Mar. 13—Many people love a lazy Saturday morning, but that's not the case for a group of motivated young people who try to spread a little cash and some cheer to small businesses on the Harbor.
Dezy Lindgren, Janaé Jobe, of Aberdeen Cash Mob, get a group together once a month to meet at a local coffee shop. Usually, they meet at Tinderbox Coffee Roasters — 113 E. Wishkah St., in Aberdeen. But they've also met at The Jitter House — 617 Simpson Ave., in Hoquiam, The Brass Hub Coffee Bar — 1101 1st St., Unit A, in Cosmopolis, and until it closed, Nirvana Coffee Co., in Aberdeen.
On Saturday, the cash mob will meet at Solid Coffee — 1941 Riverside Ave., in Hoquiam. The cafe is on the first floor of Vasa Hall. But that isn't where the cash mob happens, it's just where they'll meet.
What is Aberdeen Cash Mob?
Lindgren, real estate agent at Windermere Real Estate — 101 S. Broadway St., in Aberdeen, spoke about how the cash mob works. Cash Mob is statewide, according to Lindgren.
"(Cash Mob) is based around everybody meeting up and spending $20 cash at a local business," Lindgren said.
While the group announces its meet up spot in advance, the business where the cash mob actually happens stays a secret until everyone shows up for cash mob.
"We usually show up to the coffee shop a half hour before we head to the cash mob location," Lindgren said. According to the group's Facebook page — Aberdeen, WA — Cash Mob — the group's set to meet at Solid Coffee this Saturday at 10:30 a.m. They'll head to the secret location at 11 a.m. The next small business to get "mobbed" will be the 15th, since Lindgren and Jobe started running the group. The group meets on the third Saturday of each month.
It sounds as though Jobe, account executive for Jodesha Broadcasting Inc., — 1520 Simpson Ave., in Aberdeen, has enjoyed immensely the time she's spent with Aberdeen Cash Mob.
"We have been able to facilitate some really great cash mobs," Jobe said.
Cash is king
Lindgren explained why the group wants anyone who joins the endeavor to use cash.
"It's suggested we use cash for the transactions, because it saves small businesses between 2-3% in card processing fees," Lindgren said. "So, using cash that way, it's like the same $20 is circulated throughout the small businesses instead of being dwindled down by those fees."
A couple of favorite places
Lindgren talked about how La Original Nuestra Tienda — 423 W. Market St., in Aberdeen — was one of her favorite places to "mob."
"Osiel (Rivera) actually locked this one down," Lindgren said. "(Silvia Florez-Ibarra) was really excited to have us. It was a really neat store that I probably just wouldn't have thought to go into if it wasn't for Cash Mob, which is really the idea of it. It's getting the word out for those small businesses."
While Florez-Ibarra, the store's owner, did not comment because of a language barrier, she referred questions to Juan Cruz, manager of El Puerto Latino — 100 N. G Street, in Aberdeen. Cruz commented on Florez-Ibarra's behalf regarding Lindgren and Jobe.
"She said they were very nice people," Cruz said.
Finding treasure
Seeing the store allowed Lindgren to find items she didn't know were there.
"I found all kinds of cool things in there," Lindgren said. "And everyone who came, it was a pretty good-sized group, everyone who came was really excited and I found a bunch of stuff."
The best part of that particular weekend was seeing how appreciative Florez-Ibarra was.
"I could just tell the owners were really grateful and had big smiles on their faces," Lindgren said. "That was really fun."
Another place Lindgren mentioned as a fun spot where Cash Mob has gone to is Tectonic Comics — 105 E. Heron St., in Aberdeen. It seems the people there, including, Michelle Conrad, who owns the approximate 6,000-square-feet shop full of board games, role-playing games, comic books and more, enjoyed working with Cash Mob too.
Conrad said Lindgren called her about doing the cash mob at Tectonic. It's clear Conrad thinks the $20 price point is a good idea.
"I know that $20 doesn't seem like a lot but it is, because people come into a business they probably have never supported before and they look around and find something that's cool about it," Conrad said. "And then they buy their $20 worth. They don't have to, I don't think, but they usually do. It's really a cool, little thing that supports the community. It gets people out. I think they have a great time doing it."
Conrad said the experience was "a lot of fun."
"They got here before I did that morning," Conrad said. "I guess they were like at the door waiting for me to open up, which was just exciting. I walked in and there were cars and people standing at the door. That was lots of fun. They stayed for an hour maybe, an hour and a half, depends because some people left earlier and some people left later. But everybody left with something. It was really nice because these were people who, some people I had seen before and some who I had never seen before. That was fun."
Conrad said she hopes Aberdeen Cash Mob grows.
"I think with them going to Aberdeen and Hoquiam, I don't know if they're going to expand out, but there are still a lot of businesses to cover, obviously," Conrad said. "They can't go to everything, but it's good. I'm really excited about this article because I know they have a core group, but getting them to grow and getting some more exposure would be fantastic, not just for them but for the businesses. Right now, say there are 20 people, if your article shows up and then they end up getting 40 people, that's even better."
If Aberdeen Cash Mob gets 40 people to spend $20 each, that's $800. It'd make a great start to a weekend.
It sounds as though Conrad welcomes them back.
"I think I saw a few of the people come back again, for sure," Conrad said. "I definitely got a note from Dezy saying 'thank you' and how excited people were. So I expect I will see them again."
While Lindgren, Jobe and Rivera didn't start Aberdeen Cash Mob, they "revamped" it in January 2023.
"It's been just a little over a year," Lindgren said. "Jamie Judkins, she ran it for a long time and then she reached out to me and Janae and said, 'someone else should take it over.' So, me and Janae took it over from there. They stopped for a little while during COVID and then we started in January 2023."
Lindgren gave one final sales pitch for anyone who hasn't participated in Aberdeen Cash Mob.
"I would say that they should join us to help support small, local business," Lindgren said. "It's important and it's pretty low cost at $20-per-month to do that and be a part of something that really helps these businesses and helps them feel special and recognized, and gives them a good day on their books."
Wil Russoul, director of Downtown Aberdeen Association, recognized how Lindgren and Jobe, through Aberdeen Cash Mob, are helping the Harbor.
"I love how these dynamic and enterprising young ladies are involved in our community, bringing fresh ideas and positivity into their endeavors," Russoul said. "Their energy is catchy and they are great ambassadors for downtown and beyond. I am very thankful for all they do and their bright influence with others."
Contact Reporter Matthew N. Wells at matthew.wells@thedailyworld.com.
