Saranac Lake community store profiled in NY Times
The New York Times ran a big, glowing treatment of the new Community Store in Saranac Lake yesterday, describing the project as the retail equivalent of the Green Bay Packers. (For non-football fans, that’s a good thing…)
Here’s a taste.
“Ooh, that’s nice,” said Pat Brown, as she held up a slim black skirt (price: $29.99). She and her husband, Bob, a former professor of sociology at a local community college, live in town in an early 1900s home furnished with deer heads and other mementos from Bob’s hunting trips.
The couple — who were voted king and queen of the village’s annual Winter Carnival in 1999 — bought $2,000 worth of shares in the store early on, and later bought a few more during a fund-raising drive.
“It’s been a long process for all of us. We’re very proud to have it finally become a reality,” Ms. Brown said. Her husband, a vigorous-looking man who had a neatly trimmed white beard and was wearing a cowboy hat, added, “This is a small town trying to help itself.”
The article puts the store’s development in the context of the debate over Wal-Mart and Occupy Wall Street.
The Saranac Lake Community Store is the first in New York State, its organizers say, and communities in states from Maine to Vermont are watching it closely.
Indeed, community ownership seems to resonate in these days of protest and unrest, when frustration with Wall Street, corporate America and a system seemingly rigged against the little guy is running high. But rather than simply grouse, some people are creating alternatives.
What do you think? Is the Community Store a statement, a convenient place to buy underwear, both, neither? Comments welcome.
Tags: adirondacks, economy
I have not yet seen the new Community Store but it seems like a great idea that needs to spread to other towns that have been passed over by the Walmartization of America. Community ownership does have potential difficulties in that it is hard to get people to agree on anything. Then add multiple ownership into the mix and problems will arise. But they can be overcome by proper planning, which I assume the Community has done.
Good for Saranac Lake!
made the most emailed list (number 8 so far).
Our Community Store will have a Board of Directors and will operate like any other small corporation (we have an interim Board of Directors right now) – just because community members are the investors doesn’t mean there will be “community management”. It will function like a real business – and it is setting a wonderful example of how a small community can manage their own destiny, instead of allowing corporate America to determine their future. Come visit and shop! It’s on Main St. near the intersection with Broadway.
This is a thrilling development! I am so encouraged that a community can acts in its own best interests–and serve them– rather than beconing prey to corporate self-interest. Is there a Town of the Year Award out there? Saranac Lake should win it.
I was on the original comittee that came up with the idea of a Community Store in Saranac Lake. When Ames left us we lost a lot by their departure. A few folks got together shortly afterwords and formed “The red carpet team” to try and find a store that would come to replace Ames. I was not on that committee but it was obvious after a while that they were not having any luck.
In 2005 another committee which I became part of was formed to once again try and replace Ames. What we found was that large department stores WOULD NOT come to Saranac Lake simply because we didn’t have the population to support them. It was very frustrating believe me.
But then one day we learned about the concept of a store owned by the locals. We read about “The Mercantile ” or “The Merc” as locals called it in Powell, Wyoming. We began to realize that this concept was something we should consider.
We decided to hold an informational meeting at the local town hall. The place was packed. We were able to bring in Sharon Earhart, head of the Chamber of Commerce in Powell, Wyoming. She told everyone about The Merc and how successful it was. After asking folks there what they thought we all realized this was SOMETHING WE COULD DO! And after 5 long years—yes, we have done this.
Please, come and shop in our Community Store. After 5 years—yes, it was well worth our efforts!!