He Tried, but Couldn't Make the Store Pay its Bills

Reading today's Recorder in the cafe, I came in to open and so far just a dribble of customers. So I had time to read about Steve Wilson. It's a sad story, dateline Warwick, MA. For fifteen years, the store in this sleepy Western Massachusetts town has stood empty. Wilson, a selectman there, said he just wanted to pay his bills, not make a killing...but it just wouldn't work. He spent 4 1/2 months trying to make his dream come true.

For the first two months the store was open, Wilson and his wife Deanna made enough to pay for the stock and keep the doors open. But then those dreaded gardens started coming in, "and people were on vacation or eating out of their gardens," Wilson said. He certainly put in the time, even driving to Orange to buy Sunday newspapers, and stocking videos from his personal collection for patrons to rent. He even sold cigarettes, against his conscience. But after 12-15 hour days, he just could not keep it going.

So today if you're driving through Warwick, there will be no general store to stop by. Never take for granted that it's easy to run a business in a small town. Bless and support those in your own little town, 'cause it's just not that easy to stay going.