Have you heard of the 3/50 Project? It’s basically a grass roots attempt to save local businesses from getting pushed into extinction by national chain stores. You are supposed to ask yourself, “what THREE independently owned businesses would you miss if they disappeared?” Then, it gives the statistic that if just 1/2 of the employed population would spend $50 each month at a locally owned business, it would “generate more than $42.6 billion in revenue.”
The general idea is that if you spent $50 a month at 3 separate local businesses, you would create a pretty significant impact. Here’s the statistics they throw out: “For every $100 spent in independent stores, $68 of it returns to the community through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures.” Compare that to only $43 at a national chain store.
So, if the new year has got you thinking about how to have a more meaningful impact with your spending, you may want to give the 3/50 project a try.
Here’s to a year of more mindful living,
Mavis
PattyB says
I heard of this a couple of years ago… still a great idea. We try to patronize independent businesses as much as we can.
Carol says
I love this, Mavis. We try to do just what you are saying here. I haven’t tried assigning a dollar amount, but I will watch and see what I do spend each month at a local store. Our local grocery is a local area chain, so I’m thinking that counts, too.
Monique S says
I just tried to do this…and I cant in my own neighborhood…because I don’t really shop here. I go down south, over the border to Bellingham to visit my own family and what I consider still to be my town…lol. As an expat, that is.
I’m going to share mine….they’re all WA local, and maybe if you’re on a road trip north to BC, or someone else wants to check them out, they’ll be something new for someone looking to try! That way others can support local great businesses too!
So my three places would be…ALL restaurants. I don’t think that there really are any stores, per say, that I frequent, that are mom & pop anymore. They’ve all closed out, or sold out to bigger chains over the years. Which is sad, but how it goes. So for me, I’d swear by these three:
The Bagelry. Located in the heart of old town Bellingham, the bagelry is an institution in amazing fast breakfast fare. Remember that Bellingham is a university town, and get in get out is the name of the game. For under $5 bucks you can get a GREAT bagel in about 10 different varieties and at least 10-15 different types of cream cheese. They also have sandwiches, omlettes, and more. My fave is the garlic bagel with a plain ole schmear of cream cheese.
El Gitano Mexican Restaurant. This is a Burlington staple. While there ARE multiple locations (from Mt Vernon to Bellingham) they are a family owned restaurant that started with a small location in Burlington on old Fairhaven Rd/Burlington Blvd. The family lived upstairs and the restaurant was downstairs. There was a HUGE fire in…[I want to say the 80s or early 90s] and the building burnt down. Being an immigrant family without much money, everything in the business, they were lost. Nothing to do, nowhere to go, their customers took them in. Housing them at various homes around town, they were encouraged to rebuild…and boy am I glad they did! The new build stands in the SAME spot, same building, and was built to replicate the original building. Since then, they’ve been so successful thanks to those loyal patrons, they’ve opened these other locations around Skagit and Whatcom counties. My fave locations are the original of course for the ambiance, and the Sunset Way location in Bellingham which boasts a great bar and wait staff…who remember you by name, even when you come in 5 months later!
Busara Siamese Cuisine. Some of the BEST thai food in town. Located at Samish Way just down the hill from Western WA University, the menu is extensive, the dining room is vast and the staff is friendly. The price is quite low too. Want another low cost alternative? Try On Rice, its just up the street, and its pretty dang good too…but not in my top 3 businesses…its a close 4th.
Mavis says
I love that you took the time to share these restaurants! You are amazing! Here’s hoping people take your advice and go check them out.
Laura says
Thanks for these! Love having good local restaurants to frequent in the area. I usually find mine on Yelp. It is pretty reliable and has loads of good cheap local restaurant recos.
Monique S says
How could I not? I’ve been going to those three places since I was in high school! Heck, I moved to a different COUNTRY for petes’ sakes, and I still go back to all 3 on a regular basis. I don’t quite spend $50 monthly at all 3…because it doesn’t fit my $300/total every splurge budget…but they’re all so affordable…you can easily fit them in to ANY budget.
El Gitano runs a lunch special EVERY weekday between 11-3 for under $7 for about 6 different amazing dishes. Busara has their lunch til I think 3 or 3:30 and its under $8 including a bowl of soup+ your entrée and the bagelry is downright cheap. They’re all fun fare, and delish for a budget…and in a college town, they have to be.
Another great place to check out EVERY year is Boomers drive in. They run a special from usually around the end of the first week of Jan (jan 6this year) til end of Feb 28 to celebrate their anniversary called Boomuary where EVERY SINGLE BURGER on the menu is $2.99. And that food is AMAZE-balls!
Basically, if you’re not gardening, hiking, biking, or studying in Bellingham, you dang well better be eating!
Susan says
6/27/24 – This popped up on your ’50 Local’ post and I clicked and read it. Bring this one back to the forefront and let’s all try to keep this going!!! I have a feeling after the pandemic, those stores that survived are REALLY struggling and this movement would make a massive impact right now!