When my dad was a businessman in Edmonds, local merchants didn’t have as much to worry about as business people do these days, finding money to pay for rent, wages and stock. My dad had financial worries, now and then, but his expectation always was that when sales lagged, things would look up if he just hung on. And then, yes, things looked up. It’s tougher now.

When my dad owned Western Auto, on the corner of Fourth and Main, local residents probably bought most of their automotive supplies, tools or household fix-it items either from my dad’s business or Crow Hardware. (Now there’s Ace Hardware!) 

It did not occur to residents to take the (only!) family car and drive somewhere else to shop for items available right here.

Most mid-afternoons, with her recipe for dinner tucked in her handbag, mom walked to buy groceries at Safeway, on the corner of Fifth and Main, or further up Main Street to The Shopping Cart, owned by my dad’s friends ErnieVollan and Claude Savage. 

Either way, it wasn’t far from our old house at Fourth and Dayton. Between variety stores, drug stores and other small businesses, mom found pretty much everything she needed, simply walking through Edmonds.

Our town held the small town expectation of neighbors helping neighbors, storeowners becoming friends.  Those were good times in many ways. 

In recent months, the building that housed my dad’s Western Auto business stands empty, waiting for another businessperson with a dream—and enough money to buy the dream. 

Which brings me to how enormously expensive it is for people owning small retail businesses to keep their dreams alive. Yes, times are hard for most everyone – the small business owner struggles.

In late November, Todd, owner of the charming shop “Bountiful Home,” on south Fourth where the Weed Lady used to be, blogged about something called The 3/50 Project. The concept? Simple: Choose three locally owned businesses you’d miss if they closed. 

Go to those businesses!  And spend $50—or what you can.  Get this:  for every $100 spent locally, $68 returns to our cash-strapped city, in taxes, wages, etc.  By terrible contrast, order online – save a few bucks – and NOTHING comes to the community. (My dad would hate that!)

Check www.bountifulhomeedmonds.blogspot.com. to learn more about the 3/50 project – and about “Bountiful Home.”  Then get out in the fresh air, walk through your community, greet three merchants you’d hate to see leave. And buy something.

Members of our business community need our cooperation in surmounting these tough times. Let’s help.  How’s that for a New Year’s Resolution? I like it!

(P.S.  MAJOR MUSICAL EVENT: The Organ Dedication Concert at the Edmonds United Methodist Church, 828 Caspers, at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb 7, will feature more extraordinary musicians than I can list! Check www.edmondsumc.org for details or call the office at (425) 778-2119.  A few $30 tickets remain for this fantastic concert.)