Howdy pardner
Throughout the years, small businesses have acted like mini fortresses. The prevailing feeling has been that similar businesses were to be avoided entirely; rather, they were to be treated as enemy forces. I received an education about this more than thirty years ago. While attending a meeting with tourism officials from a Coos County (NH) community, I advised them that several local towns should pool their resources for the betterment of all. Not a minute passed before the metaphoric tar (feathers to follow?) began to boil. “Do you expect me to spend my hard earned money so that Town X and Town Y can steal my customers?” When I replied in the affirmative, the gentleman’s reply was, “This conversation is over!” I am happy to report that, with the passage of time, the old fortress mentality within the tourism industry has been replaced by an era of partnerships and cooperation. Small hotels, restaurants, attractions, and–yes–communities, now recognize that the only realistic means of competing with the big boys and girls is by working together, pooling their dollars and their resources. Mercifully, the traditional smells of spring have replaced the odor of tar at those tourism meetings.
We’re currently in the town of Falmouth MA. The main street is lined with unique small businesses and restaurants, the majority of which are owner owned. Falmouth must be doing something right because some of these shops actually manage to stay afloat even in the winter. Falmouth has its share of big box stores also, so its not like there isn’t competition. I would suspect that the shop owners do exactly what you speak of; cooperate and stand together. “United we stand, divided we fall” seems to be the model that works for this town.
Thanks for this observation. The community must play its role, too. Planning and zoning, historic preservation are vital components of a successful main street.