When I was a kid, every afternoon was an adventure - and it always led to the little corner store down the street from my school.
We'd race there on our bikes, then burst through its front door, the little bell tinkling our arrival.
This little shop had everything - and it was open until 10! Its shelves were always stacked high: canned soup and Ivory soap, newspapers and fresh fruit, floor cleaner, hot dog buns, batteries, lotto tickets, and of course... candy!
I was convinced it had all the candy in the world - Blue Whales, Bottle Caps, Pixy Stix, Fun Dip, Pop Rocks, Smarties, Raisinets, Laffy Taffy, and bubble gum in every - single - colour!
It was heaven.
We’d lean against the brick wall underneath that giant 7-UP sign and tear open our treats with sticky fingers. We'd play hopscotch or make up games that only made sense to us - letting our sugar rush fuel the rest of our afternoon.
This little store was always humming: parents grabbing last-minute loaves of bread; neighbors chatting about the weather; kids counting nickels for candy. This little place was woven into the fabric of the neighbourhood, a constant that made our world feel small in the best way possible.
My classmate’s dad owned that little store. His entire family worked there, and they lived in the apartment upstairs. He knew every customer by name, asked about our families, and donated money to our community hockey team. At the time, I had no idea that businesses like his were anchors - for jobs, stability, and a sense of belonging. They made neighborhoods feel like home.
And I certainly didn’t realize how vulnerable they could be.
You might think a local business exists simply to serve customers nearby. They do so much more. For every $100 spent at a local business, a significant portion stays in the community - through wages paid to employees, purchases from local suppliers, and the use of nearby services. This cycle of reinvestment strengthens the local economy.
A diverse local business base also makes communities more resilient. A strong mix of independent businesses helps cushion the impact of economic shocks, ensuring long-term stability and growth.
That little store was part of something bigger. It kept money in the community, supported a local family, and gave our neighborhood a gathering place. Businesses like it are the heart of our communities, and when we invest in them, we invest in our own future.
Now more than ever, supporting, retaining, and growing local businesses is essential. A strong local economy doesn’t happen by chance - it requires deliberate strategies to help businesses survive, adapt, and thrive.
Join us in learning how to support local business and how to build resilient local economies through our Business Retention and Expansion course at the EDA Institute.
-Nancy Toombs
