We have a lot of nail salons in our area too. We also seem to have a lot of really expensive little boutique stores that never seem to have much business. We do live in an expensive affluent area, so maybe it’s the population with a lot of money that keeps them in business. Same with the olive oil and balsamic vinegar store, it’s been there for years and it’s doors are always wide open and it’s always empty. It’s right next to a space that has had trouble keeping anything for more than a year, it’s been several different restaurants since we’ve moved here. Right now it’s empty with a sign saying Belisima Italian (I think that’s the name) is coming soon, but that sign has been up for about a year and it doesn’t look like any progress has been made. It’s also in the same area as a restaurant that has always been a Mexican restaurant, it’s never been the same Mexican restaurant though or at least it hasn’t kept the same name. It seems like every few years the name changes and the restaurant undergoes a makeover, the food doesn’t seem to change. I swear, it’s like they want to go through every possible name for a Mexican restaurant.
In the town where my stepdad lives, there is a Burger King across the street from In n Out. The In n Out always has a line that circles around the parking lot, whereas the Burger King on a good day has 2 cars in the drive-through…surprised it’s still there
I always wonder about all the churches I see in strip malls and the ones that meet at schools. There are so many of them! I would be curious to know the size of their congregation.
I went with two friends to an author talk last night . We were looking for a place to eat before the talk, and ended up going to a restaurant that has been around for fifty years. When my friend mentioned it, I looked it up and was really surprised that it was still there.
I guess it varies by area, but the Auntie Anne’s stores in our area never seem to be busy, but maybe it’s because they are in areas that have a ton of other options.
We lost a lot of long time restaurants that we were surprised were still around during COVID
We have a Waffle House in an upper scale retail area that only does the delivery apps - who wants a soggy waffle arriving on their doorstep?! Isn’t part of the lure the inside “vibe”? (Or lack there of!)
I just saw an Orange Julius in Estes, Co and we were trying to explain to D23 what it was in the 70/80s
Our downtown is small, but we have quite a few small boutique type places. One sells honey and only honey. A new one just sells candles. I realize that Yankee Candle is able to stay afloat, but they have a huge mail order business. There is no parking for the candle place and parking downtown is tough. I’ll be interested to see how long it lasts. I was sad to see the cheese monger go. Had plenty of business, but she wanted to retire.
It’s hard because a place that just sells honey often has to compete against grocery stores where you can probably get cheaper honey and it’s not like people buy honey frequently. It’s probably same with the candle place. And it’s the same with the olive oil place in my town…
That said these little places do sell great stuff…
While selling honey alone may be tough to keep going, people who love honey can be serious about their honey! No grocery store honey will do. I bet our farmers market has nearly a 1/2 dozen honey people.
This may not be a popular opinion but I’m going to say Wendy’s. Many haven’t been updated in decades. Parking lots are empty. I think the only thing that keeps them afloat is the nostalgia for Frosty’s.
There is a lavender store near my stepdad’s house that makes lavender products like lotion, soap, sachets, shampoo, etc. But they stay in business because they have event space with a lavender field, so it’s usually booked out for weddings.
My D works near a Wendy’s that was closed down for about a year while they updated it. It just reopened and it’s all modern and high-tech. You would never guess that it looked old-fashioned and different before. I don’t know if that’s brought more business…
My granddaughter calls Wendy’s the cheeseburger store. She sometimes stops with her Dad on the way home from daycare. My daughter is a food snob and won’t eat there but the 4 year old loves the cheeseburger.
My husband was crushed to hear that Leslie pool supply in our town abruptly closed. The store was usually empty but the woman who worked there was a gem and has helped him keeping his Polaris running.
The empty parking lots varies by store. In 2025, Wendy’s was the 2nd highest sales revenue burger chain in the United States, after McDonald’s (see https://www.qsrmagazine.com/story/qsr-50-2026-top-fast-food-burger-chains-ranked-by-sales/ ). Wendy’s had higher sales revenue than Burger King in 2025, in spite of having substantially fewer stores. Nevertheless, Wendy’s said it plans to close and/or has closed ~5% of their stores due to low sales and poor performance at those locations.
My nearest Wendy’s always has cars in the parking lot… more than most burger chains, but less than McDonald’s and nothing approaching In N Out.
There are very few Wendy’s in our city and none near my home so I rarely frequent it.
I have never heard before this thread that beauty salons and nail places were fronts for human trafficking.
I do wonder about many other spaces that seem to have few or no customers yet stay in business for many years. I always felt that way about Neiman Marcus and eventually it did close on our city & mall.
In coastal areas, Waffle Houses are imperative at determining how bad an incoming hurricane will be. If THEY decide to close, you better get your butt outta there!
I saw a commercial for Yankee Candles on TV the other day and was surprised to see them still in business.
