Support Local Business

Support Local Business
Toledo, Choose Local http://www.toledochooselocal.com/about.php is a new organization dedicated to encouraging people to spend money only at locally owned businesses. This sounds like a valuable mission because studies indicate every dollar spent locally brings 2 dollars back into the local economy. They are conducting an event this week where you:

“Pick up a Local Business Scavenger Hunt playing card at any participating Toledo Choose Local member business (see below). During the Buy Local Week, visit the participating businesses listed on the playing card to win a prize. Players must receive a stamp from each of the businesses by visiting that business! Receive a stamp at every participating business and win a pre-selected prize from any participating business! Receive a stamp from 8 out of 15 of the businesses and you will be entered in a raffle to win one of 3 amazing prizes!”

I only wish they would have garnered more participating businesses. Participants (and their respective prizes) are: Curb’s Candle Co. - $10 gift certificate, Downtown Latte – Free lunch (includes sandwich & drink), DIVA Restaurant - $10 gift certificate, Flying Rhino Coffee & Chocolates – 1 pound of coffee, Glass City I - $10 gift certificate, Glendale Flowers & Gifts
honey I’m home - $10 gift certificate, Manhattan’s Restaurant - $10 gift certificate, Metroparks Toledo Farmhouse Gift Shop, Murphy’s Place - $10 gift certificate, Organic Bliss - $10 gift certificate, Pam’s Corner – Free lunch
Phoenix Earth Foods Co-Op - $10 gift certificate, Scarpe - $10 gift certificate
Vespa of Toledo – 10% off motorcycle oil

An attempt at compiling a list of locally owned businesses was difficult because all the lists end up including chains. I tried to find restaurants and the best lists were found at http://www.dotoledo.org/gtcvb/members/display.asp?id=restaurants and http://toledo.chowbaby.com/restaurants . Unfortunately, you still have to weed through the chains but there are many restaurants represented in these links.
If anyone participates in this game, please let us know what you think of it!