I like driving up to the coffee shop at 6 a.m. and the attendants asking, “Good morning, the usual?”

I like going to the boutique clothing store where the sales staff—and owner—ask for which event I need something special. “Oh, Mary bought that dress for the same event; let’s see what else we can find.”

I like driving up to the bank teller, who knows my car and asks about my day, how my daughter is doing at school, wishes me a great day, or reminds me to check on the latest CD prices as she remembers there was one maturing soon.

I like walking into the specialty/gift store where the attendant—often the owner—asks, “Sending off another care package? We’re getting another shipment of the soap you like.”

I like going to the locally owned jewelry store that offers to clean my jewelry at no charge while I just browse. You can be sure when I’m ready to make a purchase, I’ll go there first.

I like going to the local restaurants where the servers greet me by name, ask if I want my favorite drink, and tell me my favorite special is on the menu.

I like going to the camera store, asking for help with a purchase, and having the knowledgeable staff actually explain how to use the product—not just read what the description says on the box. I like knowing I can go back for help or a return without having to wait in a maze of a line like a bull ready to be released into the “service arena.”

I’m afraid there’s a serious threat to my little world. The comforts and conveniences of living in a smaller Midwestern community are being threatened by the “big boxes” of the world. The past couple of years have been difficult for many small business owners, and it seems 2006 is the year for many to decide their dream of ownership is over. As a small business owner myself, I’m very sensitive to supporting local businesses. We usually can’t say we’re among the largest businesses in the area, but we do provide living wages to many individuals and families. Not only do patrons benefit by having a familiar person provide service, but employees receive the satisfaction of building relationships and helping returning customers.

The reasons for the dwindling number of independent businesses are complicated and diverse. Big box stores, urban sprawl, generational consumer trends, high taxes, health care, Internet…the list goes on. It’s ever more important to the Peoria area community that we support independent businesses. Price—or loss leader on one item—shouldn’t be the only basis upon which we make our buying decisions. The service that accompanies your purchase can’t be matched by owners across the country or world. After all, it isn’t their reputation at stake. One unhappy consumer in one Midwestern central Illinois community isn’t of concern to the president, CEO, and stockholders of a mega corporation. One unhappy consumer—who I run into at the grocery store or restaurant or whose children are in the same classroom as my children—is of concern to local, independent business owners.

Go out of your way to support our local businesses, or we’ll continue to lose them. TPW