If there's one thing that I’ve come to appreciate while growing up in a small town, it has to be the abundance of tiny shops and local businesses that are along the bustling main street. Even after living here my entire life, I still find myself stumbling upon another hidden boutique or new café and unearthing the little treasures it has to offer.
Not only do these places contain items that may be hard to find in the wider retail industry, but they also add to the community in which they reside. In many cases, they even give back to the community by supporting local sports teams or schools.
For example, Novel Ideas in Putnam, Connecticut is doing more than simply selling an awesome array of records, books and other “novelty” items. Owner Dana Pelkey is collecting old iPod Shuffles and Nanos to wipe clean and then refill with music from the '30s through the '60s to later donate to a local nursing home so that residents can enjoy a musical blast from the past.
I'm lucky to experience this “business community within a community” on a first-hand basis because of my recent employment at Flying Carpet Studio, which happens to be a wall away from Pelkey's store. Although I haven’t been working at this wonderland of a shop for very long, I've found that there's a level of pride within this establishment that goes beyond the way it’s run for the customers.
I see this shop as a sanctuary for stress relief, where I can let go of the crazy life of a college student for a little while. Even on the busiest of evenings within the store, I can still take comfort in the twinkling lights, soft music and happy energy that seem to flow through the store and out into the street.
The “mom and pop shop,” or locally-owned business, at one time used to be a way of life for individuals in a community. It was more common for there to be small spaces at usually only one location, and usually held fewer items, local products and were owned by hometown families. But as big business manufacturing grew and the American economy became even more capitalistic, “chain" stores and restaurants began to replace, outnumber and outprice the sales of locally-owned stores.
However, within the past decade, there has a been significant rebirth in the value of the “mom and pop shop.” Across the country, more communities have begun to see these stores take up establishment again and even further, be successful.
Small businesses, local shops and “mom and pop stores” can become the staple of community. They not only offer enjoyable employment for young people like myself, but they also act as a unique alternative to cookie-cutter, corporate manufacturing and almost always give back to the communities in which they reside.
Maybe I'm biased towards this trade, maybe I'm not, but locally-owned businesses are an important part of where we live and where we come from. And we all live “somewhere.” “Supporting local” is even more important than ever, so I strongly encourage you to explore the gems that might be hidden within your own hometown, down the street, around the corner or even on a back road. I’m sure you’ll find your own personal treasure trove.
