Since time immemorial New Carlisle citizens have clamored for Taco Bell to come to town. While the city does sorely need an authentic Mexican dining experience, it needs something else FAR more, and it needs it NOW: an AutoZone auto parts store.
It’s not that we don’t want a Taco Bell, it’s that we NEED an AutoZone. And we need it NOW.
If asked to name the most important things a small town needs, an auto parts store probably wouldn’t rank very high, particularly when there is already one in the city. But when you consider that the entire economy of New Carlisle is dependent on the automobile, you can see how, like gas stations in the same intersection, maybe one just isn’t enough.
Consider the following: most New Carlisle residents work outside of town. With the exception of a few who take private jets and personal helicopters, all of them drive automobiles to work. Take away their functional cars and trucks and you take away their ability to provide for their families and pump big bucks back into the New Carlisle economy. Further, people come from all over the land to shop in New Carlisle’s historic downtown retail district, mostly by automobile.
What does this have to do with Taco Bell? Well, the thing about automobiles is they break. Some cars are driven upwards of 1000 miles before something breaks, and it is vital to the survival of New Carlisle that people have as many options as possible to go to get the parts they need to get their cars up and running again. If your car broke down, would you rather be able to get to a parts store quickly and get the problem fixed or be able to eat some chalupas? The chalupas, obviously. But then how the heck are you going to get home to take the number 2 that sneaks up on you from all that authentic Mexican? That’s right, you better get your car fixed first or else you will have a real mess on your hands (or I guess in your pants, hopefully).
If you shop at AutoZone you will have paparazzi after you.
In addition to keeping everyone on the road, AutoZone also stocks clothing, accessories, and tools. New Carlisle has long needed a nice clothing store, and an AutoZone coming to town would have everyone in town looking sharp in Mobil 1 NASCAR hats and tees and fashionable work gloves. If we can get an AutoZone we might need to add a fashion show to the Heritage of Flight Festival!
As for why New Carlisle needs AutoZone NOW, well, it’s simply a matter of timing and opportunity. There is currently a vacancy in the old CVS building (next to Dollar General), and Main and Lake has received reports that several suitors are trying to snatch up that valuable piece of retail real estate. Among the potential tenants are a video game arcade, a laundromat, and a Speedway gas station. If we are ever going to get an AutoZone, now is the time.
The former CVS location would be perfect for all cars that die on the south end of town, whereas Advance Auto Parts could take care of parts for all the cars that die on the north end of town. Some healthy competition between businesses is always good for the local economy, too.
Let the city hear your voices; tell them to forget Taco Bell. New Carlisle needs an AutoZone, and we need it now, or else our city might collapse once and for all.