Main Street/Shop Local

On Monday, April 10, Jeff Milchen, co-founder of the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA), testified at a public hearing to voice opposition to Wal-Mart's plans to open an industrial bank in Arlington, Virginia.

On April 3 at Nantucket's Town Meeting, an amendment to the town zoning laws to keep chain stores out of the historic downtown went unchallenged. This means the amendment automatically passes and will be adopted by the town, pending approval from the state attorney general, according to Wendy Hudson of Nantucket Bookworks, the sponsor of the proposal.

A grassroots movement to amend local laws to keep Wal-Mart from opening in Damariscotta, Maine, has not only succeeded, but also spurred a kind of regional domino effect. The results will likely keep Wal-Mart, or any store that exceeds 35,000-square-feet, from opening in Damariscotta and nearby New Castle, and potentially two other neighboring towns.

The American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA) -- a national outreach networking hub and resource center for independent business alliances (IBAs) and independent businesses -- has declared Saturday, July 1, through Friday, July 7, Independents Week. The national weeklong promotion serves to educate the public about the importance of shopping at locally owned, independent businesses.

In what was good news for Nantucket's locally owned retailers, on March 6 the town's planning board endorsed an amendment to the town zoning laws that would keep large chain stores out of the historic downtown. Bookseller Wendy Hudson, who runs the independent Nantucket Bookworks, sponsored the proposal, which will be voted on at the Town Meeting, scheduled for April 3. It needs two-thirds of the vote to pass.

Officially, it is known as East Grand Avenue in District 16 in the city of St. Paul, Minnesota. However, to the residents of the Summit Hill neighborhood, Grand Avenue is much more than an address. Known as "the gem of the city," it is a pedestrian-friendly "Main Street" that is loved by the community for its rich, eclectic mixture of local retailers and its historic, charming character.

Last week, a group of California residents who filed a petition protesting the impending move of the 10-year-old Greenbrae Barnes & Noble to the Corte Madera Town Center, a block away from Book Passage, were rebuffed by the town council and mayor, as reported by Marin Independent Journal (MIJ).

When it comes to advocating change in local politics, it's good to have persistence and patience. Fortunately for the residents of Nantucket, Massachusetts, who want the town to retain its historic charm, bookseller Wendy Hudson possesses both.

Fairhope, Alabama, a city of approximately 12,000 residents, is in the midst of an ongoing fight to keep big box retailers, including Wal-Mart, out of its surrounding area. This past August, a group of concerned citizens -- including bookseller Karin Wilson of Fairhope's Page & Palette bookstore -- formed "A Fair Hope of Success," to ensure the continued viability of Fairhope's downtown businesses. "A Fair Hope" formed in response to rumors of a Wal-Mart opening in the area.

Susan Porter's bookstore, Maine Coast Book Shop, is nestled among a wide variety of small shops on the historic Main Street of Damariscotta, Maine. The town -- with a population of approximately 2,000 -- is located some 30 miles south of Augusta on the banks of the river that gave the town its name. Damariscotta's idyllic colonial charm attracts people who want to live in a place that's different, away from suburban sprawl. It's unique, with one-of-a-kind charm, noted Porter.

By Carolyn Said, San Francisco Chronicle Staff Writer

Last year, Neal Sofman had a eureka moment in response to a wonky economic analysis of locally owned stores compared with chain retailers.

While some people go out of their way to shop at only independents, one couple has taken it a little bit farther -- 13,000 miles farther to be exact.

For Karen Spengler, owner of I Love a Mystery bookstore, there's no real mystery as to why her town of Mission, Kansas, should rethink the idea of allowing a Borders to open in the suburb of Kansas City: It's all simple economics.

As big box retail continues its onslaught on towns throughout the USA -- often dominating the local retail landscape in many cities and towns -- one local business alliance in Utah is helping its citizens envision what their communities and towns would look like if they were made up entirely of chain retail outlets by drawing them a picture. Literally.

On the last Saturday before Thanksgiving, the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA) wants retailers and consumers across the country to join in the second annual celebration of America Unchained.