To the editor,

Let’s support locally owned businesses. As the former owner of a Seaside tee shirt and sweatshirt store for more than 20 years, I am shocked and dismayed when I see the Seaside Safeway supermarket now displaying and selling “Seaside” screen-printed shirts.

We have several local owners of good quality shirt stores who make their living being in the souvenir shirt business. These stores offer quality merchandise at very competitive prices. Downtown Broadway has several excellent shirt stores owned by locals who live and work in our community, pay local taxes, support our schools and make generous contributions to our city.

We are a resort beach town of local business owners who live here year-round. Why would “the giant Safeway Corporation” decide to be in competition with “their own customers” right here in Seaside?

Safeway is a fine supermarket. I would suggest to their local and corporate management to rethink their decision to sell souvenir “Seaside” shirts in our community.

Marty Gill

Gearhart