[ad_1]
The main streets in neighborhoods across the city were crowded with people buying from local stores.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. – The Vinyl Junkies Record Shack in South Park can’t celebrate Saturday’s small business without a DJ on the decks.
The store is one of many independent businesses that line Fern Ave in South Park. It is one of many neighborhoods in San Diego with a thriving local economy.
“You have to support your people, support your community,” said Heather Johnson, owner of the Vinyl Junkies Record Shack. “Everything goes back to your neighborhood. It stimulates the world.”
A few miles further in North Park San Diego, Mayor Todd Gloria was shopping for gifts amid the crowd of shoppers on 30th Street.
“You support small businesses in our city,” said the mayor. “The people who employ other San Diegans and keep their profits, the income goes straight back to the neighborhood.”
Next door, where Mayor Gloria was speaking, bookworms were rummaging through the shelves of Verbatim Books.
As with vinyl, books saw a huge jump in sales during the pandemic. Owner Justine Epstein says she has seen more readers browse her store.
“I think it’s more of a discovery, a treasure hunt if you will,” said Epstein. “I think people really enjoy it because everything is really available these days.”
While some companies may have thrived during the pandemic, others struggled to make a profit.
Mayor Gloria referred to an initiative of the city that relieves companies damaged by the pandemic.
“Earlier this week we announced $ 6 million in COVID-19 relief grants for local small businesses. Over 1,000 San Diego companies are receiving $ 5,000 in grants, “said Mayor Gloria.
Grant money that will undoubtedly be given to businesses in growing neighborhoods like Barrio Logan. With the sidewalks lined with vendors and brightly colored shop windows, the barrio has a thriving local economy.
Xochitl Villarreal owns Casa Xovi so vi on Logan Avenue.
“Because we are small companies – we are doers and we are also creators,” said Villarreal. “We invite the community so that they can support our companies instead of large companies.”
Small Business Saturday is about keeping money in the local economy.
Small shopping puts money in the pockets of neighbors and friends here in San Diego. Grow your Main St. No matter what neighborhood you live in.
WATCH RELATED: Shop Safety Concerns Following Series of Burglaries at High-End California Stores (Nov 2021)
[ad_2]
Source link
