I was a long-time fan of the 1980s television series “Cheers” in which the neighborhood bar was the center of the universe for characters such as Sam Malone, Frasier Crane, Carla, Diane, Cliff the mailman and Norm. Whenever Norm walked in, everyone in the bar shouted, “NORM!”

My husband and I, while vacationing in Boston years ago, visited the Bull and Finch Pub, upon which the series was based. Part of the charm of the bar was captured in the theme song of the series with these words: “where everybody knows your name.”

Since Orangeburg still retains many small-town characteristics in spite of growth, it has real potential to be the kind of community where “everybody knows your name.” But I find that this is disappearing day by day, and it seems to me to be driven by something I just don’t understand.

I am not a business-savvy person. Never have been. Never will be. But I think I do have a bit of common sense and a keen sense of observation. Both of those senses are telling me something is amiss in Orangeburg.

A couple of months ago, I noticed that an established local restaurant had closed its doors. I had eaten there regularly, and it was a place where “everybody knows your name,” especially the owner. She routinely greeted me and other guests by name, welcomed us and provided consistent service and good food. The restaurant was generally full at lunch time and often did a brisk business in the evening.

I was surprised when I saw its doors had closed. I wondered what had happened until I noticed that the shopping area where her restaurant was located now had a sign out front promoting an out-of-town leasing agent. I could only imagine that whoever owned the buildings, where hers and myriad other businesses were located, had sold them. Now, along with her restaurant, a number of other office areas are now empty.

I’ve asked a few questions around town and understand that the purchasing company raised the rent on the available spaces to such an extent that the former occupants could no longer afford to stay in business. Again, I am not, never have been or ever will be a business-savvy person. I do, however, have a few questions.

How can this be good for Orangeburg? How can this be good for Orangeburg agencies, businesses and organizations? How can this be good for Orangeburg small business entrepreneurs? How can this be good for the Orangeburg consumer?

From my standpoint, I will pay a little more for a product if I get excellent customer service, which in my experience comes most often from locally-owned businesses. They greet me by name, or at least by facial recognition, when I enter the door, and they make me feel valued as a customer.

They bend over backwards to meet my consumer needs, and they usually make time for a personal conversation.

In my teens, I worked for a locally-owned pharmacy. We “girls” who served customers and rang up purchases knew our customers by name. Our place of business was a “Cheers” kind of business. It was a great place to work and to interact with the locals from every walk of life. Most of the older adults I know in this town, I know because they were customers at the pharmacy where I worked.

Maybe profit in the pocket seems like progress to some people, but the loss of community and camaraderie within this city seems like regression. In my limited abilities, I do not see it as positive for this community. I much prefer places where “everybody knows your name.”

Harris Murray is director of library services at Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College. She can be reached by e-mail at writeharris55@yahoo.com.

You must be logged in to comment.