“Think Local; Buy Local”
The community I am focusing on is my hometown. I was born, raised, and currently live
in the city limits of Wyandotte, Michigan. My community is an important part of who I am and it
has and still shapes me as a person. One of the great things I love about my city is the
independence. If the rest of the world were to crash and burn tomorrow, Wyandotte would still
be running and operating. This is due to having our own cable and electric company and water
and heating system by means of a coal plant sitting right on the edge of the Detroit River. Almost
every other aspect of my city radiates of independence. Along the main road, Biddle Avenue
(otherwise known as Jefferson) which runs parallel to the river, the streets are lined with
businesses that are family owned and operated. This creates the feel of what every city was like
50 plus years ago. Wyandotte has held up and thrives off this environment. This “downtown” is
the attraction that draws many people, including myself. “You can’t get this feel anywhere else.
Go to Woodhaven, and look at their downtown, at West and Allen. It just can’t compare to what
we have here,” Executive Director of the Wyandotte Business Association Lynn Steffensky
commented.
With the unemployment rate in Michigan so high, many citizens are leaving to find jobs
and cheaper housing. Another factor that plays into the downward-spiraling economy is finding
ways to save money, by perhaps getting groceries at a lower-priced retailer instead of a the local
market. To me and others, this is just the start of the evaporation of the community in which we
live. I would hate to live here and watch my childhood, and the history of Wyandotte diminish
overtime. Not only is our city very independent, it also creates an environment that is not
common today. We still have the local trolley and horse and buggy rides monthly, as I will
describe later in the proposal paper, concerning the solutions that are in place, and ones needing
further tweaking. Without this type of place of residency, the country will become monotone and
look the same. This means every person shopping at Wal-Mart and buying coffee from Tim
Horton’s, stimulating the Big Box Corporations and losing individuality.
While my city has events and organizations to help keep the business local, the
importance of supporting local businesses is not broadcasted and taught to the younger
generations. Roughly 90 percent of the businesses in “downtown” Wyandotte are independent.
Being independent is defined as being a private business with ownership and employees from the
community, has a physical store front, registered in its home state, the owners make their own
decisions and pay rent and other expenses, has no more than six outlets in a single state, and is
not a vendor (defined by The 3/50 Project). Currently there are 152 of these in Wyandotte, where
the money generated is actually going back into the city’s economy itself. “For every $100 spent
in locally owned independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll, and
other expenditures. If you spend that in a national chain, only $43 stays here” (The 3/50 Project).
The problem I am seeing is not enough appreciation for this concept. A lot of things are
taken for granted, especially by teens and young adults. They may complain about a snack being
twice as much at the local Jerry’s Food Mart (located at the corner of 12th St and Oak) where
they may find it at Wal-Mart for cheaper. “A recent economic study shows that consumers in
small towns can literally shape their city's future through their buying decisions. Every purchase
consumers make influences the retail landscape, and adopting a “Shop Local First” attitude will
have a positive impact...With only a slight change in behavior, the impact can be huge.” This
quote, presented on the Wyandotte Business Association’s website conveys the exact concept I
am trying to instill.
Yes, the economy is forcing us to save and purchase from corporations, however, this
type of attitude is what will ultimately drive the independent businesses to the ground. Another
cause for some businesses to fail could be due to competition. However, this can easily be
dispelled. One of the great things about having family and friends operated businesses is the
regulars. I know people that have been patronizing one place and only that place for their whole
entire life. Whether it is a car dealership, a grocery store, or restaurant, generations have chosen
the service that stays constant through the years.
From getting information about this topic from other members of my community, and
some non-residents, the spectrum is quite different. To a friend that works at the local coffee
shop, The Grind Coffee House (located on Biddle) her opinion is that variety among businesses
is important to satisfying all the citizens. Others that are non-residence do not see the point. But
have those outsiders ever tasted a Turtle Mocha? How about Doodle Dandy & Country Apple
Cinnamon? This is the type of quality and variety that cannot be found at a Tim Horton’s or
Dunkin Donuts. Which is more important to you: Paying a little extra for service from a family
that has lived down the street all your life, and getting something they brewed by hand, or getting
a cheaper drink through the drive thru window?
Other cities around Michigan notice the importance of supporting local business. In the
Grand Traverse Area they have implemented ways in hopes of encouraging the citizens to shop
locally to stimulate and bring up their economy. As of a few years ago, they have created their
own currency known as Bay Bucks. “The general hope is that a local currency will encourage
local spending...which in turn will stimulate the local economy,” (Guerra). While the success or
failure of this implement is not a concern at the moment, the concept and ingenuity to stimulate
their own community is exactly what I’m trying to get across. Brad Kik, a community member
who helped the Bay Bucks initiative start, saw the importance of keeping his local businesses
alive. With just the compassion of one member, others joined in and worked to preserve their
culture. My homes are similar to the hopes of the Grand Traverse residents’.
In my opinion, it is amazing that so many local shops and restaurants in “downtown”
Wyandotte have stayed in business for this long. There are so many options when even choosing
a candle store. Do you go to Hood’s Hardware (located on Northline Ave), Wicks and Stones
(located on Biddle), It All Makes Sense (located on Biddle), or Aroma of the Alps Candle
Company (located on Oak St)? This also applies to the many bars we have, just on the stretch of
Biddle alone. But this does prove one thing, patronizing these local businesses has kept them
running for years. Now with the economy slowly plummeting, we need to shop local even more
to prevent any of them from going out of business. The importance of the economy of
Wyandotte rests on residents patronizing local stores.
Back 50 years ago, Detroit was an amazing place to live. The city looked great, the
industry was good. Big Box Businesses didn’t exist back then, or were just starting out, with the
exception of Ford. What kept Detroit such a nice place? It was the economy. Families were
moving in and buying locally from grocery stores, eating at family owned restaurants, and
getting their cars fixed at the local mechanic’s, who also happened to be your neighbor. Over
time, things got more expensive and people were shopping at Meijer’s and eating at McDonald’s.
This shift in consumerism drove the local independent stores out of business and vacant
buildings occupied once thriving places, encouraging vandalism and crime. Ergo, we come to the
present day Detroit, where the city is in ruins and crimes are at an incredible high. This is where
the importance of supporting the type of environment we have today in Wyandotte comes in.
Even ten years from now, the city can be filled with vacant buildings where crimes develop and
the atmosphere is lost forever. Not to mention that the rest of Wyandotte will crumble because
money spent by residents are not being returned. The answer is obvious: support local business
to save our valuable community. Shouldn’t the rest of the community be supportive of this too?
This seems to be a back and forth issue between many different people. While they ride
the fence on this issue, they agree and would like to keep Wyandotte the way it is. However,
being on a tighter budget prevents them from, let’s say, buying candles from Aroma of the Alps
Candle Company and pointing them in the direction of Meijer. Another factor that is affecting
the home-grown shops is the convince factor that our nation has developed. It is so much easier
and quicker to go to the drive thru at McDonalds for a two dollar coffee then it is walking into
The Grind Coffee House and spending twice as much time and money. But this is the personal
interaction and home-y feeling that Wyandotte has and cannot lose. There are multiple solutions
that my city is trying, and seems to be working to gain patrons at the local businesses to keep
them running, however, these independent restaurants and shops still need a voice.
Works Cited
Steffensky, Lynn A. Executive Direct of the Wyandotte Business Association. Personal
interview. 23 Sept 2011.
Baxter, Cinda. “The 3/50 Project.” the350project.net. The 3/50 Project LLC and TM LookLocal,
2011. Web. 23 Sept. 2011.
“Wyandotte Business Association.” wyandottebiz.org. Dot Com Web Productions LLC, n.d.
Web. 23 Sept 2011.
Guerra, Jennifer. “Northern Arts: Bay Bucks.” publicbroadcastng.net. Michigan Radio 2011.
Web. 3 Oct 2011.