Hi Neighbor!

I’ve been thinking a lot about small businesses lately, especially when my daughters and I walk or ride bikes through an eerily quiet downtown Wayne. All the shuttered storefronts break my heart, and I often wonder how their hardworking owners are coping with all the uncertainty. So, I decided to ask (I’m nosey like that).

Last week I chatted with two Main Line small business owners—Cathy Fiebach of Wayne’s Main Point Books and Becca Bagge Carr of Berwyn’s barre3—to find out how they’re moving forward in the midst of a pandemic that has turned their business models upside down. While both owners face challenges, the conversations were not all doom and gloom. Fiebach talked about how more people are reading and book club attendance (via Zoom) is up. Bagge Carr pointed out several silver linings during a somewhat bumpy transition to virtual classes, such as reconnecting with former clients who moved away. As we enter week six of the shutdown (not that I’m counting!), heartache and devastation abound, and yet, glimmers of hope and possibility shine through.

Enjoy!
Kate

P.S. –  MainLine Neighbors can use promo code B3MLN for a free barre3 livestream class!