Reply #88: Longbranch Saloon now a quinceanera dress shop

[eowyn_of_rohan]

Hadn't been through there since the early '80s, were hot and thirsty and wanted a cold beer at the old Longbranch. The whole street is basically dead, and the few businesses still active are now Mexican owned, with all the signs in the windows in Spanish. Went into the dress shop and asked about the Longbranch, and not one of the 4 or 5 workers could answer because they didn't speak English. By the way, we had a great meal that night at a locally owned Mexican restaurant.

Met some native Americans in Gallup, who told us that most of the shops on on their stretch of Route 66 are now owned by Saudis who bring over their own friends and family members to work for them(MOST of whom are NOT citizens). After 9/11, there were some intense conflicts between the locals and these business owners and workers...

These are just 2 examples of many things we witnessed and experienced 2 years ago after not having been in that part of the country since the early 80s. Sorry if this makes me a jerk in some people's eyes, but I am sad to see those parts of our American culture that I love disappearing--farms, historic towns, cultural icons, etc. What is going to happen to OUR heritage and history?

I have figured quite a bit out, and still have a lot to figure out, but at least I can admit that...Something for you to think about.