Places that mill patrons into neighbors are what the economy should support. Not Amazon, but your local bookstore, fewer Starbucks, more White Label Coffee.
My friend Mary runs such an establishment called Mandarava in Newburyport, Massachusetts .
No, the cookies are not ten bucks, but if they were, you would not be disappointed. Yes, that is to say, the food is absurdly delicious. It is also outrageously healthy.
But people go because Mary is there. Chef and host, she holds down the beauty, she is the magnet of community in that space.
A week ago or so someone crashed into the back of her car as she was driving. It was a pretty rough accident and so, as she recovers, Mandarava is closed.
Customers supported her Gofundme and also asked her if there were any tasks that needed doing . . . like I said, patrons as neighbors.
When Mary told me of the list I imagined things like “can anyone take the veggies” or “could someone check to make sure the heat is on.” You know, business stuff.
But the list she put together is a reminder to me of what “work” is, or should be, about. The true business of business.