Go Local: The Importance of Supporting Local Businesses

Quick shout out to Vintage Emporium, Orange Salvage, The Barber Shop, Holé Molé, Steelhead Coffee, Eddie’s Liquor, Paul Marc Fine Jewelry and all our neighbors on the corner of Wardlow and Orange. All of us here at Blackbird Cafe are thankful to be located in such a unique and cultured area of Long Beach. Local businesses make the world go ‘round, so we decided to take a moment to share our thoughts on the importance of going local.

Did you know that supporting small local businesses means supporting the environment? Local businesses generally exist in populated cities, as opposed to geographic borderlines, resulting in more local purchases, which require less transportation; this means a much smaller contribution to urban sprawl, habitat loss, and smog than larger corporations tend to offer. Did you know that small local businesses not only boast the highest national employment rate, but also give an average 250% more support to non-profit organizations than large corporations? Spend your money in a way that will strengthen your community’s economic base. Studies show that locally owned businesses, as opposed to federally owned corporations, will invest your money into other local businesses. Here at Blackbird Cafe, we purchase our meats, fruits, and vegetables from Ingardia Brothers Produce in Santa Ana, a local business formed in 1973; they establish lasting, economically conscientious relationships with independent restaurants, schools, hospitals, and Mom & Pop shops.

It is our hope that you continue to support local prosperity; in return, we pledge to remain diligent in sustaining a healthy and happy community. We are proud to be a local business, and we are proud of the local businesses around us. Thank you for choosing to be part of the family.