Hey all, Tish here. I’m about to get real with you. Which based on the title, I’m sure you were expecting.
Our hearts are heavy this week. If you are local to the Fargo-Moorhead area, you may have heard that King House Buffet is closing permanently at the end of October. Our family loves King House. CEO often requests eating there, and I’m actually not sure how he’s going to handle the idea that there will soon be no more King House. We’ve gotten to know the owners, Cindy and Bo, over the last few years, and we know this isn’t a decision they make lightly.
The reality is that 2020 has not been kind to small business. (It hasn’t been especially kind to anyone really.)
According to this recent data from Yelp, business closures are increasing nationwide.
The rise of permanent closures is disheartening. I think we all expect a variety of temporary closures to be part of the “new normal” as businesses respond to outbreaks and local guidelines. Personally, I’m willing to bet that many businesses have exhausted their government assistance from earlier this year and consumer confidence has not returned to previous levels, which makes permanent closure the only option for many.
That’s what I think because that’s the boat we are in. Please understand: this is not a closing announcement. We’ve still got fight left in us. But the reality right now is that we don’t have a cushion anymore. I’m not telling you this to invoke your pity, but if Replay is running this way, there is a good chance that other local businesses are as well.
So as we approach the holiday shopping season, with Prime Day coming soon and Black Friday on it’s heels, I’m pleading with you to Shop Small. No matter what your holiday shopping budget is, and I understand that one of the reasons businesses are suffering is because many people have seen reduced or lost income, I can guarantee that a small, local business will appreciate and do more with your dollars than Amazon or Wal-Mart or Target. Please consider purchasing at local stores, where your money will be infused into the economy of your town. Where the business owner will likely use some of that money for their own holiday shopping or quite literally putting food on the table.
We are #inthistogether as the cool kids say. (And here’s what pops into my head anytime someone says that.)
So as you’re driving through town, take note of the businesses you’d hate to see close their doors permanently and make a conscious effort to support them.
