It’s A Stuggle

Okay, we're taking two risks here.

First is the risk of repeating ourselves because we've opined about local business support on this page several times before.

Second is the risk of offending those Waitsburgers who get it and do exactly what we're hoping more local residents will do.

But we're willing to take those risks because entrepreneurs in town, like myself, took a chance when they located their businesses here and we believe we deserve the community's support. The lo- cal businesses create jobs, generate city tax revenues, support local causes when they're financially healthy and make Main Street look good amidst the city's streetscape improvements.

This week, we report on the first anniversary of a mini-Main Street revival, checking in on the eateries that opened here in early August of 2011. The news isn't great. Several are having a tough time and none of them report making money hand over fist.

Let's face it. This town has a history of high business turnover. Bull's Eye, Carmen's Deli, Farmer's Café, Delta Connection, Don Miguel's, Whetstone Public House and the White Stallion are just some of the restaurants that came and went. And because of that, some local residents are deeply devoted to Main Street's current businesses. They know: If you snooze, you lose. For them, the busi- nesses are grateful and bend over backwards. Now the rest of the town should do the same. It's sad that only some local businesses have had real staying power in recent years and it's largely because they don't rely solely on local consumers. The Whoop Em Hollow Café, the jimgermanbar and the Lath Neppur Brewery are among them.

One might speculate that Waitsburgers aren't as inclined to eat out, but as some community leaders observe, many local residents shop and dine in Walla Walla.

Obviously, we could never offer the choices a much larger town like Walla Walla does. Financially, it's hard for a Betty's Diner to compete with a much larger burger chain or a Coppei Coffee Co. to keep up with Starbucks.

That's because small businesses don't have the buying power of larger companies. And yet our restaurants offer affordable prices and something many chain restaurants don't: ambiance and service. To generate this ambiance, the new businesses spent considerable amounts of money refurbishing their retail spaces in keeping with Waitsburg's historic character. As for service: How many Walla Walla retailers know exactly how to make your drink or your meal when you walk through the door? How many know you by name and give you the time of day?

As we've said before, patronizing only Walla Walla businesses hurts our town and may never get past its revolving-door reputa- tion. Those dollars you spend on Main Street in Waitsburg come back to you in the form of a viable community and a vibrant retail core, something many small towns lack. We believe a population of 1,250 is plenty to support a handful of local restaurants, particularly if they offer a good product. Yet, all too often, business owners hear Waitsburgers say it's the first time they've walked through the door of one of the three new businesses despite the fact they've been open almost a year now. If even half the money Waitsburgers spend in Walla Walla were spent here, most of our retailers would probably make it.

Hopefully, this editorial will spur some thoughts and feedback. Let us or the restaurant owners know if there's something lacking in what they offer or how or when they offer it. But please don't ask for changes you're not willing to take advantage of. If you want Betty's Diner to stay open at night, for instance, eat there with gusto when it does.

Let's not throw the baby out with the bath water and let's help our local entrepreneurs make their operations better. Don't just walk away throwing up your hands. Fill out a comment card, write a let- ter to the editor or tell the owner(s) directly and support the changes when they listen. If not, where is their incentive?

Meanwhile, we're grateful for anything community leaders can do to encourage other customers, local or otherwise. The highway signs help. Special events, which we know require a lot of effort, are terrific. But just as importantly, keep leading by example by walking through the door.

Thank you, Waitsburg, for stepping up.

By Imbert Matthee, owner of the Times and Coppei Coffee Co. in Waitsburg