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Support local businesses... they need it
By
Christina Hernandez, WINK News
Story Created:
Mar 22, 2009 at 9:07 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Mar 22, 2009 at 10:47 PM EDT
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Local businesses say they need your help - support they say will translate to a stronger local economy.
For every $100 spent at a chain, or national business, $14 stays here in Southwest Florida, but at a locally owned business, the amount more than triples - pumping $45 into our local economy.
"Support the local economy. Patronize locally owned businesses." That's what people saw outside Clancey's Restaurant. Before code enforcement made the restaurant take the sign down, the general manager said it seemed to work.
"We've had nothing but positive feedback from it. People would stop in just to tell us that they love the sign"
Debbie Kendall said she put the sign up because she says small businesses are struggling.
"The way the local businesses have survived over the years, is by sticking together and working together," Kendall said.
She's not only hopeful, but is also making changes inside.
Kendall added, "We also re-did our menu at the same time and dropped a lot of our prices."
That same thing is happening at J. Daniels Smokehouse in South Fort Myers.
Owner Jeremy Zielinski said, "We're all trying to reduce prices just to get people to come in the doors, that way we can have some kind of cash flow."
Cash flow that won't flow far away.
"We don't go anywhere else to spend money anywhere else."
As for the sign in front of Clancey's, the general manager is working on getting a permit to put it back up.
