Letter: Comments on Old Downtown business

Editor: We read with some confusion the front page item titled
³Town Green Businesses¹ Ups and downs², Sept. 14-20, 2006. My
confusion stemmed from the comparison of the
Pignatero-Garcia-Moreno family¹s ownership of three small
businesses in Old Downtown Windsor (ODW) with the developer, Elvera
Bragg¹s ownership of at least four (more than two are on the way
and one has come and gone) businesses in ODW.
Where is the comparison? In the first case, you have independent
entrepreneurs (Mom and Pop stores, to quote Orrin Thiessen) with a
relatively big stake in their success. People with a dream, sure,
but people without hordes of cash to float their businesses for
years until they turn a profit.
In the second case, we have a very well-funded chain of stores
under one owner. The stores are manned by employees and are managed
by an off-site manager, Carl Alvarez. I think most people can see
the difference. While Mrs. Bragg may be able to fund the day-to-day
operations of a multitude of businesses and be rewarded at tax time
if they don¹t make money, we entrepreneurs must make it before our
life savings are exhausted.
Having so many businesses owned by the developer keep rents
artificially high and dilutes the energy and synergy that can occur
when like-minded entrepreneurs, with high stakes and pride in their
businesses, gather at BID meetings and rally together to solve
marketing and advertising challenges.
Then we hear from Orrin that ³formula businesses² such as chains
have a ³proven formula² whereas we entrepreneurs have ³unproven
business models². Oh really? As I understand ³formula businesses²
they lack individuality, community conscience and they take money
out of the community (remember the sound of that pipe dropping to
the concrete floor in a large chain home improvement warehouse
commercial). Many times they are successful in a questionable
location because they have the financial wherewithal to wait out
negative impacts such as construction, low foot traffic, economic
downturns and other negative impacts on cash flow.
We small business owners do not have the deep pockets of
Starbucks, Beverages & More and Sports On The Green (one of
Bragg¹s businesses). So we (the true entrepreneurs) are in our
businesses 6-7 days per week, working long hours, greeting each and
every customer hoping that our Business Improvement District and
the Town of Windsor can create enough events to lure people off of
101 to this lovely, friendly town so that we can live our dream and
the Town¹s dream by being successful. We hope Orrin¹s comments are
not a sly prelude to a breach of his promise not to have chains in
ODW.
PS ­ By the way, Mr. Cohan (Letter To The Editor, same issue):
You have challenged the residents of Windsor to support us. We
thank you for that. However, when will your staff start supporting
us? Have you thought to use The Map Store for your blueprints? Your
copying? Our pharmacy for your medication needs? Bought any
magazines or art from the Gallery On The Green? We challenge you
and the Town Green Village, LLP to support the businesses, as you
are residents here 8-12 hours each day. Happy Anniversary! I hope
we are all around for the next one.
Mark Burger, Pharm.D., Owner, Health First ! Pharmacy,
Windsor