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  Savage City #6: Grocery Shopping  

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Uploaded: 04/22/09 1:35 AM GMT
Savage City #6: Grocery Shopping
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If you live in an urban or suburban area you propably do your grocery shopping in a large, several thousand square foot supermarket. You may CHOOSE a somewhat smaller market or even a deli. In more rural areas you may shop at smaller markets. I sincerely doubt any you shop in a spot like this though. Converted houses are common sights in the Central City of Milwaukee. They have to be, because there is not one major supoermarket with 5 miles of the center of the central city. Somewhat understandable, as the shoplifting percentages are extreme. Yet only 37% of the residents of the Central City own a car, and public transportation is not very practical for large shopping trips. So you walk over here and get what you need, usually daily. Just after this shop opened I popped in for a look around and was greeted with instant hostility. A middle aged, overweight, white guy instantly means cop or health inspector, neither of which is very welcome. Who'd have guessed? I poked around for a few minutes and got the hell out. A loaf of bread which costs $1.89 at my supermarket was $3.69 here. At my supermarket there are at least 10 different types of Peanut Butter, here there is one generic brand for $4.50...take it or leave it. Of course, that is understandable, he needs the room for the beer and liquor which take uo fully 1/2 the store. The prices are roughly double what you pay in the suburbs. Obviously, small shops like this don't get the volume discounts big chains do, but this is gouging of the worst type. They have a meat counter...the meat is labeled with what it supposedly is, no expiration dates of any kind. Public records are wonderful things. I found the following. The man who owns this shop also owns three others in the genreal area. Between the 4 shops, in the last year, he has wracked up 127 Health Violations. Roaches, rats, expired foods, mislabled foods, moldy vegatables...you name it, he's ot it. He also has a large supply of the Holy Trinity of Crack users...baking soda to cut the crack, steel wool to use as a filter in the crack pipe and lighters. Must be pretty good money in the mark-ups in his stores. That is his car parked in front, I watched him park it and unlock the store. Records also show that he owns a $250,000 house in Brookfield...a nice suburb 25 miles from where he owns his shops.

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.rriesop
04/22/09 3:23 AM GMT
very interesting the exploitation that we just dont realize that goes on every day right before our eyes. great commentary and great series so far.
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God has created fantastic beauty for us to photograph and fantastic photographers to bring out that beauty in unique ways.
::solita17
04/22/09 4:52 AM GMT
I wondered whose car it was parked conspicuously in front of the 'grocery' store... I also wondered if at times someone might hole up on the second floor... Just very sad...
mary
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"Never let your studies interfere with your education." - Pete Seeger
::cynlee
04/22/09 5:07 AM GMT
Not sure I'd want to step into this store, but if it's the only store around and you don't have transportation, what can you do. I know. Move in and give the guy competition and maybe make a bundle. Just kidding. It is deplorable, but doesn't Milwaukee have a city council that can do something to lure supermarket chains to come in? Of course, there probably is a high crime rate here. Now with the economy as it is, can they even afford to do more than just go day by day with their problems. Is there an answer? I don't know. Provocative images you've been posting and excellent narratives too.
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::danika
04/22/09 8:10 PM GMT
If I walked past this place .... immediately I would have thought this store was closed down. Great detail in this scene & I enjoyed the narration. I know you are taking some risks venturing into this area, so use precaution. Wonderful capture Rich.
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We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give ~ Winston Churchill
::billyoneshot
04/23/09 12:27 AM GMT
I would have thought it was closed to. You have a natural feel for these shots.
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Billy
::0930_23
04/26/09 3:26 AM GMT
Watch your back GBRx3. I think perhaps you are in a different type of war zone, but a war zone none-the-less. Another great commentary and photo fits your words perfectly. Hopefully there are some silver linings still left in this greedy world.

Tick* was here

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Insure what you touch during your lifetime, is not coated with the fingerprints of apathy....Tick

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