When will you ever learn? We need as many people coming to this Valley as we can get.
Why is it that Waitsfield continues to be a place where the locals are hostile to tourists and visitors alike coming here? As a business owner and moving to The Valley three years ago, it still amazes me how inhospitable many of the locals are.
They know nothing about customer service, or even how to greet someone with a "Hello" or smile. Instead they just grunt and snarl at you. It's as if they purposely go out of their way to be difficult toward outsiders. I ask you, is this a sense of entitlement, or are they just born rude and ignorant?
If the best we can do is to attract the low-end bohemian counter culture (who spends no money here whatsoever), God help us all!

Clean up your towns, pay attention to the aesthetics (details), and take pride in putting your best foot forward. Are we not even capable of making our towns look like they are ready for tourism coming to The Valley? Some sweat equity, a little paint and Windex would go a long way for starters.
Inexpensive decorations throughout the town would be great as well. (Look to Waterbury as an example.) At least they make an honest attempt with every changing season.
The truth hurts, I know, but The Valley continues to lose business and no one really cares. Yet the locals are the first to complain when they see their taxes increase.
For as much as you talk about supporting local business  -- the locals don't support us, i.e., "Lily of the Mad River Valley," "Alta Day Spa," "Spotted Cow," not to mention the many other restaurants and businesses that have come and gone. The restaurants here alone can't even keep consistent regular hours, due to the lack of support.
In this ever-changing world we have seen the difference one person can make. Can you imagine a town, or an entire valley? Whether you like it or not, we need tourism and local support throughout the entire year, and not just during fall foliage or ski season.
So even if it kills you, "Put on a happy face and smile, Waitsfield." Our visitors and tourists expect it and deserve better. Let's stop being just another one-horse "pass through" town on Route 100 and work toward getting people to stop and stay awhile.
Remember: We need the tourists more than they need us. They can always spend their money in Woodstock, Manchester or Stowe. Those towns also offer everything we do, and more.
As a business owner in the tourism industry, it's up to the locals to change the negative perception visitors have (and they do) of "Waitsfield" and its people.
I hope this message does not fall on deaf ears and you will rise to the challenge.
Please do not continue down the path of mediocrity that has been the "norm" for the past several years. It does a disservice to all of us who are trying hard to attract other business and tourism to this Valley.

Larry Richichi is the innkeeper at The Belding House B and B in Moretown.

Comments (8)

	1. Oct-26-2009 10:52
	Some Truth, but is relative to experienc Hello Larry and all who Read,    I had a business here too till a month ago, in fact we were right next door to the Belding House for about a year. I always have appreciated the look of your B and B and the fact that you took the effort to keep it up and inviting. Which is not the case with many other establishments... we all know who they are.   On the one hand I agree that Waitsfield is not the most inviting in a number of ways... and folks here really think the village is a great site to see? Have you been to other towns in Vermont or are you just delusional? I was one of a few who mentioned that at the Valley Business Forum that was about a year ago and not much has changed... though Darrad did actually put some paint on his place after many years.   I will though disagree about the people here. I think that this area has some truly great people, who really care! My experience is that people here take time to get to know and are less snarly than they may look on the surface... so if visitors come expecting cheery, smiley folks... sorry that is not what Waitsfield is about.   I will say that there is more talk "local" than many individuals and businesses fulfill. Example is the aforementioned Round Barn who went to Arizona to get a web designer for their new site. When I mentioned this to them... no response... and yes that is my business arena. Our very own chamber went out of the area to hire a marketing/branding firm, yes the chamber. Oh and did they open it up to local people who knew the place and could do it as well? Nope.   So, I leave here knowing that it was well worth the experience and I will take all that I have learned to my next destination. Coming back to visit the lovely aspects I originally came here for. I will remember the people, Mad Birders and even Greg and his family from the Spotted Cow who left and were not acknowledged.   This is good critique for the people and businesses here... listen folks or this place will become more of what he is speaking of... IP: 65.19.76.53 Report

James Foreman

	2. Oct-26-2009 10:50
	WOW! This whole thread pretty much blows me away! My family has lived here for about 15 years, and my favorite line is from a friend of mine who merely put it: "There are more great people in the valley than you will ever have a chance to get to really know." Well put. For those of you who think that people in this valley have a bad attitude, clearly need to get out and meet more people. And for the guy who wants to ski where life is a little more low-key ... why don't you try Mad River Glen. I have never known a friendlier ski area.   Wake up Valley residents - there are some great people out there, and they are likely your neighbors. IP: 65.19.76.53 Report

Chuck Derrick

	3. Oct-12-2009 15:19
	Home Owner - Marketer Mr. Richichi has done an excellent job of killing off his best sources of new business.   For almost any business, referrals are the easiest way to get new business for free. I've seen clients use a simple proactive referral strategy to double or triple their business within months.     And other than past customers, one of Mr. Richichi's best sources of referrals are his fellow business owners in the Mad River Valley, the people who he directly insults and berates.   If I was Mr. Richichi, I'd start by personally visiting every retail business in the valley and personally apologizing to them and then offering them discount vouchers they could give to customers, to get them back into the fold as referral partners.   Word of mouth referrals are the life blood of local businesses and Mr. Richichi would do well to focus on getting local business owners on his side. They're his best salespeople, and he should treat them accordingly.   If he did use a proactive referral strategy, he could easily see his business double this year in the midst of this recession. IP: 65.19.76.53 Report

Charlie Cook

	4. Oct-05-2009 08:55
	Not so fast While I do not agree with Mr. Richichi, we must consider his viewpoint. After all, he bought a business in the Valley, so he has demonstrated at least one instance of lucidity (or madness, perhaps).   However, if he feels this way he cannot be alone, there are others, as well. Rather than dismissing his comments out of hand, why not try to build on them, find common ground and move forward in a positive manner? IP: 65.19.76.53 Report

Gary Crosby

	5. Oct-05-2009 08:54
	Don't blame the locals!!! I'm sorry to say, but it's not just the locals with the bad attitude in the Valley. Have you ever stopped to think that maybe the bad attitude the locals portray is nothing but a mirror image of the people it so wants to invite to the valley. It is this snobbish attitude of the flatlanders that come to the valley and buy their way into our smiles and happiness that upsets many of us into this bad attitude. Or, perhaps, have you ever stopped to think of the quality of life a lot of these locals have. I mean, try finding a job in the Valley that pays over $10 an hour, or better yet, if you do have a decent job, try affordable housing in the valley. (When you have to work 3 jobs to try and get ahead,or even get a ski pass to your own local ski hill, you might not be the most approachable person either.) Places like Waterbury accommodate both the locals and the flatlanders. They just offer a lot more affordable and expensive options then the Valley. When was the last time the Spotted Cow had a good burger for $7 and a hand crafted beer for $4. (The Local Folk Smoke House seems to do alright, maybe it's because they're not outrageously over priced.) The Valley got greedy, they want all the families with money to come so they brought in expensive businesses and not much else for the regular folk. I say that the valley made its bed, now sleep in it. Don't go blaming the locals for your poor choice in places to run an over expensive, snobby, elitist attitude of a business. Here's an idea, try Aspen. IP: 65.19.76.53 Report

mike

	6. Sep-29-2009 11:18
	Say it ain't so! Hello, It has been far too long since we lived in the Valley (1996-1997) and it was depressing to read the article above on how the 'attitude' has apparently changed in Waitsfield. After 8 stops throughout North America, my wife Shari-Lynn and I still consider our brief time in Waitsfield as one of the big highlights of our innkeeping career and have always thought the people were what really made the valley special. From the gang at the Round Barn, Cooking from the Heart, John and Ro from the Den, Bernie at Big World, Suzie and Giorgio from Tuckers, the gang at the Hyde Away, the valley seemed full of people who really wanted to be there. I understand a number of people mentioned above no longer live in the valley, or the businesses have changed hands, but I miss our time there and hope that things turn around for Waitsfield. We still recommend to dozens of our guests yearly to visit the Valley, time to brush off the cobwebs and take control of one of the most beautiful spots in New England!    Until next time.....   Chris Williams  Innkeeper  Mount Engadine Lodge  www.mountengadine.com  Canmore, Alberta, Canada IP: 65.19.76.53 Report

Chris Williams

	7. Sep-28-2009 10:24
	I used to come to Mad RIver Valley I totally agree with this article. My family used to come ski at Sugarbush and spend sometime during the summer. But guess what, there was nothing open, no place to eat, and unfriendly people to boot, who looked at us 'flatlanders' as intruding on their scenic valley. Sugarbush to me has turned the valley into a place for the snooty, rich folks from New York. Which is too bad because the mountain is so great. But there are other mountains where middle-class folks are welcome and that is where we ski and spend our money now. I do not know which is worse, the local folks who do not like out-of-staters or the trust fund babies who want to turn the valley into their own version of what Vermont should be like. But I feel sorry for those few business folks who know what they are doing and try to survive in this unfriendly place. IP: 65.19.76.53 Report

michael smith

	8. Sep-28-2009 10:23
	Welcome to communism` Way to go Larry. The Valley will never learn where their dollars comes from. They are so anti development and unfriendly. They always bite the hand that feeds them. When will they ever learn? I left The Valley almost 10 years ago after 25 years of running a successful business there. I got to the point where I couldn't stand the local politics, mind set, or the attitude of the Valley. Good luck to all that can survive! Life is much better in the south. Good luck to all that are trying so hard to make a living there. Sincerely, Dave Corey. (formerly or Corey's Automotive) IP: 65.19.76.53 Report

Dave Corey

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