It's almost that time of year again to celebrate and thank dear old Dad for everything he does. We are here with a PSA to help you avoid generic gift choices from the big box stores by offering some creative, alternative suggestions instead! (After all, your pop probably doesn't really want something boring from Awful-Mart or the mall, so why not plan something a little more interesting for the weekend?)
Did you know that some of the best times of the year are right ahead of us? For many folks, summertime is a season of outdoor fun, togetherness and adventures. With the festivities and celebrations which are sprinkled throughout the warmer months come many opportunities to choose exciting new establishments and attractions to explore.
Maybe you weren't following my blog or page a year or two ago, or perhaps you saw the posts and it just didn't occur to you to read them. Or maybe actually following the journey of a small business owner as he said goodbye just didn't appear to be something significant. This time however, it was. Better than almost anyone who had put into words what it's like, Mr. Carlo offered all of us not only the chance to say farewell but the opportunity to glimpse the process of closing. It was painful but poignant and more than anything it showed such a love of customers and community that few people can understand.
Perhaps you would have to have been a small business owner yourself to really "get it", but for those folks who believe that a locally owned shop is just a building or a storefront or a hobby, it painted a picture of the incredible connections that people form with one another. And while being a shop owner is a privilege and an honor, it's also like cutting off a piece of yourself should it ever end. In October of 2014 they announced their closing.
