Goodbye to Tea Garden Springs
Last Tuesday evening a message popped up in my in-box from my favorite day spa, Tea Garden Springs, in Mill Valley, California. Happily I opened it, expecting a copy of their monthly newsletter, or a note from the managing director, or perhaps a new photo for me to enjoy and use in my business (Blanche is generous like that.)
It was a note from the director, but it was far from happy. After serving the community for 16 years, they had closed their doors forever that day, a victim of the current economy.
It comes as no big surprise that when incomes are down belts are tightened and luxuries become few and far between. However, for a community to lose an established business the caliber of Tea Garden Springs is truly sad. And now more people have their income slashed---all the massage therapists, estheticians, spa staff.
If we don't want to see other beloved businesses suffer the same fate, the places the owners have poured their heart and soul into, the places that make our communities unique, we must support them.
I plan to increase my patronage of my area's Mom and Pop shops
- enjoy that barbecue sandwich from Mack's Smoked Barbecue on Laurel Street in San Carlos
- buy some plants to perk up my yard this autumn from Carlmont Nursery in Belmont
- purchase my next book from Kepler's Book Store in Menlo Park
- take a friend to a delicious Thai dinner at Bangkok Bay in Redwood City
What can you do to help keep your town alive?
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