To the Editor:
I was disappointed to see the recent Daily Journal reporting that Canary Creek Cinema in Franklin is closing down. This is a real loss for the community; a nearby affordable entertainment option is no longer available.
What is particularly troubling is the number of people making comments online disparaging the business in Google reviews or being generally nasty in tone and suggesting a 30-minute drive to Columbus to go to the theater is better. What will it take for people to start supporting others taking risks and providing a service to the community? Will it take driving every business out of the area before we wake up?
What person or corporation will want to come to communities that constantly attack businesses? Just look at all of the hate directed at Taco Bell and Dollar General in Whiteland when they can’t open or aren’t the fastest because of staffing shortages. Who will want to go work somewhere to simply be maligned publicly?
Here is a New Year’s Resolution for us all — go to the mom-and-pop restaurant, theater or business, leave a great review, tip well, and encourage your network to support them. If you don’t have the perfect experience, try leaving private feedback and communicating with the manager or owner without hateful comments broadcast everywhere for the world to see. Try giving them the benefit of the doubt that they also want you to have a wonderful time or a tasty meal and are personally distraught when that isn’t the outcome you report.
Why try to be a comedian and take them down on social media because your food was not quite hot enough this time or the 15-year-old working at their first job hasn’t yet developed the customer service skills of a seasoned Disney employee? Let’s try providing others some patience and grace and focus on all of the positives; saying thank you and returning that cart in the parking lot or throwing your trash away as you get up from the table.
Consider patronizing a business because they sponsored your school band program or sports team or donated to the charity silent auction. We should all want more of our neighbors stepping outside their comfort zone and taking a major risk opening up a nail salon or barbeque spot, movie theater or retail store. Our community will thrive so much more when we all don’t complain online about the lack of options and hope some mega-corporation builds in town.
Take a risk, sign that lease, buy that franchise, fill that niche that exists. If you aren’t able to do that, then at the very least support and encourage those who are able and willing. Follow what we learned early on and if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all. Imagine where we will be when this community is actively rooting for and supporting each other instead of casting aspersions like it is going out of style.
Brad Goedeker
Whiteland business owner
