A good sign

Thursday, August 18, 2011

The sign on the property at the intersection of Routes 101 and 114 was pretty clear: A restaurant known as the Copper Door is coming. It is scheduled to open later this year and we think it’s a welcome sign on two levels:

Locally, it says that Bedford is a good place to open a business.

Nationally, it says the owners of the Copper Door have faith in the economy. After all, they’re not opening up with the expectation that you won’t drop by for a meal, right? They think you are going to want to spend some money.

It takes faith to open a business in this economy, faith in the economy itself, and faith in the people who drive the economy. That doesn’t mean Congress or Wall Street, that means you.

It’s you who keep local businesses thriving, it’s you who convince new businesses to come to town. And it’s you who will keep them in town.

Now we understand the point of view of Tom Boucher, the owner of the Copper Door, who said part of the reason to open the restaurant is because the closing of C.R. Sparks left “a huge void in that level of dining.” He means fine dining, of course.

He’s right: There is a void. But that doesn’t take away from what we see as the courage to embark on a new and, frankly, risky venture.

Oh, yes, the restaurant business is risky and that ie especially true nowadays. Friends, if people don’t feel solvent, people don’t go out to eat. If people don’t go out to eat, restaurants can’t survive.

So, sure, Boucher is right when he cites the closing of C.R. Sparks as a reason to open, but he shouldn’t sell himself short: What he’s doing takes nerve and faith and commitment.

We hope everything works out for him. And we hope his commitment to the town entices other business people to make the same sort of commitment.

More business is good for everyone, particularly other businesses.

Keep on coming to town.