Shop local

Gas prices are high, so why not stay local?

Why vacation when you can ‘stay-cation’?

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Kitty O’Hara’s. Glorybeezz of Baldwin. Raagini. The Irish Pub. Painting with a Twist. And that’s just in one community, all waiting for customers near and far to walk in and keep their dollars local.

In fact, that’s exactly what the Long Island Main Street Alliance hopes neighbors will do this summer, and have joined forces with the Nassau County Chamber of Commerce, Vision Long Island, and other surrounding chambers of Commerce to promote “stay-cations” this summer. And their first stop? Kitty O’Hara’s.

“Between Nassau and Suffolk, our communities have so much to offer, and yet if folks are looking for something to do locally, where would they start?” asked Frank Camarano, president of the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce.  “Today marks the beginning of chambers working together to bring that information to the masses.”

In fact, each of the chambers rely on each other to push through the lingering effects of would-be customers staying home and spending their dollars far away through online ordering houses like Amazon.

“Hyper-hyperlocal sharing of events on our websites, social media and local publications … both in print and online, that will evolve over time into something great,” Camarano said. “We learned, the hard way, that if we as a group don’t spear this initiative, who will? Besides, who better to do so than chambers anyway? Let’s all support our communities, while having a lot of fun in the process. Shop and play local.”

Eric Alexander, Vision Long Island’s director, shared how businesses during the coronavirus pandemic relied on by locals now need the favor returned. The seemingly post-Covid world includes high gas prices, supply chain issues, inflation, and worker shortages.

“Those have been the challenges to small business, not the lack of consumers.” Alexander said. “So what I’m saying is double down on really supporting these guys — if you want to see them there.”

Especially important is supporting fairs and gatherings, such as the annual Grand Baldwin Festival that takes place Oct. 1 at the Baldwin Public Library parking lot.

“You don’t need to leave Long Island” for the summer, Alexander said. “You can stay here and do any number of things. And, really, they’re more reasonably priced too.”

You’re saving a job — maybe a life — by supporting local business, said Erik Mahler, past president of the Baldwin Chamber of Commerce.

“It’s easy to click and order online, yet you’re helping someone out in Ohio or a foreign state,” he said.

“You shop local, and you’re helping your neighbors. Those are the bartenders, the bosses, the grocery store stock people. Those are the individuals that all live on Long Island and support the local community.”

Kitty O’Hara’s, a staple of night life and live music in Baldwin over the past eight years, saw many ups and downs during the pandemic. Now, it’s dealing with pandemic fallout.

“We’re not back to where we were, but we’re bouncing back,” said Shay Leavy, the establishment’s manager. “Some people, I think, got used to staying at home, and we don’t see them as often as we used to.”

And even for those still uneasy about going out with fear of getting the virus, many businesses have an answer. Including Kitty O’Hara’s.

“We we’re lucky we had the outdoor patio,” Leavy said. “That helped us quite a lot.”

 

For more information on Kitty O'Hara's visit their website: restaurantji.com/ny/baldwin/kitty-oharas-/