Yesterday, my co-worker Bobby and I drove past an old dance club that closed long before the pandemic and still hasn’t found a new tenant. It used to be a vibrant spot filled with life and laughter, but now it’s just a shell, empty except for some old cords, trash, and a fading sign out front.
Bobby asked why I thought no one had opened a new business there. I figured there could be several reasons—maybe the rent is too high, the building isn’t up to code, or perhaps no one in the community is ready to take on another club. The size and location might also make it less appealing for businesses that need to upgrade their spaces.
There are so many abandoned businesses that sit vacant for years. Some are more interesting to peek into than others, especially when the previous tenants have left behind a lot of items. Once, we looked at a property that had an old stable, once a successful boarding barn and lesson center. The previous owners left behind calendars, trunks full of equipment, and paperwork. I didn’t go through everything, but what was left on the desk felt like a blueprint for reopening. The current owners have since revitalized the barn…