Evanston Supports Small Business and You Should Too. Shop Small and Local This Holiday Season!

Shopping “small and local” in Evanston, Wyoming, is just plain fun! There is something special about shopping at a hometown store where the owners greet you by name, swap stories with you, and ask about the kids. Shopping in Downtown Evanston is a festive experience that goes beyond “add to cart” to put you in the holiday spirit.

“We have a lot of downtown holiday festivities coming in the next few weeks,” said Mieke Madrid, Main Street Program Coordinator/Grant Writer-EDFP. 

The holiday shopping season kicked off on November 27, Small Business Saturday. Random lucky downtown shoppers were surprised with Main Street Cash, a promotion that will continue throughout the next few weeks. “We are encouraging everyone to ‘Shop Small’/‘Shop Local’ this year,” said Madrid. “On December 2, we will be having our annual Downtown Open House and Light Parade from 5-8 p.m. with a special Tree Lighting Ceremony from our Mayor Kent Williams. On December 4, we’ll have the Jingle Bell Jaunt 5K Fun Run & Walk starting on Main Street at the Strand Theatre at 9 a.m. And from December 1st through the 12th, we have our 12 Days of Giveaways promotion, where various Downtown Evanston businesses give away prizes of their choice on each of these days. The promotion is designed to increase the businesses’ social media footprint.”

Downtown Historic Depot Square plays a pivotal role in Evanston’s quality of life. Not only is it beautifully decorated for the holidays, but it is also central to life the rest of the year too. “Depot Square expands across three blocks and is comprised of Union Pacific Train Depot, the Uinta County Museum/Carnegie Library/Chamber of Commerce, the Wing Family Chinese Gazebo & Garden, the Joss House Museum, Beeman-Cashin Building, Columbo Hall, a cobblestone plaza, and two park/green space areas,” said Madrid. “The Square hosts an array of events throughout the year, but perhaps most notably is our summer Farmers Market and contiguous Music in the Air at Depot Square concert series, which run from July through September. The site/buildings are also available for the public to rent throughout the year for weddings, baby showers, birthday parties . . . pretty much everything.” 

The Evanston Main Street program that Madrid heads contributes to the prosperous downtown business district by assisting it to become a visible barometer for the well-being of the entire community. “The Main Street Program is important to the businesses of Evanston because it provides a strong foundation and network in which they can all support one another in promoting and creating dynamic events, activities, and projects in the downtown,” said Madrid. “Moreover, this collaborative effort ultimately makes the entire community more economically and aesthetically vibrant for both current and future residents.”

Evanston works hard to support its small businesses and by shopping local this holiday season, you can do your part to support your neighbors and build community. Shopping local keeps tax revenue and jobs in Evanston. The funds are used to fix streets, provide upkeep, and support day-to-day operations. National statistics show that for every dollar spent at a small business, 67 cents stays within your local economy. In addition to helping schools and other organizations through taxes, small businesses are often the ones that support local youth sports teams, charities, and events.

Ideally, community members would shop local all year long in order to create the greatest economic impact, but the holiday season is a great time to get into the swing of things! Show family and friends on your gift list that you truly care by shopping locally at Evanston retailers to find one-of-a-kind items that delight and impress. Your community is made stronger when you take a moment to visit your local stores before shopping online. 

Downtown Evanston 

Evanston’s Main Street program will be refreshing a bit in the coming months when the name will change to Downtown Evanston. There will be exciting new branding, some new ideas, and some new blood. While the name is changing, it will remain a Main Street program and continue to provide assistance through incentives like the availability of a modest revolving loan fund that can be used to purchase equipment, interior/exterior improvements, and the like. Downtown Evanston will also continue to help by directing small businesses to eligible funding from the State Historic Preservation Office, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, the Wyoming Energy Authority, the Wyoming Business Council, and more.

Contact Evanston Economic Development to see why we are the ideal location on the Wasatch Front for your business expansion, relocation, or entrepreneurial launch. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.