more on local businesses

["Lois Melina" <lmelina@moscow.com>]

We've been talking about local businesses vs. chain stores and what keeps
locally owned businesses in business. Our nominations for Most Visionary
was such an interesting process that I was thinking we could do something
similar for our locally owned businesses. i.e., what specific factors keep
you going back to specific locally owned businesses? Let's tell them what
we appreciate about them!

Here are some of mine:

1. The people at Wine Co. of Moscow are knowledgeable. Their advice can be
trusted. And when I see that a store has kept the same employee for years
and years, I assume the employers are doing well by that employee. 

2.  El Mercado. Every employee understands how important customer
satisfaction is and it is clear this message comes from the top. They
recognize repeat customers and treat them as individuals. The restaurant
consistently has good quality food at a reasonable price, AND great
attention has been paid to decor. The word on the street is that the
employees are treated well.

Lois Melina