I know that some people in my audience are quite fond of franchises. I’m not. I think they sap the life and personality out of communities. With that said, however, I still feel bad for their owners when things go poorly. So, I’m not mentioning this because I take any pleasure in it, but because I think that it might provide an opportunity to discuss the place for chain stores and franchises in historic downtowns.

It looks as though the Quizno’s franchise in Depot Town is relocating.

I’m not sure where it’s headed to, or what the circumstances were behind the decision, but my guess is that it wouldn’t be happening if they had been successful where they were.

I’ll readily admit that there are several things that make franchises compelling. It’s hard to make a go of it in business these days, and I can see why going with a national chain might be seductive. They provide you with proven systems and advertising support, and they eliminate the need to make a lot of very difficult business decisions. (They also typically charge quite a bit for the food that they’re selling you and their services, but that’s a different matter.) For a new entrepreneur, without much experience, I can see how it might look like a good deal. I would argue that it’s not, however, good for the long-term health of a downtown. While the franchisees might make decent money, if things go well, the local economic impact pretty much ends there. Sure, there are a few low-wage, unskilled jobs created, but that’s about it. A significant portion of the profits go out of state, to the national headquarters of the licensing entity. More than that, however, the existence of chains rob an area of its individual identity, sometimes several hundred years in the making. And, in the process, I would argue, they make their areas less viable in the long-run.

Look at it this way – If all you see when you drive through Ypsilanti, or any other town, are the same stores that you have in your own town, why would you stop and spend your money?

So, yes, I feel sorry for the owner of this Quizno’s that things didn’t work, but, ultimately, I think it might be a good thing for Depot Town (which is otherwise franchise-free). Feel free to leave nasty comments, but that’s how I feel. (I feel as though franchises and chain stores have their place, but that that place is outside of town, in a strip mall.)

And, I realize there are exceptions. If a significant percentage of storefronts are empty in your town, clearly you have to do what you can to create foot traffic and bring money into the area. I can appreciate that. Fortunately, however, that wasn’t the situation here. Depot Town is, by most accounts, doing well (at least when it comes to the food service industry).

I don’t know the answer going forward. I’ve read of one town, I believe outside of Portland, that has passed legislation keeping franchises out. I don’t know that that’s necessary, but I think that, whenever possible, I’ll try to keep my money in the community by shopping in locally owned and operated stores. At the very least, I figure, we should reward those indivivuals who have decided to go the more difficult route and try to be successful on their own. And, maybe that in itself is enough to keep franchises out.