Tuesday, April 13th

Located on Main Street at 3rd Avenue, Ellensburg, WA
People making their way across Main Street










Greetings again!

This week has already been eventful.

Throughout the weekend, and into this week we've been answering questions from our peers.

I would contribute their awareness to our interview on 88.1 FM The Burg. But it was exciting to see college students taking an interest in the issues of Main Street.

We were quizzed on everything from design, to businesses and their support mechanisms, to how a community effort is beneficial instead of businesses working for their own gain.

It's great to see that there is such a wide array of interest from a younger group of people. Maybe their interest will turn into a passion for working to strengthen small towns.

The Facebook Page (Ellensburg Main Street Project 2010) has been receiving a lot of traffic.

And we are moving into another phase of photography. We know that the photos so far have been of the stores and of Main Street, but they've been missing a key ingredient: PEOPLE!

So as we transition from the "mapping" photography, we'll be showing Main Street for what it is, and that's a hub for business and social interactions.

We will also be taking profile shots of the people that will be in the film at this time. A sort of "meet the stars" portion, and we will post those photos separately.

We interviewed Michael Bello, owner of Cedar Mountain Woodwrights. His story is unique from those on Main Street because while just about every other business is involved in the retail-end exclusively, Michael's shop is where creation of product occurs.

If you haven't looked at any of Michael's creations, head on over to their furniture page and look over the array.

Michael is truly an artist, and for those that are not familiar, he built the furniture and the display cases at Puget Sound Energy's Wind Farm Visitors Center. Some of the step-by-step photos of that project are at the site referenced.

Aside the wonderful work that Michael does, he's also very well spoken on the aspects of operating an independent business. For Michael corporate chains do present a looming direct threat. They are able to reach into communities outside of their geographical area by signing on third parties to install their products.

One thing that stood out in my mind as interesting bit of information from Michael's interview was the concept of leasing a building versus owning a building.

Earlier in the day a professor of mine made the point of how a retailer of fans during the 80's on the east coast went from being a thriving outlet, to suffering during a recession.

However, what they had done differently than their competition, was that they owned every store front they were in. So they made the decision during the recession to go from being a retailer of fans, to a commercial real estate trust, because that's where the money was being made at the time.

So they supplied their product to the store fronts, and leased the buildings to independent businesses.

Since then they've become one of the biggest commerical real estate trusts in the nation.

In Michael's interview, he discussed why as an independent business it's important to own the property you operate in. And that's because it's easier to make changes, and control the look of your store front. But most importantly, commercial real estate will always appreciate, save for extreme conditions.

As an independent business, this gives you the ability to re-locate your business, while collecting on a lease on your original building. That equates to being able to diversify your business.

Instead of having to rely on your choosen trade, you can then take large steps toward the ultimate goal, retirement.

In Michael's case, there may come a time where he can no longer work with his hands. And although he has employees, he's not quite to the point where he can remain completely hands off of the products his shop produces. Owning the building he's in would give him something to fall back on if he couldn't expand his business.

That is a one piece of the gold that is the information we are getting for this project.

It may seem like such an obvious connection, but when a business owner personalizes that point, it resonates so much clearer.

And with that, we will see you later in the week.