Hurray for Small Businesses

There’s only so much scenic grandeur a girl can take. So when I find myself sighing with torpor at the sight of Munson Creek Falls, (almost 45 seconds of thrill), or refusing to photograph yet another dramatic vista, it’s time for small business to entertain me. Small scale commerce is the beating heart of every county, capitalism at its finest. As a formerly fervent flea-market and estate-sale shopper, I’m interested in what’s for sale even if I’m just browsing. Even without buying anything, I can appreciate the variety and uniqueness of many Northwest small businesses I’ve seen advertised. Here’s a sampling of businesses you won’t find in Santa Cruz. From the inland mountains: Game Butchery, Horse Portraits, Taxidermy, Shree Raini (Bollywood star) Gas Station in George, WA. From the coast: Pacific Breeze the Smell Good Guys, Fish Compost for Sale, Shellfish Farms, Moss Control, Cats Pajamas A BnB for Cats, and U Pick Oysters. Sometimes two revenue streams combine in one small business. I saw the combination of bike shop and beer pub several times. And I saw kayak rental combined with yoga studio. Just thinking I live in a world where someone makes a living creating horse portraits or selling U Pick Oysters cheers me up.

As we’ve driven through countless small towns, I notice some similarities. In the USA, every town with over a thousand inhabitants has a gas station, a bar, a tackle and ammo shop, and a fabric shop. Flies and guns for him, quilting supplies for her. Stories will be told. Advice will be offered. Small businesses like these blend the social and the commercial.

Most of the RV parks we’ve visited are privately owned, which accounts for the broad range of prices, facilities, rules, and signage. Poodles seem to be favored as greeter-dogs by the park owners, which may account for the restrictions on dog breeds or sizes. One park didn’t want any dogs over 35 pounds. Maybe because they’d outweigh the poodles. Most parks forbid pit bulls or Rottweilers. But the German shepherds and husky mixes, just as aggressive by reputation, have better PR and are allowed. I’ve never seen so many standard poodles as on this trip. Nor so many snarky signs about customer service: “I can only help one person a day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow doesn’t look good either.” “If you can find the same item at a lower price, bring it in and we’ll cheerfully admit it.” “$5 charge for whining. $10 for being a real pain in the ass.” Maybe it’s the sensitive poodles who put up the signs. Locals may see a good selection of these signs, without poodles, at the Santa Cruz Diner on Ocean Street.

A town’s businesses reflect its particularity. When Californians get a chance to partially repeal Proposition 13 in 2020, I will vote no. The so-called split roll initiative would increase property tax on businesses, not residences, to current market value, thereby generating approximately $11B for underfunded principalities. Even if the business is irksome, even if it’s got surly and slovenly owners, even if sells a product I don’t use, it enriches my world to have old and diverse businesses. Proponents point to businesses like Target and say they should pay more property tax. Why should E-commerce pay zero property tax in my community and Capitola Produce get assessed for thousands? I think of the old businesses around me and I’m glad they get a break on property tax.