Maricopa Chamber Director’s Blog

Ramsey’s American Grill, A Tragic End…

Filed Under General | 

Last modified: August 27, 2007

Like most people in town I was shocked by last week’s news that Ramsey’s American Grill had been closed down. Who knew? Not only was Ramsey’s one of the first few flagship businesses here in Maricopa but it also represented the realization of a dream, the Entrepreneur’s dream of owning your own business, having employees and providing a great work environment and giving back to your community.

Maricopa’s business community is full of men and women like Ramsey and Sherry Harkness, who put their heart, souls and financial futures into OUR Community. I can’t help but feel like WE let them down some how. This should be a wake up call to all of us, residents and city officials alike that if we do not support our local economy then we will have no economy. We can not afford to be Phoenix centric any more!

Most of the residents that I talk to always ask when are the big box stores coming. Well, if we can not support the stores that are here how will we be able to support the big guys? America was not built by corporate chain stores, but by the little guy with a dream.

I was out this weekend and over heard a lot of talk on what they should have or could have done. Isn’t it easy to sit back and criticize, speculate and create opinions on things that do not personally affect you or your family? None of us has knowledge as to the sacrifices they have made to keep the doors open people paid etc. The one thing I do know is that Ramsey is an honest, community spirited guy who would do what ever he could to support local event’s, charities, PTO’s and other businesses.

Ramsey, I will miss seeing you when I come in to eat and I hope that you will still be willing to share ideas with me because you are the idea guy! Good luck and all the best.