Poor treatment influences decision

Editor,

I was brought up in Polson from the age of six, coming from Butte. My grandparents lived on a ranch. My grandma was a nurse's aide at St. Joseph Hospital, my grandpa raised cattle.

As children with what money we saved, my brother, sister and I would walk four miles into town to shop at Eddie's Pharmacy, where the Blue Moon Cafe was located. One of my fondest memories was shopping at Eddie's, which had lots to offer in stock with no discrimination … Pier 93, Terry's Cutter, Aden Alignment, Schulz Refrigeration, Cooper Tires and Polson Bay Groceries still carry on the tradition of friendly, courteous service to customers.

My experience with the small business stores in Polson on Main Street: I get an attitude (when I disturb the gossip) with a glare and a snobby question of "What do you want?" when I walk in the door. If I just glance or want to browse, I have all eyes glued on me as if I am going to steal something that is jacked so high with prices, I leave with a cringe, not wanting to buy anything.

Years ago, while job hunting on Main Street, the reaction was "we hire only family members" or it's who you know.

But I walked into Irene's Espresso and Irene herself welcomed me with smiles and hired me. I will never forget that. At lunch time I waited on and served soup, sandwiches, espresso drinks to the small business owners who came in. The whole time I worked at Irene's Espresso I did not receive one tip from the other business owners. But one lady who worked on a fixed income came in and bought a latte and gave me a $2 tip.

The moral of my story: I am all for the new Wal-Mart. Besides the Wal-Mart we have now, the aisles are too small and narrow for one cart and person to pass, which causes traffic jams in the aisles.

JoAnn Martinez

Polson