Domino effect of business closures

Orange (WTNH) - More and more so-called "big box" stores are out of business, leaving plenty of empty spaces up for grabs and hindering nearby business.

It's one of the most obvious signs of our ailing economy. Some of the best known brands in retail like Circuit City and Comp USA are closed, vacant and up for rent.

"It's not good for the over all business to have these empty stores," said Orange First Selectman James Zeoli.

Zeoli feels that Boston Post Road looks like a big box store graveyard.

"These empty stores, whether big box or small units within a plaza, aren't good for the other merchants or the community," he said. "You want it vibrant and moving so people feel good and want to go into that plaza or store to shop."

But Zeoli isn't alone when it comes to the concern over all the empty store fronts.

Nationally, almost 7,000 retailers closed their doors last year. It's a sharp increase from the year before.

Real Estate Specialist Steve Spector has been trying to lease the closed Comp USA site for months. Finally, he's starting to get a few bites.

"What we're finding is calls from regional retailers, so we're not having to depend on the nationals coming in; we're going to see retailers from New England and maybe a little further south," said Spector. "They are starting to discover New England because they now have opportunities they didn't have before."

And Orange has been reaching out to places as far Washington D.C., Maine, Chicago and Ohio.

Meanwhile, Orange First Selectman said the actual loss in terms of the community's property tax base has been minimal; it's the impact on the other businesses he's most concerned about.