Dear Editor,

Wake up, Pilot Mountain!!

I love our town and the Pilot Mountain area. It’s time for all of us to step up and show our support.

Currently, Main Street in particular, is a train wreck. Businesses are closing or moving out at an astounding rate. Why? It’s not just the economy, it is a serious lack of support. Folks, we must keep our dollars in our little corner of the world. There are local businesses that fill nearly every one of our needs if we would just use them. Grow? Maybe we don’t want to loose the “small town” vibe but we should make efforts to keep what we have and fill empty spaces with useful, viable businesses and cultural endeavors.

Shop local. We hear this a lot but we really need to do it. Encourage new and existing businesses so they can, and want, to meet our needs.

It’s a challenge we must and should meet. Our founding fathers worked hard to establish this area. We get national recognition through the Andy Griffith Show but that’s in the past. We all need to use that recognition but make plans to move forward. I’m tired of folks coming in my store and saying that they were traveling through and wanted to tour “Mt. Pilot” but then ask if this is all there is. Their money, spent in this area, can help our businesses survive. But it’s not all about the money, it’s people helping people. We need to revive ourselves, not compete and downgrade each other’s efforts; offer what we can to help our area; support our organizations and businesses any way we can. New ideas aren’t bad ideas, just a different way of seeing things.

Drop by, chat and check us out. We all have a lot to offer in many different ways.

I’m not a political or social activist. I’m just a woman, and downtown business owner, who wants to see a dream come true. Support our town!!!

Most sincerely,

Becky White

owner of Mt. Pilot Emporium and MPE School of Arts and Crafts

Pilot Mountain