"The Bean" & merchant miseries

I was truly disappointed to see the Village Bean leave Chama. Over the course of the last few years, it'd become my favorite morning place to sit, drink excellent coffee, have a nice breakfast and talk with folks while keeping an eye on the morning activities in the yard. Kevin and his staff were universally friendly and a pleasure to do business with. They'll be missed.
As for merchant experiences, I must say that in my 30 years of yearly visits to Chama, I've had only a handful of poor experiences. Yes, there've been a few minor incidents in that time, but my overall experience has still been solidly on the plus side.
Perhaps my expectations are different from some folks'. I expect (and want!) Chama to be what it is - a small, relatively isolated northern New Mexico town that's more than a bit ambivalent about the yearly influx of outsiders. I don't expect (or want!) a Durango attitude there. That doesn't mean I'll put up with bad service, but it does mean I won't be surprised if things happen on Chama time and in a Chama way.
Frankly, I'm glad there're still a few places that aren't like everyplace else in an increasingly homogenized world.
Not a criticism of others; just another viewpoint,
Scott