A Note From V - Small Businesses Don’t Want To Be Missed
We shared this note from our General Manager, Virginia, on our socials recently and thought it should live here too.
Though specifics will change from quarter to quarter and year to year, one thing will remain true through it all: local small businesses of all kinds are a crucial part of the fabric of every community.
There may come a day when it is no longer necessary to remind people how important it is to make a practice of supporting their neighborhood dreamers and go-getters. Until then, here is one from us.
V here. 👋
I’ve been thinking lately how sad it would be if, in a few years, people looked out at the river downtown and thought “Man, it would be cool if you could kayak there. Someone should do that,” never knowing that someone did.
A group of people really, really tried. They poured everything they had into it; they fought bureaucratic lunacy, deep pockets with disappointing interests, an often hostile landscape, and SO much more because they believed this was a little slice of natural magic that people deserved access to.
They felt such joy connecting people with this waterway, educating them, building their confidence, helping them relax and practice self-care, and making them wonderful memories. It made all the incomprehensibly hard days so worth it.
They poured and poured and poured from their cup. And then there was nothing left.
I’m going to be real: this season has been hard. Harder than we could’ve expected. Not just the flooding, or stadium construction, but some secret 3rd thing we can’t seem to figure out.
And we’re not the only ones!
Lots of our local small business friends across a number of industries are struggling. They’ve responded and reorganized and pivoted and done all sorts of gymnastics to make things work, only for the numbers to still just barely make sense. Many have closed. And their closures are met with sadness and shock and lots of “Oh darn! I kept meaning to stop by!” It’s sad. It’s a shame.
Nashville loses a bit of its glitter every time one of our special spots closes its doors.
And it’s true— not every business works. Not everyone hits it big. Not everything is meant to last forever. Change is a constant.
But, before you’re missing the glow of a sign that got turned off for the last time, or that one barista who made your day, or that dance night at that one place where everyone felt welcome, or the little kayak crew that could…maybe make a pact with yourself that at least you won’t be able to say “Oh darn! I kept meaning to stop by!” Buy a Gift Certificate. Grab yourself a treat. Tell all of your friends. One way or another, please support a local business TODAY. They need you. And they’re not quite ready to be missed.
