Editor:
I read with great interest the very open and honest article in the May 9 Coast Reporter about the trading performance for Smitty’s Oyster House.
Smitty’s is a well-established restaurant that has gained significant recognition off Coast and has been responsible for some excellent national and international promotion of Smitty’s, Gibsons and the Coast in general through various media outlets — print and TV.
All this combined does not provide a profitable situation during our long winters as evidenced by the quoted figures.
Mr. Lumley’s figures really tell the true story of the current situation that he and other venues endure during our long winters.
Small businesses like Smitty’s and the many others in Lower Gibsons are the backbone of our community and they provide significant spin-off effect both financial and social in our short summer. However, if nothing changes, how can Smitty’s and others prosper and provide much needed growth for our region year round?
They may well keep their doors open as a sign of their commitment to our community, but with lack of a new opportunity to thrive, they just may not survive.
Based on what I believe to be the very conservative spin-off numbers Mr. Lumley presented that would result from The George development proceeding, I truly fail to see how our community at large and our elected leaders cannot support The George and all that it will offer to improve life for so many — all year round. Congratulations to Mr. Lumley for having the courage to bare his figures (and maybe his soul) for all to hopefully see that there could be light at the end of the tunnel.
Hail, hail The George — and Mr. Lumley.
Greg Giles, Roberts Creek
