Palmer businesses close or leave; what’s the deal?

A handful of Palmer businesses have announced they will close their doors or relocate to Wasilla and its environs.

At first blush, that seems to be a blemish on Palmer’s reputation as a small town where shops and stores are more important than big box outlets. Several factors appear to have precipitated the situation.

Obviously, economic times are not the best right now, nationally or locally.

Some companies in the core area of Palmer lost business when a water main blew a hole in the main drag. Then, as that repair was under way, it was discovered more damage in the same line and that had to be replaced.

The city did a good job in getting the work done quickly, but maybe not quickly enough to staunch the bleeding some merchants suffered while dust and blockades dissuaded customers from shopping during the turmoil.

The talk over the summer of a couplet driving people into town one way and hustling them out another way rankled some of the downtown merchants.

And there’s always the issue of shirts, socks and shoes.

If you want those things, and more, you have to drive to Wasilla. But what does Palmer have that would make shoppers drive to Palmer?

So those things, and possibly some not mentioned, could be a reason for the departures or failures.

It’s also interesting to note, however, that the exodus, if you will, is from one building, the Downtown Palmer Plaza. The new structure was home to several boutique-style businesses. Those are the ones that are moving on.

Maybe that’s just not Palmer’s cup of tea.

But there were other businesses on that same stretch of street, a boutique dress shop included, that seem to have weathered the storm. Maybe it’s because they have been around longer and have a stable customer base.

Whatever the reason, city leaders in Palmer better get their heads together to make sure losing businesses doesn’t become a trend. At the same time, they need to look at how business owners are treated to see if there isn’t something they can do to make sure prospective businesses aren’t discouraged from moving to town.

Palmer, like Wasilla, is considering annexation. By adding more land, the city can expand its tax base by including outlying businesses. That’s one way to grow commercially, but keeping the merchants you have should be the first order of business.