My favorite corner store is on Duncan and Westside. They have everything in there, well almost everything. The other day, a friend needed a money order. She went into the corner store and came out with a money order, envelope and stamp. They don’t call it “Super Convenience” for nothing. Yes, you’ll pay more, but if you’re in a rush it works. I know this man who goes to that corner store everyday for The Jersey Journal, he’s been doing that for years. What makes this my favorite corner store is the people behind the counter are genuinely nice. That to me, makes a world of difference. (Talissa, not her real name.)
Talissa’s description of her favorite corner store captures the essence of these neighborhood institutions and the important role they play in people’s lives. They are part of the City’s landscape.
Being on the corner makes these stores more visible and gives them the advantage of attracting passersby coming from four different directions.
Corner stores are part of the mixed-use design of many of the City’s buildings with stores on the ground floor and apartments above. According to Jane Jacobs, the urban planner, these kinds of buildings provide “eyes on the street” enlivening the sidewalk with people coming and going at various times promoting public safety. They also help create interesting and sociable streetscapes that make neighborhoods more “walkable” – a term much in vogue today as redevelopment proceeds across the City.
Corner stores are convenience stores that just happen to be on the corner. And convenience is their greatest asset which is based in part on their closeness to their customers.
These stores also provide convenience by having a variety of things we need in a pinch. It might be something essential for making a cake or fixing a dinner. It might be a snack we crave for at the moment. Or maybe something to clean the bathroom before relatives arrives for dinner.
Because they have to provide a large selection of products in a small space, you may not find your favorite brand of soda, cereal or cookies, but you will find a substitute to satisfy your needs.
The signage and window displays of these stores are designed to attract attention and convey the variety of products and services they offer.
Many store windows are papered with large posters of products and services the stores offer.
Other window displays have actual products the owners have put there to inform and attract customers.
Sociability is another key characteristic of these stores. As Talissa said:
They know me by name at Lucky Bills. I’ve been going there for thirty years for my morning coffee.
(Tim, not his real name)
A major challenge facing convenience stores in general is providing healthy food choices for customers. Today, with the support of the Healthy Corner Store Initiative, the city and state is helping corner stores do this by providing training, technical assistance and mini-grants.
Corner stores, like many other convenience stores, are part of an array of small businesses that provide essential products and services for residents and add to the social life of the street and neighborhood. They are an underappreciated part of the urban economy contributing to its diversity, as well as providing jobs, and recirculating dollars within a neighborhood. What impact will redevelopment have on corner stores and other small businesses? How has the rise of online delivery services affected them?
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