When I was growing up, shopping more often than not involved waiting in long lines at the suburban mall, only to be helped by someone who didn’t know the product (which was not really a good value), couldn’t find anyone else to answer questions on it, and just didn’t generally seem invested. There was, more often than not, a genuine disconnect. This year has been trying for number of reasons for just about everyone, but in many ways, it comes down to a perpetual state of disconnect. And while some of that sounded great initially, it’s also laid bare that what we all seem to be missing more than ever are human connections: the good ones.
The person on the same floor of work as you who you used to have relatively brief conversations with is suddenly the person you want to reconnect with over a beer. The family wedding that would have reconnected you with that former classmate you grew up with over random nights and math classes has been rescheduled for the third time which seems extra unfortunate now. Shopping locally, especially during a pandemic, allows for these continued personal connections safely. There’s no fear of a crowd of 50 when you pick up new Cheesemaker gear or search for a gift for a grandchild’s birthday.
There is a lot that happens within the four walls of a local shop, and there’s a lot of activity in our downtown district. We have welcomed new businesses in the last few months, and will be welcoming our pop up shop — Busy Bee Floral & Gifts — next week. Getting to know all of the store owners and their stories is something I cherish. In fact, there’s a whole lot of love and dedication that goes into creating your neighborhood faves. From the couple deciding they wanted to open a retail store after spending years on the farm to those filling a void for educational items for special needs children, it’s exciting to hear why people have opened their shops and carry the variety of products they do.
Likewise, I am always taken aback by how many people owners know and connect with. When you purchase a mother of the bride dress, celebrate an anniversary dinner, or get a tux, we see the human side of business because we are letting people into our lives while we’re contributing to theirs. Local business owners have a commitment to being well informed about their merchandise and knowing what they are serving. It’s a reflection of themselves, their passion, and commitment to Monroe. Because they know their customers and type of customer, they adjust their inventories to include the goods and services local people want to buy.
In a year that has been largely devoid of personal connections as we’ve known them and had long taken them for granted, our local businesses offer a true refuge and opportunities to connect. How blessed are we to have the opportunity to safely patronize so many places where we want is stocked and can be seen, where the owner will get to know our names, help us discover a gift our spouse will love, and be there week after week for all the meals in between.
As we continue to survive this year that doesn’t seem to end but is somehow fast approaching another season, please show local businesses how much they mean to our community. Because, after all, that pair of socks and Friday night fish fry have never meant more. They’re support for the places you love and the real-life people behind them.
— Jordan Nordby is the executive director for Main Street Monroe. He can be reached at MonroeMainStreet@tds.net.
