I mean, whatever, it's inconvenient that they closed the one I could walk to, and (in case someone from Blockbuster is reading this) the closure actually made me decide to renew my Netflix account, so that's a double income loss if you're keeping track. But, on the other hand, the store was so small that they barely ever had any good movies anyway, so I can kind of see why they closed it, as it probably costs a fortune to rent space right there on San Vicente next to the Peet's and the stationery store.
Anyhoo, the place was vacant for a couple of months, then presto! As if overnight, the wood barricades are taken down to reveal-- a bank. First Republic Bank, to be exact.
Um, I don't know if anyone is keeping track, but this is not exactly a banner year for banks. I consider myself pretty financially savvy, and I am about two more bad financial reports away from stuffing my dog's bed with money, ok? I am CERTAINLY not in the market for a new bank. Not even looking. Not even willing to go on a date. Nope. Not even drinks, or brunch. No savings account, no CD, no no no!
This is so baffling to me (even more than the dog poop in a bag on the grass or Chaz Bono's new style), because at the rate banks are failing and being closed down, this hardly seems like a wise choice to replace an underperforming Blackbuster Video location. Oh, you're offering good rates on mortgages? NO THANK YOU. It seems like the owner of this building went "hmmm....how could I make even LESS money than I'm making on a tiny and unimpressive Blockbuster? Should I sell parkas in Los Angeles? Maybe.....ice skates? What ELSE do people really not need right now? Oh-- I've got it! Another bank!"
I tried and tried to come up with an apt analogy for this bad decision, even looking up this entertaining list of discontinued McDonald's menu items. I tried this one: "that's like McDonald's going 'no one's buying the Philly Cheesesteak sandwich-- let's discontinue it and replace it with a hamburger made entirely of liver.". Pretty good, I thought, but then Stephan came up with a better one: that's like trading in your Hyundai.....for a Pinto.". Boom!
I am keeping an eye out for when the FCC comes and takes over that bank, and it turns into a store that sells expensive dog collars, which is EXACTLY the kind of thing that would be big in this neighborhood, you know what I'm saying?
