Empty auto dealerships mean new attractions for travelers

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Auto dealerships, smacked by the recession, have shut down across the country, but many of those buildings are coming back to life. These large, empty buildings have become restaurants, schools, yoga studios and even art galleries. It’s not just empty dealerships – shuttered businesses of all kinds are giving way to new attractions that can add color to any trip. Just down the road from me, an empty commercial spot on Central Park West became home to a 10-artist exhibition for several weeks. These are the surprises that can turn any vacation into something truly memorable.

The opportunities aren’t just in New York; you can find them around the country. Art students from the Columbus College of Art & Design in Ohio have taken advantage of an empty local dealership to bring a new energy to an empty space. The school has invested $8.3 million in the space.

If you find yourself needing a yoga fix in Los Angeles, check out the Golden Bridge Yoga Studio, which occupies an empty dealership. You can dine in one at NEO in St. Louis.

[Photo by David Hilowitz via Flickr]

Mango scare at Columbus airport

by Tom Johansmeyer on

The bomb squad at the Columbus, Ohio airport simply was not trained for the task. It’s not their fault: after all, few pickled mangoes have actually exploded. Nonetheless, there’s bound to be some sort of inquiry about the produce risk in today’s airports.

When x-ray equipment detected something suspicious, the bomb squad was summoned. The concern arose from the fact that an item was sealed in a canister labeled “baby food.” This, in itself, wouldn’t have been a problem, but the women’s description of the contents didn’t match the label.

The bomb squad actually did detonate the item, which is when they discovered the non-volatile contents.

Check out these other stories from the airport checkpoint!