Small retailer find success by creating niche

Isadore Million must be doing something right.

The owner of Penny Lane Coffee House in Boulder has been able to keep his business going with half a dozen Starbucks in the city.

Small independent businesses such as Penny Lane have to develop strategies to compete with large national chains such as Wal-Mart, Target, Borders Books & Music, Barnes & Noble, Home Depot and Best Buy.

With Wal-Mart coming to Broomfield and a Wal-Mart Supercenter being considered in Longmont, it will continue to be important for local independent retailers to find their niche outside the big-box retailers in order to survive.

“It’s easy to be…