Come, Armageddon, Come
Nope, it's not the aftermath of a tornado. It's progress.

Progress is what this little town is all about. People in these parts think it's some kind of step forward to get big, multinational chains to locate here. I'm not much of an economist, but how does that really help the local economy, especially if tax abatement incentives are offered to the corporation?
So, this entire block has been razed to make room for the third RiteAid (I'm guessing at least one of the other two will close). One block north of this got flattened a few weeks ago to make room for a new bank branch. Up the street we got a new branch from a rival bank, but that left their other building 2 blocks down empty. Last year we got Buffalo Wild Wings, and this year we're getting a new Taco Bell across the street from the old one. Kmart is looking pretty shabby these days, since Meijer went in up the street. And the empty Hill's and Chief's across from them is still not turning into the fabled Super Wal-Mart. Also on deck, more minor league fast food, Kohl's, and one of them overpriced cheapo steakhouses, which will surely put the old Ponderosa obesity center out of business. But won't that hurt Applebee's business? I dunno, ask the second Dairy Queen. Or the third Subway. Or one of the McDonalds. Or one of the many fine retail locations at our mini-mall.
There's "only" 19,000 people in this zip code. How many stores do we need? Especially since people consider it even better to drive to Fort Wayne or Toledo to go shopping (cuz we don't have our own Best Buy yet?)
Honestly, though? I wouldn't mind a Borders or B&N.