Local business owners urge community members to spend their dollars locally

WICOMICO COUNTY, Md. – After recent announcements of not one, but two local restaurants shutting down shop for good, Flannery’s Bayou and BBQ owner, Chef Stewart Davis, decided to take matters into his own hands.

He made a lengthy Facebook post, calling on the community to better support small businesses, emphasizing the fact that these establishments give, but they also need to receive.

“Your influx of people stop coming in, but the donations don’t stop coming in, so we still give out, but we’re hoping to get back,” Chef Davis said. “Especially the first six months of this year, it’s been up and down, especially because of the economy and people were saving pennies.”

Other community members started chiming in, garnering the post over 300 likes and dozens of comments of people showing support.

But owner of Cakes by David, David Wharton, said while the online enthusiasm is great, these small businesses need to see some action behind it.

“When you don’t shop local, you shop corporate, or with a chain. The money doesn’t stay here, it goes out of town,” Wharton said. “For survivals sake, if you want to keep the small, privately owned companies in this area, you really do need to give some thought to actually shopping local.”

If you’re ever driving past your local mom and pop shop and decide not to stop because a chain restaurant is more convenient, Chef Davis had this message:

“You got to get passed all of that and make local establishments a destination for yourself. If you don’t support the local establishments, the local establishments will disappear,” Chef Davis said.