I was working Channel One, the main police communication channel and the position I prefer at work when Officer Hall called out a periodic check of Duval Village. It happens that officers frequently call out the names of stores I've never heard of, which they check at night, just to make sure everything is okay. It's the anti burglary patrols that they do during quiet times at night and they often leave a little note saying we were by and everything was okay.
"Show me clear with an Eye-On-The-Island at Duval Village" Officer Hall called out and I logged his check in the computer. It's the radio routine that goes on all night, and I reply with a time check to show the activity was logged by me.
Duval Village? Never heard of it, I thought to myself as he moved on and the night moved on and the drunks came out to play. Nevertheless it bugs me when I don't know where something is and after almost seven years of sitting at the radio directing the night shift I am pretty sure I know all the locations and lanes. In fact about once a year some place new manages to pop up and make me ask myself where was that place?
And every time that happens I head out and take a look to make sure next time it's etched in my brain. I guess Duval Village isn't part of my consciousness thanks to my dis-inclination to shop, and these kinds of baubles I usually find with less hassle at the Walgreens Pharmacy on the boulevard, lots of parking and not a lot of dawdling tourists enjoying the day out there.
Who buys this stuff I ask myself, and how many souvenirs do they need to sell to make the rent and payroll? It seems mind boggling to me, a man never trained for commerce.
There it is: Duval Village in all it's glory complete with bar and alcohol as is only proper in Key West.
And as for the question who buys this stuff, right across the street I found my answer on the back of a scooter. That's who.
"Show me clear with an Eye-On-The-Island at Duval Village" Officer Hall called out and I logged his check in the computer. It's the radio routine that goes on all night, and I reply with a time check to show the activity was logged by me.
Duval Village? Never heard of it, I thought to myself as he moved on and the night moved on and the drunks came out to play. Nevertheless it bugs me when I don't know where something is and after almost seven years of sitting at the radio directing the night shift I am pretty sure I know all the locations and lanes. In fact about once a year some place new manages to pop up and make me ask myself where was that place?And every time that happens I head out and take a look to make sure next time it's etched in my brain. I guess Duval Village isn't part of my consciousness thanks to my dis-inclination to shop, and these kinds of baubles I usually find with less hassle at the Walgreens Pharmacy on the boulevard, lots of parking and not a lot of dawdling tourists enjoying the day out there.Who buys this stuff I ask myself, and how many souvenirs do they need to sell to make the rent and payroll? It seems mind boggling to me, a man never trained for commerce.There it is: Duval Village in all it's glory complete with bar and alcohol as is only proper in Key West.And as for the question who buys this stuff, right across the street I found my answer on the back of a scooter. That's who.
1 comment:
The margins on this stuff are mind-boggling; you don't have to sell enormous quantities to meet your expenses.
OTOH, people who visit Bellingham aren't so inclined to buy such things. The 'Ham is not a tourist destination, the many vehicles with B.C. license plates to the contrary...
__Orin
Scootin' Old Skool
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