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New Economy's Corner Carnage

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By BUZZ KELLY

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 20, 2008

It's like watching an old friend die. The Albertson's grocery store I've shopped at for 30 years is going out of business, having been bought by chain-grocery Publix. A month from now, it will reopen with all new staff and a different mix of products.

Visit the store today, and you can save a lot of bucks as the grocery does its close-out. Fifteen percent up to 50 percent off, across the aisles. That's a good thing, in a way - I've stocked my "hurricane kit" with all kinds of canned goods, the sort of imperishables you want when the lights go out and the microwave doesn't work. Dinty Moore beef stew. Canned chili. Vienna sausage. Canned corn and baked beans and all the emergency foods you know you'll want when the electric conks out in a Category 5.

While I enjoy the reduced-price food stuff - it's a nice break to the wallet - it saddens me to know that the many people who have helped me over the years will be gone in 30 days. Caesar in the meat department. John in produce. Emily and Kim at the courtesy desk. Brian and Lydia at the cash-out. Maryanne at bagging. Jeff in the pharmacy. Sam, the manager, and Steve, his assistant. For years, these people have been my able guides through the aisles and now they're soon gone.

I was in the store picking up some dog and cat food and it was like a morgue. Empty shelves where items used to be. The seafood department wrapped in brown paper, nothing left. Employees walking around like zombies, not knowing where they'll go.

It's emblematic of our new economy. The Golden Rule is ruling - i.e., he who has the gold makes the rules. We've blown a trillion dollars on a war we didn't need, and allowed unregulated lenders to waste fortunes in mortgages that borrowers couldn't afford. But corporations who were smart and stacked up dollars can afford to buy up opportunities wherever they find them. Will that mean higher grocery prices for me? Yep. Increase in home insurance? You got it.

Question is, what can you and I do about it. Answer is, save every dime you can. Pay off your credit cards. Don't spend on anything you don't really need. It looks bad now, but it's going to get worse.

Oh, and also ... inflate your tires.

Buzz Kelly is a Tampa native, former advertising executive, and freelance writer.

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