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July 31, 2010

Blogs / Random Rants / December 2009 / These three stores

These three stores

Ikea has lots of bowls with Swedish names.

You’d think they were the holy trinity of retail salvation. Over the weekend, I noticed that certain Buffalo News feature writers are also among those who long for the arrival of what has become for many WNYers a tri-part Grail of retail: Ikea, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe’s. (Though I suppose many would go either/or on the latter two.)

For the last 5 years at least, wistful references to these stores have been a constant refrain throughout local online media, and now I see daily print has joined the chorus. It’s been so widespread and nearly-unanimous that I barely need to explain what these stores sell—you all know. And I agree that it would be cool to have them; WF and TJ offer a sophisticated range of organic, gourmet, and ethnic foods, while Ikea is great for affordable contemporary furnishings and housewares.

I’ve shopped at all three, but I honestly don’t feel deprived in the least that I can’t find them in Buffalo. Not when I have easy access to Wegman’s, Lexington Co-op, Guercio's, the huge farmers’ market scene, and such specialty stores as Premier Gourmet. As for Ikea, there’s one in Hamilton. Personally, I think you could find better-quality furniture on big trash day, but Hamilton is not that far a distance for those occasions when any of the lower-end outlets around here won’t fulfill the desire for inexpensive contemporary décor. That being said, we do need better options for furniture, but I think places like Buffalo ReUse and room offer some intriguing ways to meet that goal—with more needed, of course. I honestly don't know if Ikea offers more value in the range of cabinetry than our local people; personally I'd rather spend a bit more, save the transport hassle, and work with our many excellent local vendors and craftspeople in that area.

Finally, what would the significant impact be if these companies opened up an outlet in WNY? Would they be game changers in any way? Not really. They’re just stores, and we have stores. The value of a community is not determined by what you can buy in it; it is determined by what you can be in it. And how you contribute to it. Maybe we should all stop worrying about getting an Ikea or a Whole Foods, support the businesses we have, and—most important—focus attention on WNY’s unique assets (rather than whatever retail chains it lacks).

And then maybe I wouldn’t always be wondering, “Why did I buy this?” (But that’s probably too much to hope for.)