Business avenues exist downtown and beyond
With Vogt's IGA completing its move on Wednesday morning with a media-day breakfast before the doors opened, the thought of a vacant store front in the downtown area got me thinking.
Hillsboro's Main Street has seen businesses come and go over the years, from a movie theatre to the China Buffet, the beloved downtown area has had a variety of faces over the years.
We've watched them appear and disappear. They have been both economic stimulates for our small town and tragic let-downs.
With that said, there are also those businesses that have rooted themselves inside the comfortable confines of the Main and Grand junction, those businesses that have flourished and others who have endured through the rough times.
There are businesses that have given the downtown its character; many that have made an effort to remain downtown, despite other avenues or options.
While the preservation of the downtown area is important, I'm not advocating for it exclusively.
In fact, I think growth is very healthy and very good for a community like Hillsboro.
Is it a little scary? Sure, but attempting to squelch growth because we fear an unknown outcome is simply selfish and narrow minded.
Both Vogt's IGA and Dale's Supermarket have seen their businesses literally grow because of continued demand and support. And to both I say, "Congratulations."
I expect both will see positive advantages in the years to come.
While it was probably a little scary for Jerold and his sons to take the "leap" out into Hillsboro Heights, I commend them for their bold move to the outskirts of town. Not only do I think they'll succeed, I think others will follow their lead in the future.
We'll miss Vogt's downtown. (I'll miss the backdoor convenience.) But the chicken will definitely be worth the trip.
And while the downtown area grieves the loss of another face on its store fronts, the development and growth surrounding us will spawn new images for both Main and Grand streets and Hillsboro Heights.
Eric Clark
