Last year, I was standing on the street in downtown Grand Marais with an acquaintance when he commented, “Look, this is a dying town.”
I was surprised to hear that opinion and asked him why he held it. He answered that there were only a few nationally franchised businesses in town and if the big corporate retailers weren’t interested, then the town was dying.
I respect this person’s opinion in most things, but I have to disagree with his assessment. From where we were standing, I could see the new Whole Foods Co-op store, Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply, the Chamber of Commerce office, construction underway at Sydney’s, a new roof going on the Bally Blacksmith shop in preparation for its historic preservation and not a empty storefront in sight.
With Lake Superior in the background, it was the very picture of a bustling, healthy community.
Since then, Grand Marais voters have elected an energetic new mayor and city councilors, been awarded the title of “Coolest Small Town in America” and welcomed a full sized commercial brewery and tap room, among many other positive indicators.
And it’s not just Grand Marais that’s thriving. All parts of our lovely county are moving in hopeful directions.
With Congress firmly stuck in neutral and the Minnesota Legislature only marginally more effective, I’m putting my faith in all things local. Cook County is a good example of what can be done when people work together for the benefit of their community.
Is it perfect? Of course not. Can it get better? Of course it can. Let’s pause a moment to celebrate how far we’ve come, then roll up our sleeves and get back to work.
Bill Hansen
Tofte
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