Aside from being totally adorable and perfectly placed in small towns, small businesses are something that people everywhere know of. From coffee shops to little boutiques, each small town has its own pride and joy.

After working for four summers at an ice cream shop in my hometown, I have come to appreciate small businesses. My original manager would come to work at 7:00 AM (we didn’t open until 11:00) to clean out the freezer, order fresh ingredients, make sloppy joe, clean out the machines… the works. She invested her time and energy into making her small shop thrive — and it did. We were named Southside’s Best multiple times. The business was her heart and soul, and we all knew how tired it made her.

Small businesses have something special that corporations do not; small businesses are the small special something that is unique to a town. There is no cookie-cutter way to do everything in small businesses—There is no manual, no large machinery that is in every store across the nation. There is no CEO and “Employee of the Month.” It is word-of-mouth understanding, and it is blood, sweat, and tears all for the name of putting a smile on someone’s face. It’s many “shots in the dark” and “trial-and-errors.”

After working for a small business, I understand the ragged edges that come with running a business. It takes a lot of time and energy to even begin, nonetheless maintain, a small business. You see how genuine the owners are and how much they appreciate all of your work to keep their business in top shape. You see how happy your boss gets when they help customers during rushes and the smile on their face when they can sell their product with ease. You see how excited they are when they see someone come to town that hasn’t been around for a while. It’s the appreciation of how the business works and who all works with it. The owners trust you and the town with their business. It’s your hard work that makes you appreciate everything you do for them.

After working in a small business, I appreciate shop owners who give it a shot. Some don’t get the recognition of “South Suburban’s Best,” and some don’t even stay afloat for long. But when we appreciate our small businesses, it’s helping out your town. It is acknowledging that all of the hard work the families put in is paying off and making a difference. It is knowing that your town and all your neighbors do to support it is worth it. It’s hometown favorites and hometown hugs. And it is always so good.