Why did you choose your site?
The selected site is a grocery store. It was selected primarily due to the impact they have on urban experiences. It is important to note that the grocery store has been heavily affected by technology, and in recent times, has also been affected by the global pandemic, COVID19. Critically, the traditional grocery store allowed people to walk in, get a shopping basket, and do their shopping. Today, due to technology, changes in society, and urban experiences, users can shop from the comfort of their homes. Borer (2013) notes that urban experiences often change because individuals often use sensory scholarships to deduct their urban experiences. Therefore, one can argue that the changes in grocery stores that affect the sensory elements of the users form part of their urban experiences. A second reason why the site was selected is its target market reach. One can argue that the store is highly valued in the community as it has an average of 500,000 users going into the store per week.
Personal Observations of Your Relationship(S) to the Site, e.g. Reflections on How You Use the Space Itself, How You Interact with Others in The Space, Your Comfort or Sense of Belonging There
One personal observation regarding the selected space is that it often feels like a one-stop shop. This is because I can ideally get everything I would want for my household in that one store. This has ensured a level of trust for the brands that are sold in the grocery store as I have used it for years. Further, it also indicates some form of comfortability in the user experience. One can argue that due to the store’s seamless, effortless and efficient consumer service, a majority of its users are loyal to the brand. It is also important to note that there are various types of interactions that happen within the space at a personal level. The most common, however, is the interaction with the staff in the store. The staff can help a user find an item and when checking out, they not only package the items that have been bought but also manage the payment process. The interaction is often professional. Critically, if a consumer complains about ill-treatment from the staff, albeit not through direct interaction, I would be interested in how the issue is resolved.
The Larger Implications of How Your Site Functions Well – Or Doesn’t Function Well – As Public Space
The site functions well as a public space albeit with various challenges. To understand how the site functions, one also has to consider how it adapts to the changing nature of public spaces. This is especially the case in the last year due to the mentioned global pandemic. Critically, as James (2020) explains, one of the key changes in public spaces in the year 2020 was social distancing. It can be argued that grocery stores often had queues with people standing close to one another. This changed with management not only enforcing the social distancing rules more strictly but also limiting the number of people entering the stores at any given time. It can be argued that due to the adaptation, the grocery store functioned well as a public space in the year 2020. Critically, one implication of this is that more people preferred to go to the store, compared to its competitors, as they felt safe and protected from the pandemic. This can also have a long-term effect (implication) on how people interact with public spaces in the future.
Geographical or neighborhood Context
It is important to also note that another long-term implication of the site functioning well is the level of hygiene that has been observed since the beginning of the pandemic. This does not in any way suggest that the grocery store did not observe hygienic measures. However, these measures have since been doubled to ensure little if any risk of infection. Further, the fact that the company has been forced to limit the number of people who go in at a time can have long-term implications. As stated, the store would get approximately 500,000 users per week. This number ensured that the store was full of clients on any given day of the week. Critically, this affects employee relations as more staff members would be required or the few that are employed would have to be overworked. Therefore, the limitation of users can help the company plan better and offer better services within the public space.
Critically, the geographical or neighborhood location of the grocery store is important in understanding how it affects people and behaviors. First, the grocery store is located in the center of the town, with ample parking. This layout ensures that the experiences (developed from the sensory advances) are seamless. The fact that the store has extra parking ensures that its clients can safely reach and leave the store. Further, the fact that the grocery store sits in the middle of the town makes it easier accessible even to people who have not lived in the town for a long time. Critically, a good location is not only useful for purposes of access but also layout of the store. The fact that the space is large also ensures that the whole place shapes the meaning and possibilities of the public space.
References
Borer, M. I. (2013). Being in the city: The sociology of urban experiences. Sociology Compass, 7(11), 965–983.
James, A. C. (2020). Don’t stand so close to me: Public spaces, behavioral geography, and COVID-19. Dialogues in Human Geography, 10(2), 187–190.