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Yes, I try too.  More often then not.  But I apologize for my lapses to going to Starbucks occasionally rather then the local coffee cove.  But I do try to support small businesses as much as I can.  And if your wife has an online store, I'd be happy to purchase.   

As much as I can, although it doesn't hurt that Target and Best Buy are Minnesota businesses so I can have a good excuse when I need to. 

I'd like to... but there aren't many around. 

The one in particular that I'm annoyed with is the nearby bakery: it doesn't make bread. 

Other than restaurants and markets, I can't even think of any local merchants around here, unless you count regional chains. 

I go to chains...I'm not trying to tread on small businesses or anything but it's just more convenient for me

I will say this though, for good thai or mexican food I always try to find those hole in the wall places, they always seem to make the best dishes

yea..i buy whatevers closest
tito

I frequent a hobby store - and since I've never seen a chain for one of those, I gather it's a local business.  I like the owner, real nice guy. 

Hey Conner.  Have you ever been to Buffalo?  Ever check out Niagara Hobby by the airport?

Allegedly its the largest hobby store in the US or something.  I don't know, it doesn't seem that big but it is really an impressive, home-grown hobby shop.  Lots of cool stuff.  I used to go there all the time when I needed bass wood and other stuff to make models for architecture school.

The store has a restored, authentic from days yonder, red-painted caboose in front.  Cute.

I go to the coffeeshop owned by my bro's girlfriend's family, unless I'm at work, because the only available places downtown are chains. For soccer equipment I avoid the large sporting good chains because soccer is an afterthought at those places, so they don't have much selection. For SCUBA stuff I buy online or at place that's been here for 30+ years. I guess for most stuff I need there's a local alternative, but mostly it's about convenience and price.

For hardware and baked goods, I always buy local.

Im about half and half.  For books I go to chapters (Canada's big bookstore chain),  because they have about ten times the slection of the local bookstores.  I also buy alot of my food bulk at costco.  In the middle I eat breakfast alot of White Shot which is a local chain (started in vancouver,  only in western canada),  and I buy most of my cds and movies for A&B sound,  another local chain.   But thats about it for chains,  I buy most of my clothes from small stores,  eat at restaurants that aren't a chain and my  groceries come from a little shop in china town.  Actaully now that I think of it,  I buy all my liquor at a chain store,  buts thats more due to the laws here.  As the government run liquor stores are the only place to buy liquor without a big surcharge.

I am a "local shop".

Keep me fed, please. 

Here, have a sandwich.

Anyways, what do you sell in your "local shop"?

Im about half and half.  For books I go to chapters (Canada's big bookstore chain),  because they have about ten times the slection of the local bookstores.  I also buy alot of my food bulk at costco.  In the middle I eat breakfast alot of White Shot which is a local chain (started in vancouver,  only in western canada),  and I buy most of my cds and movies for A&B sound,  another local chain.   But thats about it for chains,  I buy most of my clothes from small stores,  eat at restaurants that aren't a chain and my  groceries come from a little shop in china town.  Actaully now that I think of it,  I buy all my liquor at a chain store,  buts thats more due to the laws here.  As the government run liquor stores are the only place to buy liquor without a big surcharge.

Indigo is better than chapters. But before I go there I usually look at 2nd hand stores where I can get it for 1/5 the price.