Love letters to your favorite small businesses.
Every time I walk into Poetica Coffee in Brooklyn, a sense of calm washes over me: Coffee is near. My banter with the delightful baristas is always the same. They ask how I am; I say "OK." They ask if I want a fresh croissant with my Americano; I, though tempted, decline. The coffee there is tasty. But I am also grateful for the vibe, for the routine, for the familiar kindness of everyone who works there. Local places like this make a neighborhood feel like home. |
We often celebrate Valentine's Day by exchanging valentines with the ones we love — friends, family members, romantic partners. But amid a pandemic that has inspired fresh appreciation for the people and places that make our lives bearable, my colleagues, Eleni Agapis and Jessia Ma, and I invited readers to write love letters to small businesses that are special to them. Over 500 people wrote in. |
They told us about life milestones at a bookstore, high school memories at a local movie theater and epic concerts at a Wisconsin arcade. I called up a handful of them to ask them to keep gushing about their fond memories of these businesses and the people who work there. Susan Wexler Cohen told me that her experience receiving a surprise gift from a local shop owner in another city "was a reminder that there continue to be good people in the world." |
While people recounted overwhelmingly positive memories, many also expressed concern about the future of the businesses they love, some new to their neighborhood and others longtime institutions barely hanging on. We're glad to celebrate a few here. |
But as I was reporting, a thought crossed my mind: I hope everyone who appreciates a small business also tells its workers that. I heard such high praise about so many strangers; I want those strangers to hear those great things, too. Even though Valentine's Day is over, it's not too late to tell the businesses that enrich your life how much you love them. Thank the workers you appreciate. And tip them well! |
Here's what we're focusing on today: |
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