Muscatine

Yes both are true

Unfortunately both Denny and Ace are closing. Denny had a bypass last year and I guess he is having some more problems. I guess he does have someone interested in buying the tux portion of the business, so that might stay in tact. Ruben manager of Ace hardware stopped in to see me the other day and confirmed the rumor. Just not enough traffic to justify the overhead and payroll and such. To bad. Both were long standing traditions of downtown. It is definately going to impact the downtown negatively.

I would be buying them

at the little mom and pop stores that would still be in business today if it were not for the box stores. I do not shop at Walmart, and get everything I need just fine.

Neal's

I think has been in downtown since 1954.

How could this happen?

I thought that by taking out all the parking meters that the downtown merchants would increase their sales and traffic flow. This was the solution to all the downtown merchant issues! Holy Moly! What will happen now! Maybe a new bar or restaurant can move into the Ace building! we could call it the ''Pearl Martini and Clam Bar''! Hahahahaha! Then maybe we could get another antique or pawn shop to move into K&D! WhoooHoooo!

For those of you that can't figure this out-I'm being sarcastic!