By Mary-Justine Lanyon
Editor
Two of the Blue Jay business owners – Bev Eskew and Chad Logan – sat down to chat about their village.
“The businesses that are here are thriving,” Logan said. He acknowledged that several storefronts are currently empty but noted there has been a lot of interest in them all.
“There’s a lot of action happening,” he said. Although he is privy to the parties who are interested, he is not at liberty to disclose their names. “They will be disclosed later,” he said. “They will complement each other.”
The two agreed that Blue Jay fills a niche. “We cater to both locals and tourists,” said Eskew, who owns Spade & Spatula-Ca. Gastropub.
And Logan added that Blue Jay offers almost everything – a bank, gas station, grocers, barber, library, dining opportunities, realtors, a post office, pet store, health store and bookstore. “We could use a pharmacy,” he said.
They envision starting a Blue Jay Merchants Association. Eskew would like to see four community events a year taking place in Blue Jay. “We want to get everyone involved,” she said. “And the rest of the year we would cross-promote our businesses.”
And so they ask: What sorts of events would the community like to see in Blue Jay? Would anyone be interested in volunteering? “Be part of the solution,” Logan and Eskew suggest.
“I’d like to bring back things that took place here before my time,” Logan said. “Like the firemen’s bonfire.” He’d like to put a big Christmas tree up in the parking lot, perhaps have a street fair.
Eskew – who features the work of a number of artists in her restaurant – would love to see a Blue Jay art walk. “I’d like to showcase the talent that is here,” she said.
In Blue Jay, Eskew added, they can foster the mountain culture – the spirit of caring for one another. “That’s how small communities thrive. You see someone stranded on the side of the road and you pull over to see what they need. You don’t rush to conclusions, you talk to people about their situation and create understanding.
“And when disasters happen,” Eskew said, “we come together. That’s the beauty of mountain culture – thinking the best of people, not the worst.
“I am so grateful to still have my doors open,” she said. “It wouldn’t happen without the grace and understanding of my landlord. There are very few places left in the country where small Mom and Pop shops have a shot to make it. There is more heart and soul in them, something people crave.”
Running a restaurant, Eskew said, is “more than booking tables and making money. You build relationships with the people, with the community. That keeps us united when bad things happen and brings us together for celebrations. That’s what small town living is all about. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
Eskew noted how challenging it was to open Spade & Spatula during the pandemic. And then there was Snowmageddon and the Line Fire, which affected the whole mountain. She reiterated: “I couldn’t have made it without the support of my landlord.”
One benefit of a Blue Jay Merchants Association, Logan said, would be better communication between the businesses. He pointed to how both his business, Logan Construction, and the library in Blue Jay planned to offer hot chocolate during the Blue Jay parade. When he learned that, he switched to offering cider.
“When we get together as a community, we will bring more people in,” Logan said. “We want diversity. We want to bring in businesses that complement each other.”
“Current looks can be deceiving,” Eskew said, “but there is no doubt that Blue Jay will rise again!”
Chad Logan