Dear Customers and Friends,  

Wow, I just drove by my local gas station in the city and noticed that premium gas is now selling for $4.35 a gallon.  That is crazy.  We have definitely felt the pinch of the bad economy in all of our stores.  I want to thank all of our loyal customers for still coming out and shopping with us.  I also want to share with you some thoughts I have.  Where this bad economy is most felt is in your independent, local retailers business.  Please support your local independent retailers wherever you might live.  These are the people that really need your support now.  Most of the big retailers have millions in reserve to make it through these bad times.  However, most independent, local retailers dont have that reserve.  If you are deciding where to go to buy that new pair of jeans that you just saw in a magazine, of course I want you to come here first, but if you dont, please shop at a local, independently owned store before you buy from a department store or nationally owned chain.  

All the best,  

David