Part of a trend that the pandemic has impacted only in terms of speed, not substance. Most retailers offer little more than the ability to see items in-person, and the cost of doing so is higher than sending the goods from a lower cost warehouse space. Pier 1 was "cool", but their business model was not sustainable. The same is true for most other retailers. As the digitally-native continue to become larger in number, America will need fewer and fewer physical stores. Specialty stores will survive, but they will have to be hyper-focused, with superbly curated goods.

Pier 1 went bankrupt and decided to close all stores and operations in the US. So has Hertz which used to be the #1 car rental company. The Pandemic basically killed them. J.C. Penneys and Neiman Marcus filed for Chapter 11 and will close about 40% of stores. Restaurants like Sweet Tomatoes/Souplantation, Noodles and Company will close all restaurants.

It is the local stores that have to charge a little more and give great service that are the first to go unless one makes an effort to do business with them even when it is cheaper to go elsewhere, especially the internet.

I have some nice placemats that night have come from there too. It is sad.

Looks great, the only thing that is missing is one of your glorious dishes.

Have you considered etsy? Or other online shopping? I’m not a shopper and quite happy to “confine” myself to online shopping.

Nice dining room table ☺