Downtown businesses of Henderson, KY sponsor local youth sports (not Amazon)

Downtown stores outdo Amazon.com in local support

  By Chuck Stinnett, Courier Press, Posted April 21, 2012 at 3:45 p.m., updated April 21, 2012 at 3:45 p.m.

Some of my downtown business friends were stung by a comment here last week concerning the ever-quickening changes in retailing.

My commentary was inspired by a reader urging, in part, for someone to bring more stores downtown.

To be sure, someone has been trying. For more than 25 years, the Downtown Henderson Project — with support from the city, county, local banks and DHP members and volunteers — has worked earnestly to encourage property owners to keep buildings in good and historically restored condition (such as by offering low-interest loans for facade renovation and city tax abatements for building upgrades) as well as to recruit new businesses and promote activities to draw people downtown.

But as I noted, the momentum in retailing over the past 50 years has shifted from downtowns to suburban shopping centers to malls to big-box stores and now to online retailers such as Amazon.com.

Beans & Sweets Coffee Stop and Bakery in Las Vegas NM (#Coffeehouse)

Char was our barista.  She works for her sister at Beans & Sweets in downtown Las Vegas, NM about 4 miles off I-25.

You can see she enjoys her work, but her passion lies in the sweets.  She bakes all of the goodies in the window right there on site.  We found ourselves buying one scrumptious goody after another.  First a peanut butter cookie, then a baby loaf of banana bread landed in my bag, and can you believe we also bought a brownie and a chocolate covered peanut butter ball. I can’t remember what she called it, but it was ALL to-die-for!!

They  just repainted this little spot and had to shut it down for several days, but after being part of the community for so many years it didn’t effect business one iota.

 

 

Suze Kerrigan believes business should be joyful – dailyamerican.com

Suze Kerrigan believes business should be joyful – dailyamerican.com.

By the Old Oak Tree ~ Grassroots Coffee in Thomasville, GA

Bags of beans were piled high in the corner awaiting roasting.  The fresh scones in the pastry case were ready to please the pallet of the next taker.  The space was inviting and I was greeted with a friendly smile and could tell in an instant that these folks were passionate about their business.

They are two years in, and are already making an impact in their community by offering a roast that has been specially selected to meet the expectations of their demographic that is sweet, rich and not bitter.

If I understand correctly, they are participating in a gathering of Southern roasters in a couple of weeks to share and collaborate.  To find out more contact them at Grassroots Coffee.

Dig it!