Shop Local

With global impacts of COVID-19 have had on our communities, we’re focused on highlighting how great all of our local businesses are here in Nevada County. So, here are 4 great ways to support local businesses this season.

Shop Local

This holiday season the Nevada City Chamber of Commerce is encouraging the community to “Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is” and shop local and eat local.

In response to COVID-19 small business retailers have had to get creative to keep the lights on while also ensuring the health and safety of their staff and customers. For many businesses, the holiday shopping season represents over half of their yearly revenue. In an effort to pivot, many shops have added curbside pickup, local delivery, FaceTime virtual shopping, and online stores as a way to stay connected with their customers while also gaining new ones.

Shopping local benefits all of us. When we shop local we create a vibrant economy that supports local families and people who are invested in the community’s welfare and future. When we shop local we support the creative economy and showcase artists who make unique one-of-a-kind things. When we shop local we support local charities that benefit from the donations of local businesses. When we shop local we preserve the distinct character of our local community which makes Nevada City and Nevada County a wonderful place to live.

As we reflect on 2020, we have to acknowledge the tremendous challenges faced by businesses, both big and small, throughout our community. To this day, many of them are still struggling to get back on their feet and face uncertainty over the future as coronavirus (COVID-19) questions and restrictions linger. The best way for us to support them, and Nevada County as a whole at this time, is to choose to shop locally.

Please remember to shop early to give time for shipping and staffing demands that may come up. Also, please remember to practice patience and understanding as this year is unprecedented and for many businesses the shift to online has been new.

Gift Certificates

The gift that keeps on giving – sometimes you just don’t know the perfect item, or maybe you want to give someone an experience (like a cooking class, or a weekend away, or a meal out). There are a lot of great local restaurants, shops and activities that offer plenty of choices for gifting the perfect experience. Or, maybe you want to support a local arts event, in that case, buy someone a gift certificate to The Center for the Arts, Miners Foundry or one of the many Nevada City events.

Let’s Go Out Tonight Take Out Style

With the additional restrictions to local restaurants, it’s time to think outside, literally. While eating out might not look like normal, remember to support your local restaurants through these challenging times. Plan ahead and get take out and please be mindful that the restaurants are having to adjust and adapt, so please be patient with the changes.

Spread the word

Use social media and your network of people to share that Nevada City & Grass Valley are open and welcoming, but also doing our part to slow the spread of Coronavirus. We want to thank everyone for their support this year, and for the support they have shown our towns. The new restrictions do not mean we have to close, so we want to make sure that everyone knows that here at the Outside Inn and Inn Town Campground, we are still open. For those of you online, you can share this blog post, or tag Visit Nevada City on Instagram using #VisitNevadaCity to remind and show folks all the amazing things happening in our area (and it can be in Grass Valley too!).