When I went to get my suit altered recently, I discovered an unfortunate negative externality.
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The tailor, it seems, is located on the same floor as Asian Massage parlor and Dare to be Naughty Adult Store — the three businesses share a common door to the street. As I opened the door to go to the tailor, I couldn't help but be concerned about what people would think if they saw me entering. Although I decided to go to the tailor, I could see how some potential customers, at the margin, might not be so brave.
The adult store and potentially the massage parlor (depending on the nature of its massages) are what economists consider to be "a negative externality." Their private activities — their very presence, actually — hurt the tailor's business by deterring customers from opening that door to go to the tailor. The fact that the tailor seems to cater to Christian clientele — notice the "Jesus is The Way, the Truth And The Life" slogan on their banner — likely only compounds the effect of the externality.
Luckily, they did a nice alteration job on my suit in time for my convocation today.
Friday, November 19
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First, congrats on the convocation.
ReplyDeleteSecond, is that the "massage" parlour that recently got busted for prostitution? I think it might be.
Finally, as someone who has spent tons of time on Bank St., lives near by, and does a lot of shopping there (often with my toddler), no one notices people going in to these places. No one really cares, not in that neighbourhood. Especially since the entrance ways of shops are often crammed together (or common), no one would really be able to tell where you're going.
Extra-finally, the Christian thing is interesting, but par for the course. There is an intentional Christian community that lives nearby, and the Bible House (just off of Bank St, and now called Salem Storehouse) is located exactly across the street from Venus Envy (a large and prominent sex shop).
In fact, a lot of the Christian communities in Centretown are really looking to integrate with the population of Centretown. There's a lot more gay-friendly and single mother-friendly things going on. It's partially the evangelical nature of many churches, but it's also just a general desire to make the church a part of the community they serve. I find it really cool.
/ramble