Shopping local is often best

It is more clear than ever that the retail landscape is changing. More and more people are choosing to buy the things they need or want not by walking the aisles of the store down the street, but by sitting in front of a computer. We are seeing the evidence of that with the announcement that longtime downtown La Crosse retailer Wettstein’s will be closing its doors after 67 years in business. The appliance and electronics retailer has been a fixture in the downtown, and a vocal proponent of shopping local. But with the advent of online shopping, it became too difficult for Wettstein’s to continue to compete. It is understandable that people are doing more and more shopping online. After all, it is very easy to shop from home and have it delivered to your front door. But there is a price to our changing buying habits. We are seeing more and more longtime successful businesses shutter their doors. The mall is missing two anchor stores, while another clings to life. The trend is seemingly likely to continue, but shoppers can help reverse the trend by buying local. La Crosse has many unique stores providing quality products at affordable prices while offering wonderful customer service. If those stores are going to remain viable, shoppers need to patronize those businesses, many staffed by their friends and neighbors. We are saddened that a well-run store like Wettstein’s is being forced to call it quits, but perhaps it can be a reminder that shopping local is often the best way to shop.