
Oftentimes we forget about shopping local. We drive by the local shops daily but forget to actually stop and support the local businesses. As a part of the Montrose Area Chamber of Commerce & Montrose Merchants, I’m here to tell you how much you are missing out on from not shopping locally in Montrose, PA. The little shops are family owned and have so much history, take one look at Joycie’s Cafe walls & you’ll see images from the 1900’s of the shops that used to be here. The town was bustling and the place to be, and we are trying to bring that energy back into the town!

With the holiday season just around the corner, I want to encourage you to shop local & here is why:
1. Buy Local – Support Yourself: Several studies have shown that when you buy from an independent, locally owned business, rather than a nationally owned business, significantly more of your money is used to make purchases from other local businesses. 73 cents of every dollar spent locally stays within the community. Whereas only 43 cents of every dollar spent at a national chain stays within the community.
2. Non-profit organizations receive an average 250% more support from small business owners than they do from large business owners.
3. Keep our community unique: Where we shop, where we eat and have fun – all of it makes our community home.
4. Create more good jobs: Small local businesses are the largest employer nationally and in our community, and provide the most jobs to residents. Support local business – many of those businesses will be hiring your children this summer!
All of the local shops will be open late on Thursday’s between Thanksgiving & Christmas, I encourage you to stop by after work to see if you can get any of your Christmas shopping done!

Stay tuned here for more reasons why to buy local and stories of how our residents are making a difference by buying locally in Montrose!