[Vision2020] Safe Lefty's

[Bill London]

B-

I agree with you:
Today, for a local, non-national retail firm to survive, it has to be extremely creative.  A local firm has to create their own advertisement, their own product base, and they must "re-invent the wheel" daily.  Many "local" business people find it easier to buy into a franchise to have help with those items.  I have a lot of respect for mom-and-pop type businesses that survive today.

To support Moscow's local independent businesses is the purpose of Buy Local Moscow, an organization with 80 members.  Each of those 80 member businesses is locally owned and independent...not a franchise that opens with marketing and managerial support...but entrepreneurial, family businesses that deserve our support.  More info at www.buylocalmoscow.com
BL

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Bev Bafus 
  To: Vision 2020 
  Sent: Friday, April 25, 2008 12:50 PM
  Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Safe Lefty's


  This makes me think about a conversation my husband and I had the other day.  Many years ago, we decided that we would never work in retail, at least until our kids were grown.  We grew up in retail, our parents both had mom-and-pop type retail establishments.  (for those of you who go WAAAYYY back... Bafus Jewelers in Moscow, and Discount Vacuum in Lewiston)

  We grew up with parents who worked CONSTANTLY, and never got a day off.  The very nature of mom-and-pop style retail does not allow for much free time.  But that was a different day and age, and those type of businesses are few and far between now.

  Our children work in retail.  They work for large corporate concerns, and scheduling is easier with a larger staff.  Even the owners and managers have days off.  (although managers are often on call - our daughter is).

  Today, for a local, non-national retail firm to survive, it has to be extremely creative.  A local firm has to create their own advertisement, their own product base, and they must "re-invent the wheel" daily.  Many "local" business people find it easier to buy into a franchise to have help with those items.  I have a lot of respect for mom-and-pop type businesses that survive today.

  As these type of businesses fade away, being replaced by cookie cutter retail chains, something in our national make-up is lost that can never been recaptured.

  The point of my rant?  Nothing really.  Just a bit of nostalgia.................

  Thanks
  Bev



   -----Original Message-----
  From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]On Behalf Of Angie Doe
  Sent: Friday, April 25, 2008 6:30 AM
  To: Vision 2020
  Subject: [Vision2020] Safe Lefty's




         Cut and Pasted in its entirety from an online bulletin.

          WHAT? Protest. But the weird, uncommon, positive type.

          "Save Lefty's"

          WHERE? Palouse Mall Enterance/Lefty's

          WHEN? May 2nd, 5pm

          Come, carry a sign for 5 minutes.

          Get a free shake!
          ===============================

          The details:

          By now the word is officially out. The Lefty restaurant located in the Palouse Mall, the home of the vandalizer (a now famous burger eating challenge) and the best shake on the Palouse for many years is being forced to close its doors in the mall...

          The owners of Lefty's originally moved to the area with the vision of running a small town restaurant. They bought Eric's Cafe and changed the name to Lefty's. Over the years they have done huge amounts of renovations, repainting, adding lighting, and just recently they added booths to make the environment even cozier.

          Now the Palouse Mall Corporation seems more interested in large corporations than small local businesses. This seems to have in part been also responsible for the closure of other small shops, like the flower shop, S&P Hobbies, etc. The sad thing is that it is the small local places that are really a part of culture.

          The word on the street is that the mall plans to put in some large corporate pizza joint.

          Exactly what we need more of in our college town *weary smile*

          In talking to the owner, Ken, he really wants to keep the restaurant going… and he is looking for another location, but he needs to raise some money to help in that transition.

          There are two ways that you can help out:

          Come to the Protest. There will be free shakes provided to everyone who participates. There will be fun signs, etc. So come and have a good time. The message of this is to be a positive message of helping save the restaurant as a Moscow icon. So, not down with the mall or anything like that. Instead, come and have a good time.

          Buy a Raffle ticket: In an effort to raise some money to help with the search and transition to a new place, Ken is hosting a raffle contest.

          The raffle tickets will cost $10 each, and the prizes are as follows:

          5 Grand prizes
          >> 1 year of free food, every day at the new Lefty's.

          10 Second place prizes:
          >> 1 year of free food, once a week at the new Lefty's

          20 3rd Place Prizes: 
          >> $25 gift certificates.

          The raffle tickets can be purchased either in the Lefty's store or in the next couple of days, they will be available for purchase via Paypal at which point the link will be posted.

          In the unfortunate event that Lefty's is unable to find a new location, the money will be given to the Community Action Partnership, Christmas for Kids, or some similar charity.

         



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