Walk down Western!

First, I would like to say thank you to the people who wrote in and were published in the July 16th issue of the FORUM in response to the letter from Concerned American Citizen published in the June 18th issue. They addressed the issue of anti-Hispanic sentiment in a way that I could not.
Second, I would like to address Concerned American Citizen regarding their assertion that other than Walgreens, Jewel, Stefanelli’s, or Iverson’s everything else is geared toward the Hispanic population. I say, take a walk down Western Avenue! Calumet Paint & Hardware, Beverly Blind, Flowers by Bartle, Flowers by Cathe, Ridge Auto, Zak’s High Tec Auto Rebuilders, Islands Café, T&G Gyros, Richie’s Too, DeMar’s, White Castle, Pizza Hut, Popeye’s Chicken, Beggar’s Pizza, Michael’s Hair Care, Danny’s Hair Salon, Three Sisters Antiques, Vermont Antiques, Lillian’s Antiques, Blue Island Antiques, and of course, my own store, CARR home-garden-holiday, are all the types of businesses that you are looking for. I’m sure there are several businesses I left out, and I apologize in advance for that. Look for a business that will cater your needs and you will find it.
I also agree with the writer who encouraged Concerned American Citizen to open their own business, whatever it may be. If you want the City to change, then you must be the change you wish to see. It is a tough road in this city to open a business and make it successful. The landscape of retail is changing rapidly. Bookstores and record shops are all but obsolete. The big box mentality is pervasive and seems to have affected shoppers everywhere. Many believe the statement that if you want to go shopping, you have to go to Crestwood, and that belief is hurting the businesses that choose to remain here. I dare say that many people have not bothered to come uptown in a long time. We still get Blue Island residents who say that they didn’t know we are here.
It is only individual citizens that can make the difference. If each of us made the effort to spend our money in Blue Island, the face of the city would change. If people opened the businesses they would like to see here, the city would change.
In the interests of proving that you can get what you need here in Blue Island, my husband and I have committed ourselves to spending ALL our money here for the entire month of August. We will keep track of what we spend and where and I’ll include an update of our success or failure in my next column.
Look for me walking down Western, with a fiver in my hand.

Candace Carr
CARR home-garden-holiday