THE NEW RETAIL

WITH THE NOW DIMINISHED STATE OF BENDELS AND THE SLEW OF SPECIALTY STORES WHO HAVE LOST THEIR BATTLES ----WE HAVE A NEW LANDSCAPE FOR RETAIL .....I HAVE LITTLE DOUBT THAT THE "SPECIALTY STORE" AS WE KNOW IT WILL DISAPPEAR FROM VIEW...I REMEMBER WHEN THERE WERE FINE SPECIALTY STORES IN EVERY MAJOR CITY OF THIS COUNTRY WHICH CATERED TO THE TOP TIER OR CARRAIGE TRADE OF THAT CITY ---SOME WERE ON AIR STRIPS ---SOME ON PARK AVENUE---SOME IN LITTLE POCKETS OF WEALTH THAT WERE HARDLY KNOWN UNLESS YOU SHIPPED THERE OR LIVED THERE ....STORES THAT TREATED MERCHANDISE AND THEIR CLIENTS LIKE GOLD AND NOT A CUSTOMER #...IT IS SAD TO THINK THAT THE COUNTRY WILL BE SOLELY MADE UP OF NEIMANS AND SAKS AND THE LIKE ..SADDER TO REMEMBER WHAT WAS