Small Businesses

A common arrangement for home is design is for the first floor to be a commercial space, and the family or familes live above it.  Many tiny businesses are no bigger than the bedroom space of a house and the owner simply opens a door and to enter the rest of the house. No commutes.

The commercial spaces can be anything-- tiny grocery stores, beauty salons, mechanics' shops, cyber cafes, school supply shops, pharmacies, bakeries, appliance stores. Small businesses are everywhere. Much of what you need on a daily basis is in walking distance.  There must be a dozen tiny grocery stores within 4 blocks of my house.

 I think the reason they can coexist is the fact that they are so tiny.The dimensions for these shops must be about 10' wide by 12' or 15'deep. The "big" stores are doublewides. Since the stores are so limited by space as to the amount of goods or services they can offer, none can really take over any given area. Everybody wins--customers and shop owners alike.

The guy in the red shirt is standing by the tall steel shutter-type doors that are typical of businesses all over. This tiny pool hall is just large enough for 2 tables and a little room to maneuver on each side.