We received this note from a Claycordian last year, and posted it. It still rings true, unfortunately, so we decided to post it again:
Watching a YouTube video from Retail Archelogy last night reminded me of the days when most of our local strip malls would have great displays. The Vineyard on Clayton Rd. would have the trees on top of the buildings all lit up, McCaulou’s would always have great window displays, most shopping centers would have decorations lit up on their parking lot lights. Clayton Valley and Encina Shopping Centers would have lights hanging from their roof lines. I can’t really think of any shopping centers that decorate like that anymore locally, always was a treat as a kid when you were out at night and see all those lights on.
It sure was a treat. You’re right, most shopping centers don’t go “all out” like they did in the past.
Everone is afraid to decorate and offend someone …
I talked to a store owner awhile back and he stated that if he decorates for Christmas but not Hanukkah is he alientating a demographic? Or if he decorates for Halloween does that scare away people?
Too many people have gone soft and are easily offended.
Exactly, I have gotten to the point I could care less who is offended for whatever reason. I will celebrate the way I was raised and value if that bothers someone then let them be bothered.
Some folks are born to be bothered, so let them own it.
With the cost of labor and the price gouging from PG&E, who can blame them?
Doubt that has too much to do with it
Something I always looked forward to but that gets taken away too…nothing wrong with tradition or culture don’t care who is offended for whatever reason.
Being WOKE will destroy everything. Thanks dems for your irrational thinking.
Check out the large Christmas figures for sale at CVS.
I thought about buying one for the front porch just to show how darned progressive I am.
However some neighbors might be offended by the manipulation of traditional Christmas figures, and others might feel they were being mocked.
Who would have thought the North Pole would become so Polarizing.
City’s are the same.. I remember going down Bancroft from 73rd towards San Leandro in the 70’s and all the light poles in the divider were always decorated as well as every corner (that had space) had something festive thing from the city (Oakland early70″s). We have kind of lost touch…. Thanksgiving sales before Halloween, Christmas before Thanksgiving.. and so on. Internalizes the holiday to a family thing rather than a community thing.
Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!
The death of retail stores likely has a lot to do with shopping centers no longer decorating. Many shopping centers are either full of vacant storefronts or are full of restaurants, banks, cell phone stores, and other service businesses. Unfortunately, shopping centers are no longer destinations for Christmas shopping.
I just came back from the Tampa/St. Petersburg, Fl area early this month. I was there for a few days. The St. Pete area is decorated all over the place. Street lights are now candy canes. Christmas displays are all over the place. They are not offending anyone. Nobody is complaining. They are not afraid to celebrate who’s birthday it is Dec 25.
People that get offended at this, get over it. Too bad. By the way, there are lots of demographic areas where I visited. Glad they are doing it. Here, people are too afraid to express their beliefs to other people.