We're doing fine here at Farmstead, and thanks for asking. Business is down a bit, but it's down everywhere, and Carol, the staff and I are truly blessed to have located our shops in Alameda and Montclair Village - two communities that have been been more than superlative in supporting local, family owned businesses.
I wonder what my community would be like if there were no shoe repair shop and I'd have to drive miles to get a prescription filled or to have my computer repaired. I shudder when I think of the suburban sprawl that I see in my travels - chain stores, big boxes and franchise restaurants as far as the eye can see.
I try to shop locally, and go out of my way whenever possible to buy from locally owned businesses. It may cost me a buck or two more, but I feel that somehow I am paying it forward. I understand that I have a responsibility to keep my hard earned dollars in my own community.
Yet, I still get my DVDs from Netflix, my toilet paper from Costco and dog treats from Trader Joe's instead of the local alternatives, and I occasionally just have to have a burger from In and Out instead of the sublime ones available at The Wood Tavern.
Does occasionally shopping at big boxes make me an evil hypocrite? I don't think so. What it does mean is that perhaps we could all be a bit more conscious of the economic power that each of us possess in our wallets and purses. This isn't meant to be a plea for you to spend more money at Farmstead (although we'd certainly welcome your patronage), just a reminder to maybe think about the potential ramifications of the choices that we all make each and every day.
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