Being one of the many retailers in La Conner, a major thank you goes to the La Conner Chamber of Commerce.

The Chamber created a thoughtful virtual tour of the downtown stores. It is a great virtual promotion: If one couldn’t physically shop the stores in town, they could “visit” them via their websites.

Then came the overwhelming surprise of countless small bouquets of locally harvested flowers put at the closed doors of establishments throughout town, with a message; “We are blue without you.”

Later, a drive through town found those same delightful bouquets placed on picnic tables found in public spaces.) All in all, this is a heartwarming display of community and encouragement.

It will be up to the local population, together, to move into the new future, with locals as well as tourists visiting and participating economically. It is being written that big chains will survive, mom and pop stores won’t. As we are devoid of chains, with only mom and pops stores, this cannot happen to La Conner. The colorful quirkiness of small businesses is a part of the town’s assets.

With this new day, change will occur, stores will evolve, those that have been empty may just reopen as a hardware store, optometrist, baker, candle stick maker; all individually owned and operated. This is a future we can all support, along with the help of the supportive Chamber and Town Council.

We are a fortunate community: We have space and beauty surrounding us. We have each other with avenues of support. We can do this together if we continue to show the kindness that has been shared already.

A note of appreciation and optimism from the owners and operators of a family owned local small business.

Amy and Katie Carson

Bitters Co.,

La Conner