I would like to have had more customers like you when I had my quilt shop. I'm convinced customers have LITTLE IDEA how much $$$ it takes to keep the doors open of a LQS. Yes, I know fully well that quilters can buy the same fabric online for a lesser price; the overhead is all together different. I actually had a customer suggest to me that I have my shop open 'just for a couple of hours' on Sundays so she could stop in after church. My shop was closed on Sundays. Needless to say, I did not take her suggestion. Sadly, instead of the local quilters supporting my shop, they felt more jealous and resentful that I was doing something (had my own quilt shop) they couldn't do. I closed my shop after 5 years, just before the financial meltdown in '08.
OK. Enough venting. Yes, support your LQS. Yes, times are tough for everyone, especially the small business owners. Also important is this: please be sure you let your LQS know how glad you are that they're there. Say 'thank you!!'
Quilt on!