Food - international and local franchises

photo 1: showing American fast food franchise, Burger King on the Western Main Road. 

There is a number of fast food varieties to chose from you can have what ever you like.

photo 2: showing American fast food franchise, KFC which is also situated on the Western Main Road. KFC is extremely popular around Trinidad and Tobago and has become integrated into the the local cuisine and pellet (culture). Look at that long line...Trini's love this stuff called  Fast Food.

The presence of these international franchises not only displays the commercial (urban) function of St. James but also the effect of globalization when it comes to food - the greater availability and diversity of food, particularly American fast food. This is closely associated with urbanization. Food franchises, especially international ones typically establish themselves in areas where they can make profits. These areas will be ones that have a high population density which would most likely be an urban areas such as St James.

                                                                   

photo 3: showing local fast food franchise, Royal Castle on Western Main road.

This photo is also meant to depict the socialization activity known as 'liming' in Trinidad which can be characterized as urban in nature. Also, it may not be obvious, but upstairs section of this franchise is actually a residence which most likely owns the entire property and collects rent from the Royal Castle franchise. Here one can see the mixture of land use and building use of an urban area. 

photo 4: showing local food franchise, Hott shoppe (roti) located on Mucorapo Road, St. James.

at a hot shop

In the latter two photos, one can see the effects of having pavements. They influence socialization and therefore the interactive urban side of the culture of St. James as people socialize outside food places etc. Side walks allow people to do this in safety as they are out of the way of vehicular traffic (a characteristic of urban areas). The presence of all these fast foot outlets indicate the typical busy, fast-paced lifestyle of an urban community.

References:

Jacobs, Jane. The death and life of great American cities. Vintage, 1961.

Jacobs, Jane. "The uses of sidewalks: safety." The City Reader (1961): 114-118.

Kennedy, Gina, Guy Nantel, and Prakash Shetty. "Globalization of food systems in developing countries: a synthesis of country case studies."Globalization of food systems in developing countries: impact on food security and nutrition 83, no. 1 (2004).