Resident Says Cruise Magic Bag Marquee is Wrong Message

My letter is about the Magic Bag marquee.

1. It's not funny.
2. It's insulting, especially to out of towners.
3. It's counterproductive to the growth and emergence of Ferndale.

 
See, I travel a lot. I've driven cross county 21 times, and that doesn't count day trips to Holland, MI, or overnighters to places like Covington, GA. If I come into a town that is having a celebration of some kind that I can participate in, I do. And, like most people, I make note of the shops and businesses.

"Oh, that's a cute shop, I'm definitely coming back to check that out." Or, "So that's where that place is. Now I know, and I'm coming back."
 
But if I saw a sign like what the Magic Bag put up, I'd have to ask myself if the town really wanted me there at all, ever. And if I did come back would it be to a scene out of Deliverance?
 
Yep. That would make me hesitate to return, and that town would not be tops on my list, meaning I will soon forget it and never return.
 
People cruising through may not stop immediately and plunk down money, but they are looking at what we have. And not just bars. They're making mental notes of what is here. What we have to offer.

"Oh, look at that! A candy store and comic shop. What's that organic makeup all about? Ice Cream! Hey, art on the corner! I gotta come back here, this is cool."
 
And they're checking out the marquee of the Magic Bag to see if maybe there's a show they can catch. But, no they get insulted. Do they want to come back to Ferndale? Do they feel welcome here at all? There's apparently nothing the Magic Bag wants to share with them.

"If the Magic Bag feels that way, then maybe the rest of the town does, too and maybe they don't want me back. So I guess I can't shop here."
 
For the better part of the past two weeks my car has been in the shop, so I had to take the bus up Woodward to get to work, and home again. And that gave me the opportunity to see a lot of places I just normally drive by and don't ever see because, face it, on Woodward you really do have to watch the traffic.

Now I know there's a Falafel King on Woodward. I didn't know that!  Now I do. I have my car back, and I'm going there. And a whole bunch of other places, as well.
 
I've also been to the Magic Bag, but I'm not sure they want my business, because I love the Cruise. I love that it kicks off in Ferndale, and that it's not as crazy as 13 Mile. I love Mustang Alley. I overheard guys at work geeking out over getting to Mustang Alley; I hope they did before it stormed. I love that Ferndale is getting some attention for a fun thing.
 
I love that Ferndale is a great TOWN. I can invite friends and family to come for a walk-about shopping trip in my town. Better than a mall.
 
And I want to share that.
 
Driving on Hall Road in Sterling Heights, the thought crossed my mind: "I love living in Ferndale. I can walk everywhere I want and need to go. Geez, here, you have to get in your car just to cross the street."

Penny Wayne, Ferndale resident.