Dear Baltimore City,
I hope you are doing well. Well, actually I know you still
have plenty of issues, but I must say, the new addition that arrived this
October is quite exciting. And I am thankful that the powers-that-be approved
this new corporate taxpayer.
To step back a minute, I made the big trek over here from
the Midwest a little over 7 years ago and have lived in Baltimore City the
entire time. First it was Fells Point, then Butchers Hill, now upper Fells /
Washington Hill. A lot has happened in my life since I arrived, from new jobs
and a new house, to a husband and now two kids.
So Baltimore City… you have been good to me. In addition to these huge
life events, there are of course the small things that we city kids love such
as running down the street to get takeout, meandering over to the corner bar,
or hopping across the street for just
about anything from butter to diapers. This has been great; this is why people
live in the city, right? So here’s the thing. I either have to go to a CVS,
Rite Aid, Safeway, Whole Foods, or (as it happens in my hood) Family Dollar, to
get said toiletries, household gear, etc. And they are either priced for
convenience or just not an enjoyable shopping/ purchasing experience overall.
But really, it is so much more expensive to purchase these items here, in the
city. Aren’t we paying enough property taxes?? Sheesh. As for the cost, sure,
you can find sales and cut coupons, but really… we all live in row homes… many
of us don’t have the space to stockpile, so when we need toilet paper, we need
toilet paper, and we are not waiting for the sale, or for the trip to the
‘burbs’.
So I have been making my treks to the “burbs” every few
months to get my fix on decent and reasonably priced items. Basically, I am
making the trek to Target. When I grew up in the Twin Cities (Minnesota), even
though I always pretty much lived in the “city”, I was always in close
proximity to a Target. I grew up going to Target and I will never appreciate
Wal-Mart in the same way (despite those rollbacks). Now sure, Target is a chain
and many of us city people like to say that we shop the mom & pop stores;
just like we also chat about the Farmers Market and all the local things we
purchase, while secretly we all frequent these “havens of the purse pinchers”.
So I’m coming right out and saying it:
I can't believe how excited I am about the Canton Target
opening, not to mention ALL the other stores that will be over there (um, Old
Navy, Michaels, and it goes on). This is seriously exciting after the YEARS of
having to drive and drive to get underwear, shampoo, detergent, really, you
name it, at a reasonable price. WHOOPEEEEE!!
I was so anxious for our first date; I was so happy that
construction was not delayed and I was able to grab my red cart on schedule. Oh
the joy of driving not 30 minutes but 5, and then meandering through the dollar
bins, grabbing several things I didn’t need (think autumn colored dish
scrubbers, and black cat socks). I then marveled at the stacks of crew neck
shirts and sweaters along with aisles of necessary (and probably unnecessary)
goods for my offspring.
Now keep in mind that my first visit was limited (as my
children were in preschool for only a few hours), but I am envisioning my
future jaunts down to the bull’s-eye, strolling around picking out razors,
lotion, up and up brand zipper bags, and multi-colored socks. I can sip my
coffee (from the obvious Starbucks), sift through clothes that I still think I
can wear, find deals on cute bags from random designers; wander through the
small appliance aisle, peruse a plenitude of dishware, explore miniature tents
by Eddie Bauer, gaze at the (always too early, but still admired) Christmas
tree displays. So despite my conflict of trying to minimize my big box store
participation- Target has been around for me since I was, well, me, so I’m
fessing up, I like my Target. And at risk of sounding like I was paid to write
this, they fulfill their tagline in my life… I expect more (and get more) and
really do pay less. Thanks B-city for letting the best of the boxes into our
little charmed city life.
-Dani
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