The other night, I went out to eat at a local restaurant, and somewhere between my first bite and my last sip, I had a moment of wow. You know that feeling? When you’re just so glad a place exists? The last time I had eaten there was in 2016. I had just gotten home from studying abroad in Japan. My mom, who doesn't particularly like Asian food, took me to a place called Wonderful Restaurant. I got Japanese curry and a sweet potato roll. And here I was back again, 9 years later eating curry again. So much had happened in between! (I'd finished college. Met my husband, got married, had my son Gale. Moved from Virginia to Las Vegas to Austin to Houston, back to Austin, then back to Virginia. Become a teacher, left teaching, started working for this studio in Austin called Son of a Sailor.) I was so glad this restaurant was still here.
As I sat there, I started thinking about all that goes into keeping that restaurant running. I looked over at the sushi counter and saw piles of fresh fish. How much could that cost and would it all get eaten? It looked like they had at least 1 - 2 - 3 - at least 6 people working? The rent, the utilities, even the toilet paper. Every little cost adding up.
I felt grateful that I could be in a position to support this place and get a delicious, memory-filled meal in return. The phrase "shop small" has become kind of a buzzword phrase, that I often forget what it even means. It means the power of your dollar at a small business has a much larger impact than the same dollar at a large business. It means actively choosing to do business with restaurants, shops, and people that want to still be around in 9 years.
And you? If you’re reading this, you’re already a part of why Son of a Sailor is still here after 14 years. Our success is a direct result of your support. It helping us dream up new collections, put on community events, and goes towards all those little costs that keep our shop going.
Want to support a business you love (without spending $):
- Leave a positive review on Google
- Make an Instagram post and tag them
- Leave a product review
Thank you for choosing small, for choosing handmade, for choosing us.
Abby
Special Projects Manager
Son of a Sailor
ps. If you ever find yourself in Yorktown, Virginia, this wonderful restaurant I ate at is actually called Wonderful Restaurant! I suggest getting the Chicken Katsu Curry, a sweet potato sushi roll, and a Kirin.
