Local businesses show the value of legacy and adaptation

Terry Ward

This month's stories highlight how North Central Washington businesses are balancing cherished traditions with necessary adaptation, demonstrating the unique character that makes our region's economy resilient and vibrant. From multi-generational grocery stores to innovative new restaurants, we're seeing businesses that understand the power of community connections and authentic service.

Dan's Food Market's remarkable 75-year journey from Columbia Market to the beloved Leavenworth institution it is today exemplifies how local businesses can thrive even as corporate chains dominate the landscape. The market's success through three ownership transitions shows that maintaining a focus on personalized service and community relationships creates lasting value. As manager Jeremy Radach noted, watching customers' children grow up over the years creates connections that go far beyond transactions. The Koncz family's commitment to preserving this legacy while thoughtfully expanding offerings shows how successful ownership transitions can honor history while embracing the future.

Meanwhile, in Pateros, Adolfo Sahagun's transformation of the former River Restaurant into Cowboy River Restaurant demonstrates how personal passion and family involvement create distinctive local businesses. Known regionally for his magnificent parade horses, Sahagun brings the same flair and attention to detail to his new American-style eatery. Like the Koncz family at Dan's, Sahagun relies on family members to help run his businesses, with daughter Mili Arteaga juggling waitress duties and business administration. These family enterprises create not just economic value but cultural anchors for our communities.

The challenges facing the Wenatchee River Ranger District remind us that our region's economic vitality is deeply connected to our natural resources and public lands. The loss of experienced rangers threatens not only backcountry management but potentially Leavenworth's tourism economy and water resources. When former Lead Wilderness Ranger Kyle Warden warns that the Enchantments' human waste issue will be "immediate" without proper staffing, it underscores how public sector cutbacks can have cascading effects on our communities and businesses that rely on responsible recreation management.

As our region continues to grow and evolve, these stories highlight the importance of balancing progress with preservation. The Dan's Food Market legacy demonstrates how businesses can maintain their core values through ownership changes. Cowboy River Restaurant shows how cultural traditions—like Sahagun's horsemanship—can inform and enhance new business ventures. And the ranger district situation reminds us that sustainable economic development requires thoughtful stewardship of our natural resources.

Looking ahead, these examples suggest that North Central Washington's economic future lies not in becoming more like everywhere else, but in thoughtfully preserving what makes us unique. Whether it's a grocery clerk who knows customers by name, a restaurateur who brings cultural flair to a riverside dining experience, or the rangers who protect the wilderness that draws visitors to our region, these connections and distinctive local characters create the foundation for sustainable prosperity.

Terry Ward is the CEO of Ward Media and the publisher of the NCW News, Cashmere Valley Record, Lake Chelan Mirror, The Leavenworth Echo, Quad City Herald, and the Wenatchee Business Journal. He can be reached at terry@ward.media.