There are delicious rumors that some folks would like to turn 107 Main Street (the old Town Hall, which was most recently Clifton Jaeger's studio), into a marketplace featuring local foods and produce--Hautboy milk, Cockerline Beef, Isabella Freedman sauerkraut and pickles, Rustling Wind beets and blue cheese, Chubby Bunny lettuce and tomatoes, Dean's corn etc. They envision a year-round indoor farmer's market plus a whole lot more: old-fashioned handmade ice cream, books by local authors, a gallery area with local crafts and artworks. Maybe they would sell some antiques, too, and flowering plants, and penny candy for kids to buy after school, and toys so you don't have to schlep to Great Barrington or Torrington for birthday gifts. Of course, they wonder if the community would and could support such a venture.
The prospect of having the lights shining on winter's nights in the plate glass windows of 107 Main Street is exciting. But that can only happen if they can create a place where we really want to shop, which meets not only our everyday needs but also supports our neighbors' home businesses, grows our local economy and fosters a sense of community.
What would you like a Falls Village General Store to be? What would you like to see sold there? What gap in your life could it fill? Leave your comments here on the blog. Let's give these prospective entrepreneurs some insider information so they can have a fair chance to succeed. And then someday you'll be able to say, "I bought that at the Falls Village General Store."
Saturday, July 28, 2007
The Falls Village General Store?
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9 comments:
I would buy everything on this list! How about a good wine shop? Not a lot of wine, just a fair amount of GOOD wine. Is it possible?
Toys! yes! love that. It would be such a treat to have a local store to buy birthday and special occasion gifts.
Sounds great to me but I agree it would not be wise to open such an establishment unless it's clear the community will support it.
Sometimes people talk a good game about these kinds of stores but they don't actually patronize them much.
Still, this strikes me as a breath of fresh air. Thanks for reporting the buzz, Dan.
Terry Cowgill
Good point Terry - many businesses have failed due to lack of local support. Not intentional, of course, just not enough reason to get people to go to the establishment. I rememeber a gift shop attached to Torrington Savings Bank in the 80s - many loved the idea but few actually shopped there. The key, in my opinion, is to have enough variety so people stop for many items, not just a birthday present, etc.
A wonderful idea, long overdue. Yes, it is essential to have local support (the lack thereof is behind all restaurant failures in our area). What is also important is to have the local govt behind it.
I would especially look for intentioned local products, insightfully mentioned, Dan. I think it would be important to start with specifically-intentioned local ware, with the "less is more"-thing going on: It would allow the General Store to grow along with the General Community's actual interest. It's a serendipitous idea.
Pardon my ignorance, but what is an "intentioned local product?"
Terry Cowgill
I would think intentioned local product is made locally with the intention of selling it to a local consumer (as opposed to shipping it down to NYC or to California)
I think it is a great idea!
Falls Village needs something like this. I really miss Mckay's Market! I used to ride my bike downtown all of the time as a kid, visit the Library go to the store, get a frozen dessert, or just hang out with friends. At least back then, there was something to do and see downtown for kids. What is there now?? Kudos to FVCT downtown!! I also agree though, we definitely need the towns support!
yea great idea. how about something along the lines of the great barrington co-op market? people could buy memberships in advance, thus ensuring a committment from the community.
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