We have it all here

Let’s go see a professional hockey game tonight. Easy — the Minnesota Wilderness play right here in Carlton County at the Northwoods Credit Union Arena.

Let’s go see a Hollywood blockbuster movie. Easy — Premiere Theatres 6 offers at least six selections every day.

Let’s go out for dinner tonight. That’s a little tougher … but only because there are so many choices. Mexican? One of the best Mexican restaurants in Minnesota is on Cloquet Avenue, and we have more than just one great pizza joint in Carton County.

None of these businesses would survive if we didn’t “shop local.”

This weekend is “Small Business Saturday.” This day is designed to promote shopping locally, and — as we start the Christmas shopping season — it’s also a reminder that our local businesses help make our communities thrive.

Cloquet still has a hardware store, Wood City Lights and Hardware. At this store in downtown Cloquet, you can not only find parts for just about any home project, there’s also a selection of lighting fixtures (and you can drop off your dry cleaning!). On the subject of home projects and lots more, some of us could spend a whole day at L&M Fleet Supply.

Burger Shoes is a modern shoe store that still retains its small-town charm. Buskala Jewelry is a local gem (get my pun?). Prom-goers and wedding parties can get everything they need at Silver Rose Fashions, including worldly fashion tips from the very charming Rosa Johnson. We’re lucky to have vendors like these, and we need to support them to keep them here.

I accidentally wandered into the Mainstream Boutique the other day, and was overwhelmed by the enthusiastic customers — three shoppers randomly told me how much they loved the place, and that they were sure my wife would love it, too. I was frightened so I left. But my wife told me she’s a regular and loves the store, too.

It’s so easy to save a few dollars buying online. I’ve been selling pizza in Esko for 13 years and have never seen Jeff Bezos come into my restaurant. But I have seen Reneé Birman, co-owner of Cloquet Ford; and Jen Maki, owner of Divine Destinations travel agency; and James Simmons, mortgage lender and president of CornerStone State Bank. All three are successful business operators and all three have to compete with not only other local options, but the internet, too.

I’d like to make it easier to see small businesses survive.

Events like this weekend’s Small Business Saturday remind us that supporting local business is good for our community. But it also shows us that we really do “have it all here” in our hometown.

Our dentists, like Dr. Kraig Gunelson in Cloquet and Dr. Sharma in Esko, seem to work dental magic. Our hospital is thriving and growing, mostly due to the high quality of medical attention they provide to patients. There’s no need to hire a lawyer from the Twin Cities or even Duluth, we have some great legal minds right here in town. (Did you know Tom Skare has won a multi-million dollar lawsuit for a client? That’s pretty rare, and his office is just across from Holiday in downtown Cloquet.)

Things like mortgages and insurance are easy to shop for online, but when we use local agents who offer insurance from local companies like RAM and Woodland Mutual, we’re supporting local jobs while buying products we need. There’s even a local brickmaker in Cloquet.

Check out the list of participating Small Business Saturday companies on pages 10-11 of this week’s Pine Knot News. Support the local businesses that support your community. And remember, we really do have it all here.

Pete Radosevich is the publisher of the Pine Knot News community newspaper and an attorney in Esko who hosts the talk show Harry’s Gang on CAT-7. Reach him at [email protected].