Too Much Shopping?

Since becoming a resident of the Salisbury section of Westbury for over 20 years, I am fortunate  to be a part of the East Meadow school district. This also puts our home very close to Old Country Road. 

I often refer to our area of Nassau County as “The Shopping Mecca of the World.” I have friends from Queens and Manhattan who travel out to Nassau County to purchase their necessities and remark how lucky we are to have so many great stores at our convenience. 

Old Country Road is thoroughfare to almost everywhere, every day in my life. I take it to the parkways which take me to my job in Queens and to visit my extended family and friends over the Throgs Neck Bridge. When we moved in 20 years ago, there was “The Roosevelt Field Mall,” many little stores, the huge “Avis Rent-A-Car” compound and” Fortunoff.” There was also “The Roosevelt Raceway Flea Market” every weekend. I thought that was more than enough shopping for me.

Over time, “The Source Mall” and the “Broadway Mall” in Hicksville, then “Century 21” was added.  Most times I prefer shopping there.  It is closer to my home and I do not have any trouble finding my car in the parking lot, as is often the case at Roosevelt Field. That was more than enough shopping for me.  Before long,” K-Mart” was added and then became “Walmart”.  The stores behind “The Source” mall began to crop up. Through all this time, the smaller stores have come and gone, very few original stores are still there. The large “Avis” compound closed down and became vacant for a very long time.

We are members of the Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island and we attend on Sunday mornings. The society is located at the western end of Old Country Road, just before it connects Herricks Road. On Sunday mornings, when I go to the Ethical Society, it takes my family about 15 minutes to get there. 

On the other hand, in the late afternoon and early evening, it takes twice that amount of time! I remember one day, when there was a major accident right where the Meadowbrook Parkway entrance was, it took me one hour to get there. I’m sure my fellow Nassau County residents are all familiar with this frustrating experience.

Each time I see a new mall or store go up, I ask my husband, “Who are all these shoppers?  What kind of jobs do these people have?” Since consumerism determines need, I was wondering why there was a need for all these stores. I’m not even including the vast amount of shopping on nearby Hempstead Turnpike.   

My husband and I make a decent wage. I am a teacher and he is in health care. However, we are carefully budgeted and I wonder aloud, “Who are these  people” who are triggering the need for more shopping?”

Now I see a new structure is being built on the old Avis property. From the available signs promoting its arrival, I am assuming it is another mall or other shopping experience. I ask this question aloud; do we really need more shopping on Old Country Road?  I thought this country was in a recession. I thought people have been taking pay cuts, losing jobs and cutting back. Yet more stores are being added, just when I can’t imagine there being any more room for stores on Old Country Road. 

One thing that would console me is that there is a great reason for all this consumerism; there are more jobs being created as a result of the shopping boom on Long Island. However, I fear it will add to more debt and less financial stability to families.

I am eager to hear the thoughts of other residents and I wonder if others are as frustrated by the infuriating traffic conditions on Old Country Road as I am.