# A Town Of Substance? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 2, 2022, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-town-of-substance/972593 "2022-10-02T20:29:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-town-of-substance/972593/21 "2022-10-04T13:32:56Z")
> [@glee](#): > > a small village on the south coast of England where 90% of the shops were antique dealers and they all make a good living selling stuff to each other… ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-town-of-substance/972593/22 "2022-10-04T13:38:05Z")
We’re a county seat and have a downtown barbecue joint with its smoker right out by the curb, so that’s pretty substantial. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-town-of-substance/972593/23 "2022-10-04T14:27:33Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > Actually, in the US, I think a town of substance has a Walmart. The UK equivalent of this test could be, _ **Is there a Poundland?** _ (Yes, we do have one). **Poundland** ’s original idea was that _everything_ cost £1 - a gimmick that isn’t really sustainable, but they kept it going for a surprisingly long time. Back in those days, somebody launched a competitor called (I kid you not) **99p World**. That tells you plenty about the British psyche. [end of sidetrack]. A couple of decades ago, a test of this sort would have been _ **Is there a Woolworths?** _ But they went bust (in the UK) and, interestingly, many of the stores were taken over by Poundland. I thought there was a nice symmetry about that: started as a dime store, ended as Poundland. [end of this sidetrack as well]. j ---
**Author:** ![vbob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vbob/32/4439_2.png) [@vbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vbob)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-town-of-substance/972593/24 "2022-10-04T14:35:40Z")
Somewhen in the Universe, all shops become shoe shops, and civilization collapses. The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy informs us that this may be about to happen, or has already happened… ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-town-of-substance/972593/25 "2022-10-04T15:12:47Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > **Poundland** ’s original idea was that _everything_ cost £1 - a gimmick that isn’t really sustainable, but they kept it going for a surprisingly long time. Back in those days, somebody launched a competitor called (I kid you not) **99p World**. We have the same thing. We have various dollar stores, where everything cost a dollar (although now they’ve raised their price to $1.25). But there’s a regional chain called the 99 cent store. I don’t know if they’ve raised their prices to $1.24. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-town-of-substance/972593/26 "2022-10-04T15:16:36Z")
All ya can be is thirsty in a town with no cheer. –Tom Waits ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-town-of-substance/972593/27 "2022-10-04T16:47:32Z")
> [@CaveMike](#): > > US: If there is a street corner with 3 or more mattress stores, you have found a Town of Substance. Or cell phone stores. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-town-of-substance/972593/28 "2022-10-04T16:51:41Z")
In my opinion, in the U.S., if your town has even _one_ third-wave coffee roastery, you are in a town of substance. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-town-of-substance/972593/29 "2022-10-04T18:18:13Z")
This thread reminds me of a particular corner I used to work near. It was on my way to 99% of the lunch places I went to. At that corner, there were eight asian restaurants within one block. Three nicer Chinese restaurants, at least two counter service places, a Japanese restaurant, a Thai place,and I don’t remember what the 8th place was. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-town-of-substance/972593/30 "2022-10-04T18:26:22Z")
> [@Quondam\_Mechanic](#): > > I think here in Boston that there’s a law requiring both a bank and an espresso bar at every street corner. To help with compliance, there are now bank branches with built-in espresso bars. I know a place in Somerville where you can see two Home Depots. (Homes Depot?) > [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > If there are 3 Starbucks within 3 blocks (it counts if one is inside a grocery store), you’re in a Town of Substance. I think they’re planning to tear one of them down to put up a Starbucks. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/X4Eb-KxSTPE/maxresdefault.jpg "John Wesley Harding - There's A Starbucks (Where The Starbucks Used To Be)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4Eb-KxSTPE) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-town-of-substance/972593/31 "2022-10-04T21:40:14Z")
When you can see one Waffle House from another, you’re in a town of Southern Substance. And a greasy sort of substance it is. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-town-of-substance/972593/32 "2022-10-04T21:55:38Z")
It is interesting that you explained with a link what _going to hell in a handcart_ means, while what I would have needed is what a _Town of Substance_ is. Tried an internet search and got very astray. So, without letting ignorance get in the way of my musings (_von des Zweifels blässe nicht getrübt_ is the standard translation of _sicklied o’er with the pale cast of thought_, just boasting with Hamlet to hide my ignorance, you get the general idea) today in Strasbourg there was a place from which I saw a score of beggars. The pandemic has been hard to this town. Would you say it is a Town of Sunstance? > [@LSLGuy](#): > > When you can see one Waffle House In one of those life coincidences you notice once in a while, this week the Economist has been waxing lyrical about [Waffle Houses](https://www.economist.com/culture/2022/09/29/on-the-curious-and-enduring-appeal-of-waffle-house), something I only noticed because I had never heard of them and did not understand half of the dishes they serve. Well you are the second mention I notice. Ever. I also liked the picture, it reminded me of this painter whose name just escapes me, you’ll know who I mean if you click on the link. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-town-of-substance/972593/33 "2022-10-04T22:02:20Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > > [@kayaker](#): > > > > In my area it seems the smaller the town, the _more_ Dollar Generals get built. We have three within walking distance of each other. > > Yeah, Dollar General is for towns too small to support a Walmart (realizing that Dollar General also has stores in cities). > > Actually, in the US, I think a town of substance has a Walmart. It’s funny, I can remember when Wal Marts were for towns too small to have a Target or K-Mart. My how times have changed. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-town-of-substance/972593/34 "2022-10-04T22:20:26Z")
And in a thread by **Treppenwitz** it is only fitting that I remembered the painter after the edit window was closed: Edward Hopper, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2022, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-town-of-substance/972593/35 "2022-10-05T18:38:52Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > It is interesting that you explained with a link what _going to hell in a handcart_ means, while what I would have needed is what a _Town of Substance_ is. Ah Sorry about that. A Town Of Substance is: A place where you can see three vape shops from a single spot, see one waffle house from another, has two home depots… 😉 Regarding > [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > …today in Strasbourg there was a place from which I saw a score of beggars… It’s not a nice development, but I was actually thinking along the same lines. In central London’s shopping areas, beggars space themselves out with remarkable regularity. It can’t possibly be an accident - so, returning to the Going To Hell In A Handcart theme, maybe a town of substance is somewhere where the beggars are well organised and properly spaced out. And… I guess I owe you an explanation. I’d say that a Town Of Substance is one of significant size and amenities. It has pretty much all the major chains and utilities. It may well be an urban center serving countryside and smaller towns nearby. If anyone wishes to improve on that, please do. j ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2022, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-town-of-substance/972593/36 "2022-10-05T18:49:31Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > I’d say that a Town Of Substance is one of significant size and amenities. Some people might say “a _real_ city.” ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2022, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-town-of-substance/972593/37 "2022-10-05T20:12:14Z")
Three Trader Joe’s stores turns your town into a _city!_ ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2022, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-town-of-substance/972593/38 "2022-10-05T20:28:48Z")
BTW, the thing with the beggars, I saw that in Dublin too, in 2008/2009, during the so-called subprime crisis. I am not talking well organised Rumanian panhandlers (now I may have lost most US readers), but local beggars sleeping rough. ---
**Author:** ![Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tired_and_Cranky)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2022, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-town-of-substance/972593/39 "2022-10-05T20:41:12Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > A couple of decades ago, a test of this sort would have been _ **Is there a Woolworths?** _ > [@vbob](#): > > Somewhen in the Universe, all shops become shoe shops, and civilization collapses. The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy informs us that this may be about to happen, or has already happened… These posts are back to back and reminded me that, in fact, Woolworth became a shoe store chain ([Foot Locker](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F._W._Woolworth_Company)). ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2022, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-town-of-substance/972593/40 "2022-10-05T21:18:29Z")
And Nordstrom was a shoe store for decades before adding women’s and men’s clothing in the 1960s. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-town-of-substance/972593.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-town-of-substance/972593.md?page=3)