‘We Have Lost The Art Of Pop Shop': Man In Europe Says US Lacks Community Spirit
An American content creator recently travelled overseas and was struck by the stark contrast to the USA's fading sense of community and declining culture of locally owned shops. In a viral clip, Adam highlighted how the U.S. has 'lost the art" of neighbourhood stores. This sparked an online discussion about how American neighbourhoods no longer retain their original character.
In the video, Adam points out how difficult it has become to find locally owned shops in America today, contrasting this with Europe and other places, which he says feel like a throwback to a time when small businesses and local shop culture still thrived in the U.S.
'America has lost the art of the mom and pop shop," Adam wrote in a note attached to the viral video, where he spoke about the trend of Americans going to Starbucks for coffee and Walmart for art supplies or groceries.
'I love being able to walk five minutes to a little store that sells exactly what I'm looking for, and being greeted by a nice person who's been running the store for probably 40 years," he said.
Adam added, 'It just adds depth to your life that you can't get when your main place of shopping is Walmart. If you want to live a better life outside the US, then follow for more."
'But here in Europe, and other places too," Adam said inside the video, 'you have small locally-owned shops for almost anything you can think of."
Adam's eyes caught the fruit vendors, plastic shops and local cafes, among other local shops, as he walked down a street in a foreign land. Having lived in America, the influencer said it felt unfamiliar to have all these shops available to him within walking distance.
'The craziest part is that almost all of these things are usually within a 10 or 15-minute walk. The American mind cannot comprehend this," he said in the clip, which gained online support among users, who admitted they no longer find the US the best place to live.
Internet Agreed With The American Content Creator
The clip resonated with many users online, attracting a large number of views and a flood of comments.
'I remember thinking the exact same thing when I visited England for the first time. I saw a music store, a vacuum shop, and a tailor all on the same street. 1 thought this would all be one giant store in a strip mall in America," one user echoed the sentiment by revealing their own story.
'It's called 'community.' America, unfortunately, has lost its value and respect for community," someone else said.
Another wrote, 'True. America talks a big game on 'small business' but small businesses get short shrift."
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