American Science & Surplus, a unique retail store in Chicago, is struggling to overcome financial hurdles due to the COVID-19 pandemic and rising costs, prompting a GoFundMe campaign to raise $200,000. Founder Pat Meyer admits that seeking financial help from the community is challenging but essential, indicating a broader issue of local retail competition against larger corporations. The store's diverse offerings have built a loyal customer base over its nearly 90-year history, but the current economic landscape poses serious challenges to its future.
"It's hard for me to talk about sometimes, because the more I'm in the store, the more I see how much people care about it and don't want it to go away."
"Banks... are real hesitant [about lending] money. Interest rates are high, too. So we decided that we were going to try and reach out to the community that we built over the last 88 years."
"I don't like asking people for money," he said.
"What's happening in suburban Chicago is a microcosm of the challenges facing local retail, with big-box retailers and online behemoths overwhelming beloved local institutions."
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