I'm lucky enough to live in a city with a thriving downtown. Beautiful historic buildings, unique shops, great restaurants and coffee shops, and a friendly atmosphere. Sure, we have the big box stores too, but downtown is the place to be. Its where you find the coolest clothes and decor, unique items that not everyone has. I can literally wander for hours, window shopping, actually shopping, enjoying a cool beverage on a sunny patio, and running into familiar friendly faces. It just feels like home. But I wonder if people realize that these amazing areas in every town are in constant jeopardy. Big box stores come to town, offering low low prices on cheap merchandise shipped in from the other side of the world. The more we give in to the lure of convenience and rock-bottom prices, the more our local businesses suffer. The thing is, WE decide what kind of town (and what kind of world) we want to live in, and we cast our vote with ever dollar we spend. Who do you want to support? The giant, multinational, faceless corporation, or Mr. Smith, who lives down the street, and makes his honest living in your town, and in turn, spends his money in your town, and gives back to your community? When you support local businesses, you support your community. Here's a quick read on some of the many reasons to shop local: article.
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