to walk a few blocks and tally in-businesses and out-of-businesses for our Central Avenue project. On Friday, we had already counted up those in the Four Hills shopping center, where the movie theater is located. That was interesting.

We counted eleven in-businesses  and seven out-of-businesses but some of the in-businesses were seasonal, like a voting location and a tax service, both silent and empty when we went by. There is also a dentist, devoid of patients the two different days I walked past their window. 

I wasn't sure about the transitional housing suite. It is covered up with paper in the windows for privacy and you have to ring a bell to get in and it's hard to tell if anything is going on there. But I think there is. 

Sprouts usually has customers and the Dollar Store and laundromat have pretty good business but otherwise, there weren't many shoppers around, as evidenced by the almost empty, massively large parking lot in front of the movie theater. At the other end of the mall, around the corner from all the other businesses, separated by a huge empty suite, is a lonely Subway. 

Next to the four hills mall, to the west on Central, is an abandoned, boarded up Carl's Jr.

Forging on
That was what we discovered Friday. On Saturday, we continued on from the boarded up Carl's Jr, tallying the number of in- and out-of-businesses along the way until we reached the light at Central and Western Skies.

I'm sure we weren't 100% correct but we counted 22 in-businesses and 15 out-of-businesses on this stretch of Central. Out-of-businesses exist in various forms. Some are closed up and the lots kept clean. Some are boarded up and heavily gated. Some have been abandoned, left covered in weeds, and have suffered fire and other kinds of damage. Still others have been razed, leaving only empty lots and their signs behind. 

Taking totals from the entire stretch of Tramway to Western Skies, then, there are 33 in-businesses and 22 out-of-businesses. It is a little alarming that 40% of the businesses on that little stretch of road are not in business anymore. 

Who are the people behind all of those out-of-businesses? Are they hurting financially or did they simply switch to running things online and they're doing fine? Or are they big corporations? 

That's all for today. I plan to explore Central again tomorrow, starting at Western Skies. I'll let you know what I discover. I always welcome your comments, suggestions, and cheers of encouragement. 
Go New Mexico!