La Grange needs your money more than Amazon does, and it’s the reason for the 7th Annual Spring Shopping Stroll, taking place Saturday.
“The community has been very supportive of small business throughout the pandemic,” Nancy Cummings, Executive Director of the organizing La Grange Business Association, said in a recent telephone interview.
The event, described as “retail therapy” by the LGBA website, will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and start at presenting sponsor Linnea Jewelers, 23 S. Ashland Ave.
The first 200 shoppers will be given free tote bags to carry their purchases from one of over 20 participating retail shops. Shops will offer free gifts, discounts or one-day, limited time offers.
Shoppers can also download an online map of the shopping stroll and get it stamped to enter into a random prize drawing awarding five winners $50 gift certificates to some of the Village’s most popular restaurants.
Participating shops offer a variety of products and services.
Shoppers can have their skin attended to at Express Med Spa, get chiropractic care from Boyce Chiropractic, or address other Beauty needs at Yuva Beauty Salon.
Vintage Charms will offer boutiques items and Kelsey Retail Boutique specializes in consignment purchases.
Items for the home can be purchased at Horton’s Home Lighting and Ace Hardware; upholstery solutions can be found at La Grange Upholstery.
Presenting sponsor Linnea Jewelers owner Denise Oros had been the longtime sponsor of Ladies Night Out, formerly the premier shopping event in La Grange, which was combined with another event to create the Spring Shopping Stroll.
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“My entire shop’s merchandise will be 50 % off for the day,” Oros said. “That’s huge.”
– Original Credit: La Grange Business Association
Oros said that the Stroll definitely benefited La Grange-area women.
“They get to hangout with their girlfriends and have a great evening out,” she said. “We have to lift up our little town.”
Cummings noted that La Grange has long been a Village that embraced small business.
“Small business has stepped up its game with this one-day offer,” she said.
Cummings also stressed the importance of small business to the community, noting that of $68 of every $100 spent in local shops stays in the Village, as opposed to only $43 spent at a chain store.
And she noted that the benefits of shopping locally go beyond increased tax revenues or income for local residents.
“Small business people are the ones supporting Little League Baseball, Girl Scouts and traveling soccer teams,” she said.
Further information on the event, including addresses of the participating shops, can be found at lagrangeevents.com
Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.