6º F @ 6:00 AM

What once was a staple, got bowled over by Staples and Strings. Thai’d, nailed, clipped and financed into other uses.

Intermission: cute cat photo — Spunk and Glenda

Coronado Center, a large split-level mall, was all the rage for many years. The mall was open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, with many stores and activity-oriented businesses being open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. It was open from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays. After the long COVID lockdowns and restrictions, plus so much gang and criminal activity in Albuquerque, most stores now close at 8 p.m. or 9 p.m., and stores that used to stay open 24 hours close at 8 p.m. Many restaurants that were open 24 hours close at 11:00 p.m. It’s a sad commentary on the state of business in Albuquerque.

One business that has thrived through thick and thin, with not a lot of changes, is the McDonald’s at the corner of San Pedro and Menaul. It’s been there for as long as I can remember.