The Eagle received an interesting email the other day from a Cochrane resident voicing their concern over what she believes is an influx of big-box stores opening in the community, and the resulting independently-owned businesses closing their doors.
They sent their letter of concern not only to Cochrane media, but also to each member of council, including the mayor.
This letter raises some excellent points and equally imaginative suggestions for how Cochrane’s downtown could be revitalized.
Spurred by the site of a ‘going out of business’ sign, the writer states, “I don’t know the reason behind the closing, but I can only assume it has something to do with the mecca of big-box chain stores located only blocks away.”
The theme of the letter is sound and right on point – Cochrane’s town council must provide the necessary tools for the community’s downtown core to create something more attractive for local residents and for those visiting our town.
The author suggests creating a gathering place on Fourth Ave. where the town recently approved a pilot project to bring in temporary washrooms. They recommend adding planters and benches, encouraging hot dog and/or food trucks, an art installation and perhaps even licensed buskers to the area. “Suddenly, the focal point isn’t the embarrassment of a public washroom, but a place tourists and locals could gather,” they wrote.
This is a fantastic idea. Who wouldn’t want to check out a pedestrian area on a Saturday or Sunday with food trucks, music and places to sit and relax? Businesses in the area would surely be ecstatic about the notion of having an attractive venue like this in the vicinity of their store.
Mayor Ivan Brooker responded to the letter, saying the intent was to beautify the washroom area on Fourth Ave., starting with planters. He added that he would pass her suggestions on to both town administration and downtown business owners.
The letter does, however, also address one common gripe of many ‘small-town’ residents when they see their community’s growth speedily proceed without regard for many of its current dwellers.
People always blame the big-box stores when smaller, independent shops go out of business…and they very well may be at fault.
But the fact is, you can’t have a community the size of Cochrane, and still growing, and not provide the necessary services to all of its residents.
Just For You Flowers, which is located on Main Street, is closing its doors after eight years in business. We’re not certain if this is the ‘out of business’ sign the letter writer was referring to, but nevertheless, small businesses close down all the time for various reasons, not always financial.
Just For You Flowers may have been a wonderful shop, with unique items to offer residents and visitors alike, but if consumers don’t what to pay for those items, or if the owner simply wants to stop working for whatever reason they may have, the store will close.
Places like Safeway, Save-On-Foods, Mark’s No Frills and Wal-Mart provide items (some items at least) at a lesser cost than what a small business is able to – that’s a fact that holds true under most circumstances.
Canmore, for example, used to have a nice little grocery story right downtown, Marra’s, that everyone in Canmore loved, but few could afford to shop at.
It shut down, likely because 90 per cent of Canmorites did their shopping at Safeway or Sobey’s (now Save-On-Foods).
It’s a noble thing to want to support local businesses, but being able to foot that bill is something else.
In Cochrane, people can buy flowers at an independent shop like Panda Flowers, or they can go for a ‘cheaper’ option at a big-box store like Safeway or Save-On-Foods.
What would many Cochrane residents do if we didn’t have a Safeway, Save-On-Foods or Wal-Mart? Not everyone can afford to shop at a Marra’s Grocery Store, and though the big-box businesses don’t offer the same kind of eclectic, small-town attraction that an independent business can, we need them.
So instead of worrying about the competition, let’s instead focus on the fabulous idea this Cochrane resident was proposing…make the town’s downtown as attractive as possible, which would ultimately help our independent businesses — a positive for everyone.
In their own words: “Cochrane’s heart can be saved, it just needs some strong leadership and a plan. It’s time to step up.”
Congratulations to the three winners in our Best of Cochrane survey: Sallie Barclay, who won the $300 prize; Kathy Seidler with $200; and Dawnita Gillman, $100.
Each received gift certificates to their favourite winning Cochrane businesses.
