I’ve been inspired by  a dear friend who’s New Year’s resolution is to patronize more local Indianapolis businesses. For years I’ve always tried to “go local” but sometimes it’s easy to slip into that easy and convenient big box store because I’m tired/lazy/broke/etc. But I’m going to try and recommit myself to it now that I’ve been inspired to do so.

She’s started a blog about locally owned businesses in her area and her experience at them called “SaveIndyLocal“. It’s new but I think it’s gonna be an interesting read. You should pop over and read it and leave a comment or 2. It is this kind of grass roots effort is exactly what begets entire social movements!

Everyone knows of someone who has lost their job because a WalMart or some other foreign company swooped in and gobbled up their business or made it so it’s nearly impossible to compete with the cheap labor and manufacturing of China/Mexico/Taiwan etc. So this isn’t just about finding good, local stuff. It’s about helping your community, your neighbors and your friends survive and thrive in an ever encroaching global economy.

Going “Basically” Local

Some things are more difficult to find that are truly local, like grocery stores for instance. You have the chains, then you have the specialty groceries and then you have the chains that open smaller “community” stores that make you think you’re shopping local (Walmart’s Neighborhood Market” comes to mind. Then there’s the Trader Joe’s and the Whole Foods that are awesome for unique selection or if you’re making sushi but too expensive to buy your weeks worth of food there.

So what to do? Well, I figure if I can find a chain that’s based in Indy…that’s a start. At least the corporate heads and district managers and such are living here, paying taxes and contributing to the community.

• Marsh Supermarkets has been an Indiana staple since 1931. Their corporate headquarters is in Indy and they are very involved in the community.

I’ve found this page has several local stores listed. Most I never even knew existed! You can even sort by independent or chain. It’s more of a business website, but the information is there at a glance.

F*** The “Bucks”

Like coffee? Like Starbucks? You go there because you pass like 15 on your way to work, right? Well, I bet you pass at least 2 locally owned coffee shops as well. GO LOCAL! Not only is the coffee just as good….and probably better, but you get friendly service and it’s more geared towards community events. These shops are a haven to find out whats going on in the art, music, theater and countless other communities. While you’re waiting for your cappuccino to…um…do whatever a cappuccino does…you can look at local art on the walls, read some local poetry or maybe pick up a CD from that awesome singer/songwriter that’s playing through the store’s speakers. So yeah, that local coffee is sounding pretty awesome right about now, eh?

Here’s a start for ya!

Restaurants and Delis and Cafes Oh My!

Restaurants are probably the easiest things to find locally. And the care, creativity and service you get at most of these places is beyond compare! I’m not gonna go too deep into the restaurant thing or I’ll be here all night! I’ll just give you a start of where to find that wonderful little gem in your neck of the woods. Here ya go!

FREE? My second favorite 4 letter “F” Word!

I joined this site called “Groupon“. You get coupons for half off a ton of places in Indy and 99% are locally owned! So you get to find and try new locally owned businesses AND get stuff cheap! I suggest you do that now.

Pass it on.

Just like my friend, I’m gonna try really hard to be local in 2010. And also encourage others to do the same. I’ll post my findings here and let you know what I think of them.