I live in Connecticut and things are a bit tough here. Two small to medium size shops have gone out of business recently. A friend of mine who is a salesman for a large bicycle parts wholesaler said that he expects more in the state to go too. A local dealer just moved into a new building just when the economy was tanking big time. A friend of mine was in his shop around Christmas time and said that for the one hour he was there, he was the only customer and the phone never rang once. It's nice to sell top brands, but bikes, like cameras, are bought with disposable income. Many of my friends and acquaintences are very concerned about losing their jobs. Independent dealers will always exist, but it is a very seasonal business even in normal times.