By Kay Harris
Just as wines get better with time, so do stories. I’ve heard some good ones this week about local businesses, including one that keeps getting circulated about area banks. Maybe by other area banks. However, to my knowledge and having written both stories and interviewed officials from both, yes there are two area banks who have had issues, one a bit more severe than the other, but neither one is closing. Both have addressed their problems, primarily due to real estate lending in areas closer to Atlanta, and are moving forward.
So this brings me back to, why on earth do people seem to thrive on bad news, especially when it’s about someone they know? It’s not just a Valdosta thing. Bad personal news, such as divorces and break ups, have taken the place for many as “the news”, not what our government is doing with our tax dollars.
However, I say that tempered with the fact that I continue to be impressed with the level of intelligence many people display quite vocally in our area through discussions, phone calls, emails and letters to the editor concerning a variety of local and national government issues. People who read the newspaper, attend meetings and stay informed may be a thinning breed, but they thankfully are not extinct. Far from it.
Maybe there really are more people interested in things that really matter than we realize. Or that national talking media heads would have us think.
And in the meantime, don’t believe everything you hear through the rumor mill. Most often, there is some truth there somewhere, but it’s rarely as interesting or scandalous as it’s presented to be.
Getting on board with the Chamber
The Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce is all about promoting the area and local businesses, and they pride themselves on doing all of their business with local vendors. They are stressing the Think BIG (Buy in Greater) Valdosta initiative, which urges everyone to spend their dollars locally rather than going out of town.
To encourage Chamber members to participate, Belk is offering a special deal on Tuesday, August 11 with an extra 20 percent off most regular and sale priced items. You have to have the coupon that was sent to Chamber members and a valid work ID to receive the savings.
In addition, Farmer’s Furniture is also offering a coupon to Chamber members and their employees for Friday, August 14.
So if your business is a Chamber member, get a copy of the coupons and help encourage the Chamber’s BIG initiative!
Business Roundup
Confetti & Lace on N. Oak St. had a fire last weekend that damaged part of the building, but apparently not the part of the building that affects customers.
They were closed for a very short time and have been reopened for business all week, so they didn’t let a little blaze dampen their spirit of entrepreneurship.
The former Mulldoon’s on Gornto is being reworked into a venue where mature folks will enjoy going to let their hair down, eat and dance.
It will be open by the end of October, most likely, in time for the holiday season. That’s all I know at this point, but will continue to announce details as I learn them.
A reader let me know this week that she sent an email to H&M;, a popular store in the Northeast, about bringing a store to Valdosta.
She received a reply back saying that Valdosta is on their radar screen, and they’ve already opened four stores around the Atlanta area. She said it may be a couple of years though before Valdosta moves higher on the list, as they’re concentrating on Florida right now.
There’s a new store that just opened on Northside Drive called Bloomingdeals. It’s a consignment and resale shop that sells primarily clothing, accessories and candles.
For those who missed it last week, yes Luna’s is closed but Vito’s Pizzeria is open there now in downtown Valdosta.
Also downtown, the former home of Southern Stationery is covered in scaffolding as the owners redo the building to house several small retail stores and professional offices. Southern Stationery moved last year to a new location on Lee St. by the Department of Labor building.
Out on Baytree, there’s a new Lee’s Too Bookstore next to the new Baytree Pizza place.
Also on Baytree, by Remerton, a building is being renovated now to house NijemTech and the State Farm office of Bubba Highsmith.
The new administration building downtown is coming along and I keep hearing that the Judicial Complex will be filling up very soon.
That’s it for this week, but if there’s anything I missed, please let me know!
