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Progress
Sunday, March 17, 2002
THE PEOPLE: LINDA TARR FOR THE OLYMPIAN
ELMA -- Though
they can't get everything they need in downtown Elma, many shoppers
in town on a recent sunny day say there's nowhere they'd rather bring
their spending money.
Elma resident John Olson, 55, seems a typical downtown shopper. Though it hasn't been as convenient to pick up groceries or other items lately due to downtown construction, the torn-up streets haven't deterred him.
Olson says he shops in town for some items, like groceries, hardware and feed for his cows and dogs, but seeks other goods in Olympia or Aberdeen, such as clothing and appliances, because no stores in Elma carry them.
He likes that the stores in Elma are locally owned rather than belonging to big chains. What Olson deems friendly service and quality goods, however, aren't the biggest downtown draws, he said.
He enjoys seeing people he knows about town when he stops for a cup of coffee at a local restaurant or a gallon of milk at the grocery store.
"You're not consistently a stranger. When you're in Olympia you are," he said. "I prefer the smaller communities where you know the people, maybe the couple at the next table having dinner."
'You know everyone'
Beverly May agrees it's a friendly town. "When you go to the post office, you have to say hello to everyone because you know everyone," she said.
But convenience carries the day with her, she says.
May shops for items like birthday cards, fishing supplies and crafts in town, while she buys groceries, clothing and other items in nearby areas.
"It's so convenient. I can walk out the door, and it's just several blocks away," she said of Elma's retail district.
Gale White also relies on the near-at-hand downtown. She says she tries to do almost all of her shopping locally.
"I have a big family, and I can't get out of town much," said the mother of six children under age 9.
In addition, people are patient with the noise her children inevitably make when they're in the grocery store, she said, likely because everybody knows them.
Not everyone is drawn to the downtown for shopping.
Dan Jones said he does much of his shopping in Olympia, but occasionally likes to stop at one of the town's restaurants for breakfast. He enjoys the camaraderie he finds there.
"It's a small-town atmosphere, and that's positive to me," Jones said.
Bill Black also enjoys the social aspect of downtown. He said his downtown use is split about 50-50 between shopping and eating out or other social activities.
"It's pretty laid back. It's just a nice friendly atmosphere," said Black, adding that people in town are easy to get to know. Black moved to Elma from Aberdeen and has lived in Elma for seven years. Already, he says, he knows more people in Elma than in his former hometown.
Not everyone is drawn to Elma's community hub.
Albert Smith said he doesn't go downtown unless he has to -- usually to get groceries.
Smith has been avoiding the district even more of late, he said, because of the torn-up streets. Though having to navigate blocked-off roads is irritating, he admits the downtown will probably be nicer when it's finished.
Olson hopes so, saying new sidewalks will be a great boon to downtown shoppers. "The street really needed a renovation," Olson added.
White added the town needed to do something to accommodate future growth and not become obsolete. The decorative lights that will bring an early-1900s feel to the area are a good idea, she added.
"A nice, pretty town draws more people," White said.
Black agreed.
"Any improvements around here," he said, "are a good thing."
The Olympian Copyright 2002
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 The Olympian - Olympia, Washington 
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