[ericr]

I had a little bit of a different reaction than many of you guys. Photos like this show to me how much business existed back then on a small, informal scale, compared to the size of business we see today, and not just big box stores. And not just gas stations, also retail businesses such as candy stores, record shops, haberdasheries, hat shops, bakeries, diners, dry cleaners, etc., all existed at small levels.

Naturally there were exceptions but the way many businesses existed with low levels of floor space and inventory (and presumably profits) amazes me.