Downtown Palo Alto, Why All The Vacant Stores?

Today my husband and I were driving on University Avenue in downtown Palo Alto and for the very first, time, noticed  way too many a large number of commercial properties, vacant.  In the six years that we have lived here, this was not apparent. You see, life has gone on as usual in Palo Alto.  We have heard about the economy and loss of jobs.  We have heard about layoffs, foreclosures and businesses closing. But that was happening "somewhere else".  Not here.  Not in the heart of Silicon Valley. Not in Palo Alto.

Truth be told, most people appear to be doing alright. Yes, there have been loss of jobs.  Yes, many are tightening the belts.  But if you ask Palo Altans, most will say that they are hanging in there and able to get by.  

You don't see foreclosure signs on every block.  Heck, I have yet to see one foreclosure sign in the entire town!

But today, on this glorious afternoon, I became AWARE and scared.  What is happening to our town?  Is "it" finally catching up with us?  Or I have just buried my head in the sand, hoping to avoid the inevitable... that every town, including Palo Alto, is suffering.  That small mom and pop shops simply can't afford to run their businesses.  That our bookstores, restaurants, clothing stores and banks simply can't stay afloat.  And that in Palo Alto, we are just like everyone else.  It just took a little longer to feel the wrath.

It is so much easier to live in ignorance, than face the truth.  But now the truth is glaring right back at us.  Here, in Palo Alto.

This is an original post to Silicon Valley Moms Blog.  Jill Asher is the co-founder of Silicon Valley Moms Group and drove around Palo Alto today, taking these pictures on her iphone.