LETTER: Tarby’s column unfairly targeted local business

To the editor:

I am writing to you in response to a recent writeup that Russ Tarby put in his column. My husband and I own JT’s Creamery and Cafe in the village of Liverpool along with Infra Rayz Salon and Wellness Spa, all in the same building. This is the second writeup he has chosen to put in this paper about us and our businesses and what he thinks is a disgrace.

I am in awe that such a thing would even be allowed to be written. It’s disgusting and should most definitely not be OK. It is not OK to tear apart a small, local, family-owned business that in this day are few and far between. Not to mention how even the big guys are struggling in this day and age we are living in.

Businesses are dropping like flies all around us and we struggle and strive every day and put our best effort into our businesses to uniquely serve our community. We are a unique spa offering back-to-wellness services helping people relax and heal, along with a hair salon and an amazing mom-and-pop cafe that allows families and friends who have different eating needs to eat with one another. We serve gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan and more.

We have, per code, three signs: one sign per business. Signage is very important for a struggling business. Still, everyday someone says, “This is so cool — how long has this been here?” Traffic moves past our business very fast, so the signage is important in identifying our businesses.

It is all just in effort to bring in business, as again I remind you it is rough out here we are a small business just trying to make it.

Shame on you for allowing such opinion to even be printed against one of your own village small businesses. The first one he wrote was quite some time ago and again disgraced us saying we look trashy and dirty. Well, I suggest you take a look at our reviews that we are so blessed to have by real people and their opinions on our businesses.

As for the Julie for Judge sign, we were asked by them and directed them to code enforcement office and they approved it. I paid for an ad in this paper right before Russ wrote up the first article about us and refused to pay for another after seeing that and let it go. This time I will not let it go. That man is a disgrace to our community.

This is not the attitude or respect or support our community needs.