Downtown Chicago is a GHOST TOWN?! What’s Really Happening!

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  • Опубліковано 30 січ 2025

КОМЕНТАРІ • 83

  • @Smerzone
    @Smerzone  12 годин тому +2

    Please like and subscribe

  • @noble604
    @noble604 День тому +8

    Sadly, it’s like this across the country. Downtowns, like you said in another video, were designed a hundred years ago and at that time there weren't shopping malls, strip malls or online shopping anywhere in anyone’s imagination. With the bustling department stores, especially during Christmas with those one of a kind holiday decorations and windows, the city restaurants and corporate businesses, US downtowns were EVERYTHING. It’s hard to describe to young people who never experienced it and don’t know just what that was like to be “downtown.” Even being at the mall at Christmas during the boom years of shopping malls was nothing like being “downtown” in the city. Just think of the movies and songs made of that beauty and excitement of “downtown.”
    That is never coming back.

    • @Smerzone
      @Smerzone  День тому +2

      You are correct. People used to dress up to go downtown. It was a family outing.

    • @noble604
      @noble604 День тому +2

      The national move has been from downtown dollars coming from downtown workers shopping/staying downtown and from locals and families going downtown, to most downtowns being funded by tourism - from those there just for a sporting event, on business, or sightseeing from other parts of the country.
      Families and locals are not pumping money into their city downtowns. I know people who haven’t been to our city downtown in years.. as in 5... 10 years. If people who lived in these areas actually went downtown, that alone would be enough to sustain them but we don’t do that anymore. Often, no matter the city, we’re pleasantly surprised to see events going on, especially in the summer when there are all kinds of happenings in most downtown areas. We mainly base our opinions from the news and that’s what’s mainly responsible for keeping locals away... imo....

    • @gracedagostino5231
      @gracedagostino5231 День тому +1

      Great comment! Makes me think of the old Petula Clark song “Downtown”

    • @noble604
      @noble604 День тому +1

      gracedagostino - Think of it! So many songs and movies written about “downtown,” too many to remember. Just a touching line in a song. Just a couple memorable scenes in a movie. Just meeting there. And it didn’t have to be New York City. It was Chicago or your local city. All the glitz and romance with taxis. And lights. And skyscrapers. A rendezvous or just a trip with your grandmother held such glamour when you were together downtown.

    • @noble604
      @noble604 День тому +1

      (also ... Downtown Chicago architecture is fantastic. Downtown architecture everywhere in the US is unmatched compared to US suburbs. Just to be downtown and look at buildings is something. Open OR closed. Nothing like that we ever be built again.)

  • @DaPace
    @DaPace 11 годин тому +4

    Great coverage, terrible for the city though - same thing happened to downtown toronto at one point but it is recovering.

    • @Smerzone
      @Smerzone  9 годин тому +1

      It's going to be interesting to see how things develop in both cities.

  • @ThomasMcGrane
    @ThomasMcGrane 7 годин тому +6

    A prime example of “you reap what you sow.” There are consequences when you vote in a progressive Left POTUS (serving 2021-2024) and a progressive Left mayor in a beautiful major city. These consequences have a name. They are called, karma.

  • @krapug11
    @krapug11 День тому +6

    Having people come back to the office is not going to solve many of these issues. Even before COVID, many workers were no longer getting a full hour for lunch, so food related businesses may do better with more folks working on site, but not traditional retail. In Philly, their mayor ordered all city workers back to the office, but their retail issues continue. In Philly's case their Macy's is closing in March, and the city is not sure what will happened with that space. I live in Boston, and we have retail vacancies in Downtown Crossing, but not like I'm seeing in this video. What helps is we have more people living in the Downtown Crossing area to patronize the stores there.

    • @Smerzone
      @Smerzone  День тому +3

      In downtown Chicago, apartments are expensive and only the well off live there. Making affordable apartments would help this area.

  • @pnowikow
    @pnowikow День тому +5

    I'd like to see the USA do what Europe did eons ago. People live where they work. In American cities, we focus on office buildings instead of mixed use spaces. I'm in St Louis MO and our suburban areas are moving to mixed use areas. Also cities have historically spent little money on safety and green spaces. Why would people want to be in most downtown areas. Transportation and parking has always been a challenge. It'll change when city leaders get creative and find ways to attract people again. Boom and bust cycle

    • @Smerzone
      @Smerzone  День тому +1

      Hey! Thanks for your comment. Creating multi use communities would be great.

  • @phillipgrey
    @phillipgrey 3 години тому +3

    That city used to be packed with offices and stores rentals in the mid 90's before we moved back to Canada. It's shocking. But in my city in London, Canada the downtown is blighted with drug addicts and vagrants. Businesses are leaving because the city won't deal with the problem. But Klingon Brandon and Gargoyle Lightfoot, really helped ruined the downtown core due all of the George Floyd riots and the random mass swarming robberies. It's pathetic. Add to this the high taxation and unsafe surroundings that compounds the situation.

    • @Smerzone
      @Smerzone  3 години тому +1

      Klingon brandon 🤣🤣🤣🤣

    • @phillipgrey
      @phillipgrey Годину тому

      @@Smerzone It's that apex style haircut in middle of his head .... :)

  • @bd3825
    @bd3825 14 годин тому +1

    Hey bro good video. Stay safe out there.

    • @Smerzone
      @Smerzone  13 годин тому

      Thank you, I will

  • @stepinbecy
    @stepinbecy 6 годин тому +2

    cost of living wages are around 3 % a year since the 70's - No body can afford to go down town to shop. I shop online

  • @corm1000
    @corm1000 День тому +3

    I remember when Jeremiah Babe used to show the same thing In California. Now it looks like it spread to Chicago.

  • @FAReeDxTheINWARD
    @FAReeDxTheINWARD День тому +3

    You were right by my job. Things are just too expensive. My coworkers and myself all bring lunch from home. On occasion Garrett's may get some of my money but that's about it.

    • @Smerzone
      @Smerzone  День тому +1

      It is a lot cheaper to bring your own lunch.

  • @raydemos1181
    @raydemos1181 9 годин тому +4

    No reason to come to Chicago, there is no Marshall Fields anymore

    • @Smerzone
      @Smerzone  9 годин тому

      Yup. They ended an era

  • @jimmiesmith5811
    @jimmiesmith5811 12 годин тому +3

    Another thing is that taxes have gotten so high a lot of business are Chicago i had friends and coworkers Chicago and the state because of this

    • @Smerzone
      @Smerzone  12 годин тому

      Thats true. Illinois is one of the most expensive states for taxes.

  • @topazrichmond7426
    @topazrichmond7426 День тому +3

    This looks like Memphis Tenn downtown year round Memphis was flourishing decades ago.

    • @Smerzone
      @Smerzone  День тому

      Yup I was just in Memphis I saw some redevelopment near the university tho

  • @raydemos1181
    @raydemos1181 9 годин тому +2

    looking more and more like Portland Oregon everyday , Chicago are you enjoying your new Mayor

  • @helbitkelbit1790
    @helbitkelbit1790 День тому +5

    I dont have many years left........I feel so bad for the younger folks......Your gonna have to do alot of adjusting

  • @CobaN9ne
    @CobaN9ne 2 дні тому +2

    Making me miss home 😂🤣. Need to make a Taurus run lol.

    • @Smerzone
      @Smerzone  2 дні тому +1

      I gotchu. Ill eat a steak for you 🤣

    • @CobaN9ne
      @CobaN9ne 2 дні тому

      @Smerzone 😂😂

  • @fabiosanchez8335
    @fabiosanchez8335 День тому +5

    thank you for sharing......just like downtown NYC ghost town

  • @amuri1823
    @amuri1823 День тому +4

    That’s sad

  • @YasuniDaily
    @YasuniDaily 39 хвилин тому

    Crazy to see such a huge downtown so empty

  • @BillAndres
    @BillAndres 3 години тому +2

    Very sad.

  • @anthonykago4428
    @anthonykago4428 8 годин тому +2

    Metal Leo kind of stuff but Chicago style. "GONE NOW!"

    • @Smerzone
      @Smerzone  8 годин тому

      I gotta look him up. Thanks for watching

  • @AL-TitoVidal
    @AL-TitoVidal 35 хвилин тому

    Looting and pandemic was the nail in the coffin ⚰️

  • @setapart2serveministries
    @setapart2serveministries 21 хвилина тому

    I remember when I was little, they didn't want blacks downtown. Now they paid for it.

  • @thomasbrown3356
    @thomasbrown3356 День тому +3

    This is misleading. Who still shops at a store? Everything you need is online.

    • @Smerzone
      @Smerzone  День тому +2

      exactly.Times has changed.

    • @jody8526937
      @jody8526937 День тому +1

      @@Smerzonepeople will return to shopping in stores. Online is boring

    • @jimmiesmith5811
      @jimmiesmith5811 13 годин тому +1

      ​@@jody8526937Somethings you just have to see in person before you buy it

    • @Smerzone
      @Smerzone  12 годин тому

      @@jody8526937you think so? But its hella convenient

  • @JuliusCOwens
    @JuliusCOwens 29 хвилин тому

    It's a new generation amazon online order delivered to you , food trucks , order food and have it delivered to you apartment or house , cable TV internet and home theaters , the TV games . 🙏 ❤ ✌ ⚖ harmony unity commitment focus wisdom and spiritual wealth .

  • @mma4l
    @mma4l Годину тому

    I thought it was Arsenio Hall

  • @johnp139
    @johnp139 Годину тому

    What’s your point?

  • @AnGeLNowAware144K
    @AnGeLNowAware144K 2 дні тому +3

    The wordl is ending Bruh😢.... The6 keep stalking God's righteouss Souls so....ayee😬its On like PopCorn 🍿 Babiiii.... 90%of the population sold they brother out for a gift card...Now we're witnessing The Most High Do another 1 of HIS BIG 1s💯 iykyk

  • @davidw7
    @davidw7 53 хвилини тому

    My God man.... you are just hating on Chicago. The Loop mostly offices lost them workers working from home not collecting gov checks. Southern portion of State St has closed stores the Northern portion has its shops and flagship stores occupied and the mall skyscraper there. In the summer and Fall Chicago was hoping and full of tourist and locals outside of winter. Plenty of video makers some daily doing walking videos and not cherry picking like those shock jocks also doing ghetto videos. Do a continuous walk and show all sides not cherry pick. Show them Trump Tower Chicago too LOL.

  • @bdulrahim.
    @bdulrahim. 11 годин тому +3

    Prophet Jesus will return