COUNTERTOPS
Second Helpings
Eleven years ago, with the debut of Roadside Magazine, I embarked on a mission to celebrate and save the American roadside. About a year ago, that mission got prematurely aborted. End of story. And so begins the sequel.
Our culture paints a rather romantic picture of the undaunted individual who fights on in the face of adversity, and in mainstream depictions, the story usually ends happily, the hero triumphant. We prize the indominatable spirit: the guy that sticks to his guns, the woman who just won’t give up. Those that have risen to the top all have that in common. Or so we seem to believe.
Our culture and business history does indeed tell many such tales of determination, and we’ve devoted this inaugural issue to that particular theme – a first for us, really. Never before have we published an issue with a running theme, but in this case, the idea seems especially poignant and appropriate. We did not start out with this intention. A serendipitous culmination of events lead to a realization that two of my favorite places to eat have returned in reformulated fashions after untimely demises. I found the ironies all-too-compelling.
And speaking for ourselves, Teri and I haven’t given up on our mission either. We firmly believe that, now more than ever, this country needs a publication and website that reliably illustrates how our greatness springs from the efforts of individuals pursuing their own dreams. We believe that our readers still want to know where to find those clattering diners, those palatial movie palaces and those big, goofy fiberglass statues – and that you’d like to meet the people dedicated to their creation, vitality, and preservation.
For those of you familiar with our previous publication, you will likely find By the Way lacking the heft of its predecessor. Teri and I have made a conscious decision to take baby steps here at the outset. Recognizing that our exuberance for the topic prompted us to publish too many pages and distribute too broadly, we instead plan to stay within our means this time out, both editorially and financially. We hope that our new tack will mean actually meeting deadlines – something that our readers and advertisers should surely appreciate.
You will, however, still find the same enthusiasm, reliability, integrity and thoughtfulness that you enjoyed in our predecessor. I regard our relationship with our readers as sacrosanct. I will never knowingly misrepresent myself, or this magazine, to its audience. We know that the success of enterprises such as this one is highly dependent upon establishing and fostering healthy relationships with readers and vendors. Oftentimes, that goodwill becomes the sole source of working capital during lean periods. So I intend to operate this incarnation of our business on my long-standing philosophy that nobody ever went out of business by being fair to his customers.
Besides this new magazine, we are simultaneously launching a companion website, www.roadsideonline.com. There you will find a continuously updated stream of news and information related to our editorial mission. We invite – we implore you to help us out by participating in online discussions and by sending us messages about your travels and neighborhoods. Tell us how it is, where it is, how you like it. Pull no punches. Roll up your sleeves. Pour another cup of coffee.
So … here we go again. The car may be smaller and have fewer amenities than our last vehicle, but the tank is full and this time your driver is in full control, of both the car and his senses. We invite you again to eat in diners, ride trains, shop on Main Street, put a porch on your house, and live in a walkable community.
Hop in, people. It’s time to drive the open roads and stroll the busy sidewalks of America.
What do you think? Send us your opinions to roadsideonline.com or post them on our Forum.
