What are some of the things that you guys buy locally instead of buying from chains?

Im trying to be more focused on supporting local shops and retailers instead of trying to depend on the major chains for #allthestuff

For instance I have decided to buy my appliances from a local guy instead of Lowes, Sears, etc. He is giving me a great deal and his customer service has been fantastic so far.

I am curious about where you guys shop locally and for what.

2/6/2013 1:24:31 PM

For me it's mostly coffee and dinner out.

2/6/2013 1:46:15 PM

also put on here where you're buying stuff, so people can know.


I'd like to know where to buy meat and eggs from local sources.

2/6/2013 1:48:50 PM

^find someone who has chickens. They usually don't eat all the eggs their chickens produce when they are really laying a lot. This is what I did with a guy whom I work with.

For me, furniture. When populating our house, if we weren't getting a vintage piece and instead buying new, I made sure to get furniture that was handmade in NC for anything major (sofa, chair). In other cases, like right now, I have a few old pieces of furniture I am going to utilize a local upholstery shop for.

And then of course local restaurants over national chains anytime we go out to eat.

[Edited on February 6, 2013 at 2:12 PM. Reason : ]

2/6/2013 2:12:16 PM

Farmer's market for food

Flea Market for furniture/decor/tools/whatever I find that I can use

2/6/2013 2:20:09 PM

I used to get meat and produce from Coon Rock Farms in Hillsborough. They supply Zely & Ritz. They have the weekly bags, but you can also pick and choose what you want and pick it up in several locations, including at Z&R (or at least, that's the way it worked a year or two ago)

[Edited on February 6, 2013 at 2:23 PM. Reason : ]

2/6/2013 2:23:23 PM

I don't live in Raleigh so I won't post the locations, but the items my wife and I look for locally are always:

1. Meat
2. Restaurants
3. Jewelry (if you have someone you can fully trust)
4. Furniture

2/6/2013 3:34:40 PM

i use a CSA for veg
use farmers found through the CSA resources for meats and eggs sometimes
there's a local honey farm near me
farmer's markets for spices, preserves, other random shit
i drive by a seafood market on the way home from work i stop at occasionally
restaurants
beer

2/6/2013 3:40:47 PM

Papa Spud's, grow my own, Farmer's Market for produce
eggs and honey- the backyard
knit, sew and make my own craft type stuff because I'm a "crafthole", although materials come
from Hancock Fabrics or the Internets (I try to order from NC companies if they have what I want)
running and tri stuff from Bull City Running Co.
bicycle stuff and repair- DIY and at our bike co-op

eating out- local restaurants in Durham
car- Neal's Garage
pet food/garden stuff- Barnes Supply and Stone Bros.

If you could provide me a Durham based local craft shop or food co-op I'd be all over that junk.
Alas, they do not exist, or don't have what I want.

2/6/2013 5:34:25 PM

i get my chicken at the local bojangles.

2/6/2013 6:18:30 PM

i (try to) do this with things that can be made/grown locally...but that's about it

so, in the OP's example, i wouldn't think twice about buying appliances from joe schmoe the local guy or [insert big box store name here] because it all came from china, anyway...in those cases, it's about whoever's going to give me the best price...and if it's joe schmoe, great

that said, if there is no significant difference in quality/features between an item made in china and it's american-made counterpart, i'll opt for the american-made (even if it's more money...within reason)

2/7/2013 9:46:03 AM

http://www.decoraleigh.com/

This place is awesome, opened a few months ago. Great for small gifts, art, etc. good for downtown retail!

2/7/2013 9:49:30 AM

Ill take a local restaurant over a chain any day. I buy coffee & honey local too.

[Edited on February 7, 2013 at 11:33 AM. Reason : and seafood, when I buy it]

2/7/2013 11:32:07 AM

http://coonrockfarm.com/csa/csa-pickup-locations/

2/7/2013 11:39:03 AM

Quote :

"Ill take a local restaurant over a chain any day."

i'm not so strongly against chains, but i differentiate between local (or small) chains over something corporate like mcdonald's...since i think having more than one store/location makes it a chain, i think it's silly to be "against" them

Quote :

"I buy coffee & honey local too."

this proves my ignorance...i didn't realize that coffee would grow very well in raleigh

Quote :

"and seafood, when I buy it"

by definition, seafood is never local in raleigh...farm-raised food or freshwater fish/scallops, maybe, but even then, you're usually getting your stuff from AT LEAST several hours away

i only make these points to because i think "local" is subjective...and i SOMETIMES think the "go local" thing is like those dumbasses who equate "organic" to "better" (ie. it's stupid)

though it depends on the situation, product, etc

2/7/2013 12:18:22 PM

I'm sure you know this, but when you say "local seafood", it means it comes from the NC coast, and not shipped in from china.

2/7/2013 12:22:45 PM

Yeah local doesn't mean good. For example I'd prefer grass fed/organic beef over local factory beef. Ideally grass fed local beef is the best but if it comes down to me eating shitty meat that's local versus eating grass fed lean beef that's been shipped across the country I'll always choose the later.

2/7/2013 12:46:05 PM

Point taken. I guess the OP should have titled the thread "Shop Good Local"

[Edited on February 7, 2013 at 1:01 PM. Reason : ]

2/7/2013 12:49:30 PM

I should amend. I'm not aware if the coffee is grown locally, rather I patron a locally owned [non franchise] store. The honey however is definitely produced locally

I should also preface with I live on the coast, but don't eat much seafood. When we do, we do local catch

2/7/2013 12:55:12 PM

So does this pass the local test? Because it's made in NC and tastes delicious.

2/7/2013 12:56:00 PM

^http://www.pigbusiness.co.uk/

2/7/2013 1:02:14 PM

Quote :

"this proves my ignorance...i didn't realize that coffee would grow very well in raleigh"

Quote :

"I should amend. I'm not aware if the coffee is grown locally, rather I patron a locally owned [non franchise] store."

Of course the coffee isn't grown in Raleigh--it couldn't be. However, when you buy from our local coffee distributors, you're buying coffee that has been sourced and brought to Raleigh/Durham and roasted here--which is as close to local coffee as you could possibly get. This is definitely still considered shopping local. I personally buy only from Counter Culture in Durham.

2/7/2013 1:06:06 PM

Quote :

"I'm sure you know this, but when you say "local seafood", it means it comes from the NC coast, and not shipped in from china."

which goes to the point i already made in that same post..."local" is wholly subjective and i'm not going to buy NC seafood over, say, gulf-caught seafood is the gulf stuff is cheaper and tastes the same or better

i don't care one iota whether i'm supporting an NC fisherman or an LA/MS/FL one...sure, buying from the US is preferable (in most cases, if everything else is equal) than buying from china, but since no one said otherwise and this is a "shop local" thread, i'm sure you know this

Quote :

"Of course the coffee isn't grown in Raleigh--it couldn't be. However, when you buy from our local coffee distributors, you're buying coffee that has been sourced and brought to Raleigh/Durham and roasted here--which is as close to local coffee as you could possibly get."

well, i truly wasn't sure (i figure with greenhouses/high tunnels/whatever, you can grow most anything anywhere...within reason)...and while i certainly PREFER (and tend to frequent) small local coffeehouses, i don't throw my nose up at starbucks because their coffee is just as good (depending on what you're getting, of course)

especially when it comes to coffee...it's just like buying an appliance from the local guy instead of big box...in MOST cases, their goods come from the same place, so you're only supporting a local reseller, not a local producer...coffee roasted/ground in-house is great, but they both still (likely) sent their money out of the area/state/country to get their goods and at that point, i'm not going to go out of my way - or pay more - for their tiny contribution

as noted...again...i will choose local/independent over chain when everything else is equal (or there's a significant difference between them in terms of offering/quality)

[Edited on February 7, 2013 at 1:14 PM. Reason : .]

2/7/2013 1:09:56 PM

you're a weird dude.

2/7/2013 1:13:01 PM

no, just someone who thinks organic/local is frequently (not always, mind you) a marketing scheme to get dumbasses to spend more

as i've said again and and again, i DO support local when it makes sense, but it's as much a fad as anything else (or, rather, the truly "local" folks are getting screwed by the others that use it as a marketing gimmick)

2/7/2013 1:17:19 PM

^i understand all that. I think this thread is about buying meat from a local farm or seafood from a local fisherman as opposed to going to food lion and getting smithfield brand bacon or frozen shrimp from vietnam.

[Edited on February 7, 2013 at 1:47 PM. Reason : ]

2/7/2013 1:46:06 PM

Fresh shrimp is much better than shrimp shipped from the Gulf...but I also live on the coast.

Is it worth it when its shipped a couple hours to Raleigh?? Maybe...that's a personal preference. But in general, I would say the majority of East Coast shrimp is better than the shrimp from the Gulf.

2/7/2013 1:51:56 PM

Yeah, there are at least two different kinds of "local." The first is obviously something grown or produced locally. A farmers' market where the produce was actually grown in the region or an upholsterer or luthier who lives and works in your local area are examples of the first kind.

The second is a locally-OWNED shop that sells items that aren't necessarily locally grown, produced, etc. An example of this is your local craft beer store vs something like Total Wine or a locally-owned coffee shop or restaurant or indie movie theater that isn't a part of a national management corp.

I see positives in supporting both.

2/7/2013 1:55:52 PM

I never realized the Raleigh farmers market is not growers only. Vendors are allowed to buy wholesale produce to sell, and they don't have to label it as such. A friend of mine used to work for a farm, and she said if they were short on tomatoes one week, they'd buy some wholesale and mix in with theirs. Not sure if that's something other people are aware of.

2/7/2013 2:15:45 PM

^That's one of the reasons I preferred the Durham farmers' market. That one is, as far as I know, growers only. (As is Carrboro's). However, it's a heck of a drive if you live in Raleigh. Conversely, though, the seafood restaurant there gets in a truck of fresh seafood from the NC coast every morning, so that's as local as it can be for an inland city.

I do see benefit in supporting local merchants even when the product is the same and decidedly not local (the Joe Schmoe vs. big box argument for electronics, for example). While the prices are often higher, I feel that when you buy from a local merchant the profit stays in the local economy rather than going up the chain to the corporate office. Sure, some of it comes back down as jobs, but it's not as big a net positive. Also, local merchants are more likely to locate in downtown and urban areas, where you cannot or would not want to locate a big box retailer. It translates to lower vacancy rates, more walkable and safer streets, and a more vibrant urban core, which is a really good thing for any city, or even for the traditional Main Street in small towns.

[Edited on February 7, 2013 at 2:34 PM. Reason : s]

2/7/2013 2:33:17 PM

Quote :

"no, just someone who thinks organic/local is frequently (not always, mind you) a marketing scheme to get dumbasses to spend more"

Don't know about bundling those together. Most "local" farmer's markets are not organic. At least the ones I've been too. It's very hard to find local and organic. Whole foods does a good job of telling you where all their meat is from and if it's organic or not but they're over priced.

Also I try to buy organic/grass fed meat and organic eggs. I don't really buy organic produce. Shit is expensive and the shit they do to livestock today scares me a lot more than putting pesticides on my broccoli.

2/7/2013 3:08:07 PM

Many small farms follow organic practices but aren't certified organic, because of the paperwork and money the certification requires.

2/7/2013 3:14:48 PM

^ well, i didn't mean to bundle them as the same thing...more that sometimes, they use "local" and "organic" (separately and independent of one another) to draw in a certain group of people who truly are in it for the fad, not because they do any thinking on their own

but you're right, they shouldn't be grouped together as i don't think they show up together very often

2/7/2013 3:15:22 PM

It's difficult. For example there's restaurants in Charlotte that say their meat is organic. Even chains are starting with the organic trend (Chipotle, Moes, etc). Moes actually makes the distinction that their beef is grass-fed which is cool. Organic meat can still be unhealthy (corn fed + very fatty). Now if you ask the restaurant that says their meat is locally raised and organic whether it's grass fed or not they should be able to tell you.

2/7/2013 3:22:21 PM

All the restaurants down in Charleston pretty much name where their meat comes from on the menu. Like Clammer Dave's Oysters, Magwood Shrimp, Kegon Filion pork/beef, etc.

Also...grass-fed beef blows...IMO of course.

2/7/2013 3:44:10 PM

Define blows? It's typically less fatty and much more lean. So yes it obviously doesn't taste as fatty but it's much healthier for you.

2/7/2013 3:46:33 PM

I like burgers based on taste. I know if I'm eating a burger, it's not going to be extremely healthy...so might as well go all out. Every grass-fed beef burger I've had has been devoid of taste (that's a little extreme...but you get the point).

2/7/2013 3:54:14 PM

walmart makes my life easier, why change now.

2/7/2013 4:20:44 PM

Quote :

"I know if I'm eating a burger, it's not going to be extremely healthy...so might as well go all out"

Well yeah if you go into it with that attitude. Leaner cuts of beef taste better in general IMO. Grass fed = leaner.

I mean a nice filet has little fat...that's the whole point of a nice cut of beef. You're saying the burger tastes better because it has more fat. I'd argue a burger tastes better, the better cut of meat it is (aka less fat). e.g. a steak burger.

No matter what your taste buds are telling you the nicer / more tasty the beef the less fat it has. That's a general rule of thumb.

[Edited on February 7, 2013 at 4:26 PM. Reason : s]

2/7/2013 4:25:47 PM

You can't compare a burger to a filet. Yes...normal lean beef makes for a tastier burger...but grass-fed is normally 1/3 less fat than even your leanest beefs. Takes too much of the flavor out.

[Edited on February 7, 2013 at 4:51 PM. Reason : .]

2/7/2013 4:50:48 PM

http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/03/29/grass.grain.beef.cookinglight/index.html

Quote :

"Could a grass-fed cut, with its lower-fat content, rival a grain-fed cut? Yes: It was succulent, buttery, and robust, with a perfectly caramelized crust. The juices formed a simple, rich sauce."

Quote :

"As we tasted more beef, however, we found that there aren't clear-cut, consistent taste differences between grass-fed and grain-fed meat."

Quote :

"This emerged after a blind tasting of eight New York strips, cooked identically. Samples included regular supermarket beef; steak from our grass-fed cow; and meat from a variety of grass-fed and grain-fed animals of different breeds raised in different states."

Quote :

"Our testers liked several samples but discovered no universal preference for grass-fed or grain-fed, finding various degrees of beefiness and juiciness across the samples."

Just sayin..

[Edited on February 7, 2013 at 5:00 PM. Reason : .]

2/7/2013 4:59:42 PM

has anyone eaten at the daily planet cafe? Supposedly almost their entire menu is made of "local" stuff.

2/7/2013 5:04:39 PM

My Pizza!

My favorite pizza place is headquartered of Avent Ferry Rd, in Raleigh NC.

2/7/2013 5:07:06 PM

oh yeah, that little caesars at avent ferry/gorman is the bomb.

2/7/2013 5:10:53 PM

^

2/7/2013 5:11:45 PM

This also comes from your article:

Quote :

"The feedlot process not only speeds the animal to slaughter weight but also enhances fat marbling, which is one factor that determines a cut of beef's USDA rating -- the more fat within the red meat, the richer the taste, the higher the grade. "

rule of thumb...'eh

You also have to be more careful when cooking grass-fed beef. A popular restaurant that specializes in grass-fed burgers in Charleston recommends you ordering it at one temperature lower than you would a normal burger because it will be too chewy because of the lack of fat. This comes from that article as well:

Quote :

"Delicate veins of fat running through the meat play a critical role in flavor and grade. It was easy to see the difference in the exposed rib eyes: The Angus had more marbling compared with the superlean Brangus. Next to our Brangus carcass was a much scrawnier specimen that had little fat and whose meat had the dried-out look of jerky. "

Grass-fed beef is also dry-aged. Although a lot of high end steakhouses and butchers do the same for steaks...they rarely do it for beef used for burgers. Burger meat is usually vacuumed sealed and retains all of that "water flavor." Making it more...you guessed it, flavorful. Also gives you a juicier burger. I've had several dry grass-fed burgers...and that's ordering them medium rare.

2/7/2013 5:23:45 PM

K you've convinced me. I have no doubt it's much easier to make a tasty/juicy beef burger from fatty beef than lean/grass fed. I just think it's also possible to have a good grass fed steak as well.

2/8/2013 9:35:02 AM

This isn't a thread on comparing beef ... Sorry.

But while I appreciate your input I'd like to stay on track.

To quagmires point about my appliances, I'm getting a better deal than any of the chains can offer me.
It's a win win.

And like many have pointed out here ther are many ways to shop local. Like peace camera, Burke brothers hardware for example.

2/8/2013 11:54:25 AM

Quote :

"To quagmires point about my appliances, I'm getting a better deal than any of the chains can offer me. It's a win win."

and that's excellent (no sarcasm intended, btw)

i'm sure there's an amount of money that would see me going to the big box store, though...20%? $100? i'm not asking for your personal number, but i think a lot of people are only willing to "shop local" when it's advantageous for them to do so (or, rather, only so disadvantageous)

2/8/2013 12:45:43 PM

I would buy fabric from Spoonflower (based in Durham) if it wasn't so damn expensive.

2/8/2013 3:56:26 PM