Support Small Business

Last week Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times wrote a column about the demise of Borders Books. He said that whenever a popular store closes people will say something like: "I love that place, I used to go there all the time." The operative word, of course, is "used" . That really struck a chord with me so I sent him an email which he printed in today's paper. I love his response.

Jim Riley: “Your column [about once-popular establishments going out of business] really hit home for me. As a small retailer I hear it every day. ‘I used to come to your place years ago, or, ‘My parents used to bring me here.’ We’ve been here the whole time. Where have you been?

“Established in 1937, our store has survived a world war, urban upheaval, several recessions, and the Ford and Carter administrations. Never has it been as bad as it is now. All I want to say is: Support small business before Wal-Mart takes over everything". 

Thanks,

Jim Riley

Riley’s Trick Shop

Man, I used to love visiting Riley’s Trick Shop as a kid. It was literally a magical trip.

Ah, geez. I just did it, didn’t I?

All right, everybody who had a rush of nostalgia upon reading the words “Riley’s Trick Shop”: Please make plans to stop in there sometime in the next week.