In Glasgow, small businesses lean on community

GLASGOW, Ky.  – On the Public Square in downtown Glasgow, small businesses are more than places to eat or shop. They are meeting spots, landmarks for visitors and, for many owners, the result of years of work and risk taken on a belief that community still matters.

For Danny Williams, owner of Fine Arts Bistro, the past few years have been a lesson in adaptation. He said the restaurant industry has faced steady pressure since the pandemic, with rising food costs and unpredictable pricing making it harder to plan and harder to maintain margins. “Food prices were crazy,” Williams said. “It’s been a little bit difficult, to say the least, to own a restaurant right now.”

Even so, Williams said what keeps his doors open is not just the menu, but the people. Regular customers, he said, form the backbone of the business and the reason it has lasted on the square for more than a decade. In a small town, he said, those relationships turn a restaurant into something more personal than just a place to eat.

That same sense of connection is what Julie Goodman, owner of Off the Square, says defines shopping local. She said her store has become a place where customers don’t just browse, but run into friends, catch up and share pieces of their lives. “You’re not just shopping,” Goodman said. “You’re having an experience.”

At The Good Wife House of Lingerie & Mastectomy Boutique, owner Trish Burton sees that connection in a different way. Her store serves a niche, health-focused role in the community, and she said some customers come in not even to shop, but simply to sit, rest and breathe for a few minutes. Over time, she said, small businesses become part of the emotional rhythm of a town.

For Savannah White, owner of The Hive Coffee & Bakehouse, the reality of running a brick-and-mortar business has come in waves. She said some days are busy, others slow, and there is little predictability. When business dips, she said, small businesses feel it immediately, sometimes having to cut shifts or go without a paycheck themselves.

White said the growth of Glasgow has brought more options and more convenience for customers, which can be both exciting and challenging. She said the issue is not where people shouldn’t shop, but remembering that small businesses depend on consistent, intentional support to survive.

All four owners say local businesses play a role far beyond commerce. They sponsor teams, support fundraisers, work with nonprofits and often serve as first stops for visitors exploring the square. In many cases, they said, the money spent locally circulates right back into the community.

And while the challenges remain, the message from Glasgow’s square is a hopeful one: small businesses are still here, still opening their doors, and still betting that community, one customer at a time, is worth it.