In the small business world, lots of ‘jobs’ make up everyday life for business owners. Not only are these individuals the face of the organization, they also have to clean the floors, balance the check book, keep up with inventory, provide an excellent level of customer service, answer the phones, change the tape in the cash register, do some marketing… We could keep going. While these ‘jobs’ are necessary to keep a business going, some owners take things a step further.

According to Merriam-Webster, a duty is ‘something you must do because it is morally right’. Charlie Bertrand embodies this.

If you head to the Spanish Street area around 8:30-9am, chances are you’ll catch Charlie on the sidewalks and in the street donning his green apron with a broom in hand. As the owner and manager of two downtown businesses for the past 11 years, Spanish Street Mercantile/Cape’s Cream of the Crust and Broadway Market & Loft, as well as being a downtown resident, he understands how important it is to keep the outside of his properties looking as good as the insides.

It takes about 45 minutes to an hour for him to cover his territory, which is more than just in front of his store. He walks up to Broadway, checks out the Broadway and Spanish Street intersection, then heads down the block to make sure Minglewood Brewery’s sidewalk is looking nice. From there he heads back down Spanish St all the way to Independence, takes a short detour up Independence then makes his way back to his establishment.

Why do this? Why spend this much time cleaning up other people’s trash in such a big area? ‘It is my duty as a downtown business owner to do my part in helping make the entire area inviting for visitors,’ commented Charlie. ‘If I do it every morning, it’s not such a big task.’

‘We, as a collective group of downtown business owners, have to pull together on a daily basis to keep our area looking nice.’

Sweeping up empty soda cups and cigarette litter does seem like a ‘dirty job’, but Charlie commented that he actually enjoys this time. ‘I get to talk to everyone, experience the ‘downtown way of life’ and, for the most part, the weather is beautiful.’

While walking along his route, we turned the corner at Broadway and Spanish Streets and it was then that I realized why he does what he does. The sun was painting a gorgeous picture on the water of the Mississippi and our downtown was gleaming with excitement and beauty. Charlie turned to me and said, ‘Do you see that? Old Town Cape is one of the prettiest spots along the entire river and I get to be a part of this.’

Thank you, Charlie, and all the downtown business owners who do their part in helping make our area a beautiful destination for people to live, work and play. We truly are one of the greatest downtowns in the nation!