Opinion: You should shop and eat locally this holiday season

With all the changes that have come forth due to COVID-19, it is no surprise that Christmas shopping will be different this holiday season. Since the start of the pandemic, many independent businesses have significantly reduced clients, forcing many toward the verge of closure and even causing some to close permanently. However, with Christmas nearing and the search for gifts looming, people have the perfect opportunity to support small businesses by shopping locally. Not only will this help small enterprises to survive, but it will also be a significant investment in the community. 

Small businesses are struggling amid the global pandemic. It is more important now than ever to make the extra effort to support them. According to KUSI News, over 600 businesses have closed down for good in San Diego alone since the start of the government-mandated lockdowns in March — a number that will continue to rise since we entered another stay-at-home order just this last month. For this reason, it is essential that people stop ordering gifts from Amazon or Target and instead spend that money to support people who really need it. Go to Hansen Surf Shop if you are looking for a wetsuit, or visit Flashbacks if you want to find unique clothing for a friend or family member. Large corporations will continue to coast on their massive profits and safety nets, regardless of the shutdowns – but local businesses might not. 

Not only will shopping locally allow small businesses to stay open longer, but it will also help to maintain and create new jobs in the community, for if stores have more customers, they will need more employees to help keep the business. Both people suffering from unemployment and small business owners will benefit from your support this holiday season because it will allow them to stay afloat.

People should take this same approach when it comes to food and eating out. With winter break and the holidays nearing, people will have more time to eat at restaurants and order food for takeout. When deciding where to grab that early breakfast or late night dinner, it is important to consider buying food from locally-owned restaurants.

Since the start of the pandemic, restaurants have been restricted to takeout and limited indoor and outdoor dining, meaning that many restaurants are struggling to make enough profit to survive through the end of the year. And now that we have entered another strict lockdown, they will continue to suffer. Therefore, if you feel like having a light snack, consider grabbing a drink from Gelato 101, or if you are more in the mood for a large meal, order from Swami’s Cafe.

At the end of the day, it does not matter which business you choose to buy from, as long as you support a small business in the community.