An Open Letter to the Merchants on Main Street (Trick or Treat)

Dear Main Street Merchants, I took my family to see you this weekend. We all dressed up in our costumes and joined other families to trick or treat with you. We were extremely surprised that a vast number of you decided not to trick or treat with us, and I am puzzled by this so my letter to you is why? Why would you not want us to come into your stores? I rarely head to Main Street and was excited to visit stores I had read about on Patch but had never had the chance to visit. Why couldn't you run to the Dollar store and buy a few bags of candy for the kids who just don't understand. If you are 'worried' about us traipsing into your store and getting mud on the carpet, why not just set a bowl out for the kids. For those that did participate - a big thank you. You made it a wonderful experience for all of my kids. Thank you for having fun with my kids. Thank you for opening your doors to me and inviting me in. I am going to remember you the next time I am on Main Street, and for those who were not as inviting, I'm likely to take my business to those stores that made an effort. As my kids were inside one store trick or treating, I overheard one Mom say, as she was window shopping, how nice a necklace was that she saw in the window. I doubt that would have happened normally - but this event really gave us parents the opportunity to see stores for the first time. There were some stores that had large signs saying that they were not participating. I don't understand why? Wouldn't you want me to come into your store? I imagine that it costs a lot of money to run a business. I also imagine marketing costs to advertise a business are huge. I am subjected to ads in the newspaper as well as on TV all the time so advertising must be important. What I cannot understand is why you would not open your doors and invite us in? There were several hundred of us. What would it normally cost to bring several hundreds of people into your store? Is it more than a few bags of candy at the dollar store? And then if it is, I ask again - why? Sincerely, A concerned citizen.