Now that the grocery store and kitchen frenzy of Thanksgiving is over, we quickly jump into the next frenzy: holiday shopping. Although I have moments of internal conflict when it comes to the materialistic mentality that comes with the holidays, I still find it quite exciting brainstorming the perfect gift for family and friends, searching decorated stores and listening to their holiday playlist over the speakers. What helps my conscience when I feel like I’m falling for the consumerist black hole that comes with holiday shopping is either shopping at small businesses or shopping locally.
A few months back I decided to cancel my Amazon Prime account. I never used it as much as I thought I would anyway. It only really saved me in moments of procrastination or laziness, when I didn’t want to put the effort into finding a specific item. But what I’ve lost with Amazon, I’ve gained with smaller, local businesses. Finding unique gifts that I would’ve never thought to type into a search bar brings the cheer back into my Christmas shopping. I’ve learned that a great way to start shopping locally is checking out a city’s downtown area.
As a self-proclaimed bookworm, the fall of Barnes & Nobles and Borders bookstores was a hard pill to swallow. Now, one of my favorite things to do is walk into cozy, unique bookstores and browse a more curated collection of books rather than get lost in row after row of books I’d never find an interest in. Banter Bookshop in Fremont’s downtown area is one of those bookstores. Since I also have bookworm friends, this is the perfect stop for me to do my Christmas shopping while also helping a small local business.
Near the Downtown Hayward area is another one of my favorite small businesses: The Cobblers. Not only has The Cobblers shoe and repair shop been around since 1958, but they’ve been run by the Grasseschi family since its opening. This is a great shop to visit for holiday gifts, especially when in search of western wear items, which is a must in my family.
Newark has been working on its own downtown area, Old Town Newark, for many years now. In city council meetings, discussions of a walkable, shoppable downtown area with storefront space encourages more small businesses to establish themselves in a space where they will have a prime location to catch the eye of shoppers. In a Dec. 2, 2020, community meeting presentation, it was stated that the vision for the downtown space was to “Revitalize Old Town Newark as a vibrant mixed-use neighborhood, with a strong sense of place, thriving retail and commercial businesses…” As a Newark resident, I’m patiently waiting for the day I don’t have to drive past my city’s limits to experience a charming downtown stroll, checking off my Christmas list and supporting my local businesses.
Editor Samantha Campos, publisher Dan Pulcrano, assignment editor Stephanie Uchida, and composite editor April Ramos will take turns writing to our readers.
April’s bio: I have lived in the Bay Area all of my life. Growing up in Hayward, my early childhood consisted of Hayward Youth Soccer League games and hikes in Garin Regional Park. After moving to Newark, my surroundings changed but luckily my activities didn’t have to. I continued my involvement in local sports and found new places to hike. Now, with my role on the Tri-City Voice team as Copy and Sports Editor, I keep a close eye on tournaments and local teams. With eight high schools, three community colleges and numerous clubs in the Tri-City area it’s a great experience when I see local athletes reaching new heights or teams making school history. Watching teams grow is a great reminder of how special athletics are in the community and how it keeps local pride strong.
