IMC Hawks Blog

Finding social capital in Wilmington, NC

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We have been discussing social capital and how it contributes to the building of community for several weeks, and now we want to look at examples of businesses and organizations in Wilmington that foster social capital. We hope that by providing examples like this, the concept of social capital will become more concrete.
For over a year and a half, I worked at a small, locally-owned coffee shop on Wrightsville Avenue called the Smudged Pot. It is no longer in business, but it had been there for over 15 years before the owner finally sold it. The Smudged Pot was small and located in an old building with a rundown-looking parking lot and worn out floors.
It wasn’t much to look at, but it had the most loyal clientele I have ever known. The same people came in every day, same time of day, same drinks, same stories and jokes. Friendships were built, families were formed and contacts were established – all while getting your morning (or afternoon) cup of coffee.
Saturday mornings in the Smudged Pot were an experience not to be forgotten. Families with young kids, a few people with their well-known and much-adored dogs, several residents from nearby neighborhoods, a retired man who knew everyone in Wilmington along with their life story, and a couple baristas serving the coffee was the familiar Saturday morning scene.
Strangers became friends, friends became family, and sometimes they became employers. In a town that can sometimes feel bigger than it is, places like this are essential to building positive social capital.

Nicole Doherty

Comments

4 responses to “Finding social capital in Wilmington, NC”

  1. Lindsey Baggett Avatar
    Lindsey Baggett

    Your example on the restaurant you worked at, the Smudged Pot, was a very clear representation of building social capital. Too many businesses just want to make money, get people in and out of their facility and never take an opportunity to get to know their cliental. Personally, I like to go to the mom and pop restaurants, the ones that really care about each individual consumer. I lived in Chattanooga, Tennessee for 16 years, and their were a few places that always had my business due to the fact that going into eat, was like going to sit down and have your family make you a fantastic meal. It was a warm feeling. I wish there were more places such as the Smudged Pot. I would have liked to go in there and see such a diverse group of people but feel that inviting feeling. The only way that restaurants are going to be aware that this is what the customer wants is through WOM (Word of Mouth Marketing). So maybe we can start at the little places we frequent and try to get more places to have an inviting, warm feeling to them.

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  2. Carissa Niederkorn Avatar
    Carissa Niederkorn

    I think the Smudged Pot sounds really great. So many places focus on making money and not customer retention. With a focus on the brand and not actual service, people tend not to connect on a personal level. Today it is hard to gain new customers when places like this are up against well known coffee shops such as Starbucks.
    I most likely would not have chosen the Smudged Pot over a Starbucks, especially if it looked run down. On the other hand, word of mouth may have pulled me into the Smudged Pot. If I had heard these wonderful things about the place I would have looked past the exterior and skipped out on Starbucks.

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  3. Ayu Mashita Avatar
    Ayu Mashita

    It is such a pity that Smudged Pot is no longer in business. I think Wilmington surely needs more places like this. I am the type of person who would prefer this kind of cafe for my getaway place and find people with sort of hidden similarities, rather than going to bars or malls and so on. Especially in a small city like Wilmington, venues with such concept would be perfect as a social capital of the community. Some other cities which already famous and very supportive with this kind of business are proven to create a strong characteristic.

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  4. Katie Miller Avatar
    Katie Miller

    I see the Smudged Pot as as a true example of social capital. Your explanation of the basis of the social capital helped me further understand what this concept is about. I think smaller businesses that have held onto their success for so long did this because of the social backup of the community. I see the future of a local coffee shop in Charlotte I worked at going the exact same route as the Smudged Pot did. Larger companies, as it seems to me, are tearing apart the community built around Wilmington. Smaller businesses make the community, no questions asked.

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