Wasted Stores

There's a little corner store across the street from my house that's currently called D & D Market. It opened when I was in elementary school, under the name Prince Spa. The original owners did a great job and it was a popular neighborhood hangout. They owned the store for over a decade before finally selling it. Since then, it has changed hands three times.

I actually considered purchasing the location, if for no other reason than being able to call it The Spa Formerly Known as Prince, but quickly realized that no part of me wanted to wake up at five in the morning and make small talk with strangers all day.

After making a purchase, oh, five minutes ago, I realized that the last three owners have something in common: they all talk on the phone while working behind the register. This raises two questions for me:

1. When did it become acceptable to talk on the phone while at work? D & D Market (what an unclever name) isn't the only place I've observed this phenomenon either, it seems to occur at just about every retail business. It's not like I want to have a chat, but it's rather annoying when I can't tell if you're talking to me or the person on the other end of the phone. And...

2. Who the hell do you have to talk to for 6 hours a day, everyday? You work at a fuckin' corner store!