Hordes of shoppers from around the Bay Area likely will pack
Gilroy’s outlet mall today, so why don’t you beat the crowds by
staying away. We don’t mean don’t go shopping. Just do it closer to
home. In Hollister, you can find a wide-variety of gifts while
supporting our local businesses.
Hordes of shoppers from around the Bay Area likely will pack Gilroy’s outlet mall today, so why don’t you beat the crowds by staying away. We don’t mean don’t go shopping. Just do it closer to home. In Hollister, you can find a wide-variety of gifts while supporting our local businesses.
It’s been a tough year for Hollister’s downtown merchants. Business like Hop’s Hallmark store have closed. Some like the San Andreas Brewery are on the market. And others like Dorothy McNett’s Place are scaling back their operations. The city tore up the sidewalks, vastly improving the appearance of San Benito Street but also putting shopkeepers through months of strain.
Some merchants say this is a make or break holiday season.
The bottom line is, if we want our downtown to grow as a social and economic hub for Hollister, we have to close the loop and support the merchants who are the area’s lifeblood by buying their wares. A successful, vibrant downtown creates a distinct identity for a city. It offers options to its residents for entertainment and it stimulates a local economy that supports the community.
Sales tax generated by local businesses stays in town, putting police on the streets and providing recreation programs for our kids. And local business people often are involved in charitable organizations that work in San Benito County or support youth organizations like Little League.
But shopping downtown shouldn’t just be done out of obligation. There’s fun to be had. On Saturday at 5:15pm, the Hollister Downtown Association is hosting the 14th Annual Lights On celebration which features a parade and showcases local shops.
And there truly are a variety of businesses – about 200 retailers, restaurants, and commercial businesses – offering many fine products downtown. Dorothy McNett’s Place offers great wines, upscale cookware and locally-produced food like grass-fed beef from the T.O. Cattle Company and chocolates made by confectioner IsaBella Zanger. Boutique De Lingerie will spice up your holiday gift giving and Maddux Jewelry has been serving local people for decades. Countless other stores offer clothes, sporting equipment, antiques and more. And there are places to stop and grab a bite and rest when the pace gets hectic. The prices downtown can be competitive with larger chain stores and the service you receive far outweighs what you will get from the distracted teenager working at one of the outlet malls.
So, today, on the biggest shopping day of the year, shop in downtown Hollister and support your hometown.
