We live in rural, small-town America. The population was 530 at the 2010 census. And now in November 2017, the population sign as you come into town reads “Population 487.” Bayfield is a destination location during the summer for tourists from around the country and the world.
Come mid to late October, the tourists are gone and many of the shops and lodging locations shutter their doors for the winter months. The hustle and bustle of the summer months are great for all who live and work here, and we’re also thankful for the peace and quiet of the winter months.
There are times during the winter months while driving downtown that the city appears to take on ghost town status. Parking along the main street is wide open, and businesses are shuttered. In times like these that I begin to ponder, ruminate and wonder what would happen if…?
Over these next 10 blog postings, I’m going to highlight random business properties in our town. The photos were randomly taken. There are new buildings, empty storefronts, and unimproved real-estate.
Today’s building/storefront is the former Quilt Shop here in town. For at least two and a half years of our residing here in town, this was the place to go for Quilting and other needlework necessities. Then earlier in 2017, -the shop owner decided to move the operation to Ashland, Wisconsin. Ashland is approximately 25 miles from us. The potential market is certainly much larger as Ashland’s population is 8,216 people. In the larger scheme of things, the move by the shop owner makes sense. Customers are likely to drive from Bayfield to Ashland, for other shopping or necessities, versus driving from Ashland to Bayfield for a single source item they might need.
Given Bayfield’s population demographics, the loss of the quilt shop was felt by many. Not only those who spend their time in needlework pursuits but to the city economy as well. The shop occupied a two-story building right on the main street in town. Visible to all who were looking for it and for those who came across the storefront while exploring the town. There is also the loss of city tax revenue as well as one less member of the local Chamber of Commerce.
It will be interesting to see how soon, some enterprising business, decides to make over this piece of prime real-estate here in town for the benefit of all.