SHOPPING ACCESS
Editor:
I followed with great interest the letters concerning the ability to find
merchandise in Petaluma. I would like to turn the conversation a bit and
address ''the ability to shop'' almost anywhere in Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park
and Petaluma.
In all three towns, shopping is for the strong and young. The way stores,
with few exceptions, are set up to preclude shopping by one of the largest and
most affluent groups -- seniors.
We are able to shop where it can be quickly done or where some method of
sitting a minute to regain strength is available. Otherwise, we shop by
catalogues.
Many of us cannot walk for any great distance and need to rest at intervals
before resuming our trip. For example, I like one particular department store,
its staff and merchandise, but I can no longer shop there because I cannot
enter the store and rest a moment before continuing to women's wear or
housewares or shoes, resting along the way perhaps once more.
I wrote to central office and was told it would take up too much valuable
sales space if a bench were added at the end of a display rack. How
shortsighted! I have not been back, nor have many people with similar
problems.
We cannot shop the big warehouse-size stores or any of the new discount
center stores. It deprives us of ''fun'' and merchants of dollars. Foolish!
Trader Joe, Raley's and some Safeways provide electric carts, and what a
difference that makes! It is liberating! Perhaps there would be no problem
finding merchandise, if it were easier to seek.
ADELE DAVIS
Penngrove
UPDATED: Please read and follow our commenting policy: