I realize I have a reputation in Cincinnati as being a basher – someone who doesn’t like or support the city. I probably have Brian Griffin to thank for a lot of that. Whenever I write something negative about Cincinnati, he puts me down on his blog. I’ll be curious to see what he has to say about this.
I don’t hate Cincinnati at all and one of the things I try very hard to do is to support locally owned businesses.
I can’t remember the last time I was in a Target or Wal-Mart store. I’ll buy my clothes or appliances or what have you from an independent, from a locally owned business.
When I feel like eating out downtown, I try very hard to stay away from the chain restaurants. Sophia’s on Main Street or The Washington Platform on Elm Street – both locally owned – need and appreciate my business more.
If I need something from a hardware store, I wouldn’t think of going to a Home Depot type place. There’s a little hardware store – locally owned – down in Northside that has exactly what I need.
Office supplies? I don’t need to save two cents on a box of paper clips from Office Depot or Staples. Locally owned office suppliers always get my business, again, because they need it more.
Perhaps this is one of the reasons why I get upset when I see a local restaurant or business close up and why I always report it. I think we as a city don’t always stand up for local business and support it like we should. I for one, try to.
Larry Gross
(Photo from gauss.ececs.uc.edu)
CityBeat's Living Out Loud - Cincinnati Blog 
I’m very mindful that when I go into a chain store that I’m taking away from the little guy. I couldn’t agree with you more.
Right on! 🙂
gee, you actually leave your apartment?
I feel exactly the same way.
I will not set foot in a WalMart store. They treat their employees like second-class citizens and destroy small business. Everyone needs to stay away from these kind of “corporations.”
Anyone who hasn’t visted the hardware store in Northside is doing themselves a disservice. It is not for the claustrophobic. As they say, If you can’t find it there you can probably do without it.
Check out Shake it Records while enjoying a cup of Sidewinder coffee- hell they even sell crack on the corner. That neighborhood is one-stop shopping.
Yeah, that hardware store in Northside is one of a kind. I can spend the entire day there.
I hate Wal-Mart. I come in and destroy towns and lives. There should be a law against them.
I’m a fan of Shake-It, oh yeah. And Ace’s rocks. But make sure to ask for directions. No matter what you need, they will have it. But don’t ever expect to find it on your own. They have everything from toothpicks to saws to shower curtains. amazing. and it is terrifying. not for the weak.
Ace Hardware!! I have no less that 6 keychains from them–I move too much, and am always needing spare keys made. I love that place. I love northside, period.
Wal-Mart is “eeeeeeeeeevil, like the fru-its of the dev-ile.” But i do like Target. I’m guilty. Sorry.
But this past weekend we went out of town to see a band, we had the option of buying t-shirts or cds–we bought the t-shirts there to support the band, and we’ll be buying the CDs at shake-it, to support shake-it. I can’t rememeber the last time we bought a record anywhere else.
ps–we went out of town to see the band cos they weren’t playing here–this hardly ever happens, btw–cincinnati’s music scene = KICKASS.
I don’t like Wal Mart either, but if you’re poor, some of us don’t have a choice but to go there.
I think Target is all right, treats their employees fairly, but I will never set foot in a Wal Mart. Besides, those cheap prices means cheap returns. Nothing last long from Wal Mart.
Anyone who even knows Larry on a casual basis, knows that he is FOR Cincinnati. Brian Griffin, get a clue!
I think Gross tells things the way they are when it comes to Cincinnati. That puts some people off – but we have to have the truth tellers.
I’m with you, Larry. Corporations will drive out mom & pop stores and businesses if we let them. I always stay away from the chains.
For those who have a lot of money, it’s easy to say stay away from the chains, but the fact is chains offer good discounts. If you’re watching pennies, you have to take that into consideration.
Brenda that’s true- you’ll save a few pennies shopping with the big stores and after the small stores fold the larger stores will raise their prices.
Brenda,
Biscuit’s right. This is their plan – to drive the small guy out to where you have no where else to go except to the “corporate” business.
I wonder where the cheerleader of Cincinnati– Brian Griffin — gets his office supplies?
Walmart is where I head folks. Sorry. I just don’t have a bunch of money and the prices are dirt cheap there on most things.