Support Our Small Business – And Our Community!!

While our small businesses are closed, to keep us all safe, you can still support them by shopping directly from them on-line. Photo by Adrian Laney, Mar ’20

Shopping local, and shopping small, requires us to be mindful. In times of stress, it can be hard to be mindful, so it is a good thing we are all so relaxed and laid-back these days (sorry, small joke there.)

Still, it is a great time to consider supporting our local businesses – maybe in a way you hadn’t considered before. Many of our independently owned and operated businesses are stretching and growing as they flex and shift to accommodate ‘the new normal.’

Book Larder has entirely reconfigured their showroom to make it a shipping area where any staffer can work more than 6 feet apart, including in the kitchen where staffers are making meals to feed healthcare workers at Harborview Medical Center (donations to this effort are being accepted on-line – click here.) Book Larder has a tremendous inventory of books on cooking, baking and being more conscientious about using scarce resources – all of which can now be purchased on-line (click here.)

During the voluntary shut-down, Anytime Fitness Fremont cleaned and did maintenance work to make the gym better for when members return. Photo provided by Anytime Fitness

Anytime Fitness closed two weeks ago, and will stay closed throughout the ‘Shelter-In-Place’ directive from the Governor, yet they’ve also been posting videos of workouts for their members to do at home. As for the gym, they had maintenance and improvements done while they were able to do so – to create a better environment for their members once they re-open.

Unfortunately, these small businesses and franchises still might make it through this quarantine period. Many of our businesses – Show Pony, The Uncommon Cottage, Bellefleur Lingerie, etc. – are entirely dependent on their on-line sales to determine their future. Please, if you value these bring-and-mortar boutiques and the character they bring to our community, consider going on-line and buying a gift card, or a gift!

Even when it comes to lounge wear, Pipe And Row has a very stylish option. Photo provided by Pipe And Row

Pipe And Row has seen a great uptick in sales of their fashionable lounge wear from the WFH brand. It may be a time of hanging out at home, where no one sees you, but that doesn’t mean you have to wear old, worn sweats. Keep yourself cute and sane – and use the code SUPPORTSMALL to get 20% off your entire order (click here.)

Burnt Sugar is also offering great discounts on on-line orders, for shoes, fashion and gift items. Check out the Burnt Sugar website (click here) and find out about their wide selection of clever, unusual items, including puzzles, candles, handbags, etc.

Find all kinds of great items, including creative puzzles, while shopping Burnt Sugar on-line. Photo provided by Burnt Sugar

Urban Earth Nursery is also closed during the ‘Shelter-In-Place’ order, but they can still offer Virtual Plant Consultations. The Urban Earth Plant Nerds can offer advice about your gardening or house plant issues. Go to the Urban Earth website (click here,) to schedule a 15-minute Zoom or FaceTime consultation, for $20. While on the Urban Earth website, look into the Plant Club, and the Plant Positivity cause. Also, look at ordering on-line from this local, nursery for all your garden needs!

As to eating, which we all must do to stay well, Fremont restaurants are doing what they can to not only keep us fed, but providing nutritious, inexpensive and creative meals. The City of Seattle created a website where you can go to find restaurants doing delivery and take-out within a radius of your location (click here.)

Urban Earth has plant consultants to help with your garden questions, and one furry overseer! Photo provided by Urban Earth Nursery

In addition to sharing the SupportSmallBusiness restaurant app, the Fremont Chamber of Commerce is providing a weekly list of eateries open for take-out. Check out one (or more) of these options this weekend:

The City of Seattle has created an app for finding restaurants that are open during the COVID-19 privations. Image provided by the Fremont Chamber

Fremont Brewing
Fremont Coffee Co
Galaxy Rune
Hannyatou & Kamonegi
Kaosamai Thai
Kin Len Thai Night Bites
Kwanjai
Le Coin
Lupo Fremont
Milstead & Co
MOD Pizza
Norm’s Eatery & Roxy’s Diner (limited menu – pick up at Norm’s)
Nuna Ramen
Paseo
Pel’Meni Dumpling Tzar
Revel & Joule (pick-up at Revel)

While Urban Earth had to close during COVID-19, they are still receiving products – on sale on-line. Photo by Adrian Laney, Mar ’20

Of course, even in this, our retail restaurants and bars have created unique opportunities, like The Barrel Thief’s Pop-Up Extravaganza on Saturday, April 4^th. Visit the Barrel Thief website NOW (click here,) to find the selection available and place your order – then pick-up your selections on April 4^th between 3p – 6p, curbside or for walk-up. Don’t forget to order your selection of tamales – according to State Law, food must accompany any order of spirits.

Order your specialty spirits at this one-day Pop-Up Shop to support The Barrel Thief.

Order tacos from El Camion and purchase your selection of Hale’s Ales quality craft beer, in six-packs, cases, growlers and kegs of all sizes! Get ‘at-the-source’ pricing on Hale’s six-packs, and the previously Wednesdays-only $8 growler fills every day. Maybe this is the time to try out, or introduce to your home bar, the Ghost Bear White Stout, Hazy Helles Lager and/or Helles Lager – now available for sale in growlers in the Hale’s Tap Room. Of course, purchase a six pack of Hale’s Ales and get a free El Camion taco (limit two per customer.)

In addition to alcohol, Fremont has several options for healthy beverages. Friday Afternoon Tea is selling their amazing teas and tisanes on-line, including special mixes. Their immune boosting teas have been flying off their digital shelves, but they still have plenty in stock. To encourage healthy sipping, Friday Afternoon Tea is offering 15% off their new Apothecary collection, through April 7^th, on-line (click here.)

Get 25% on Easter picks, at Theo Chocolate on-line. Photo provided by Theo

Vif Wine|Coffee is open on Friday & Saturday, from Noon – 5p, for walk-up purchases and on-line sales. Go on-line (click here,) to see the selection of specialty food items they have available, in addition to the wines, Stay-At-Home 7 mix, and Olympia Roasters whole bean coffee.

Theo Chocolate is offering up to 25% off Easter basket picks, ordered on-line. Get organic, fair-trade, artisanal chocolate, made in Fremont, to celebrate the Easter and Passover holidays. Find marshmallow bunnies, Spring bars, and your favorite Theo bars, available for shipping or curbside pick-up. We may all have to stay inside, but that doesn’t mean there can’t be moments of sweet deliciousness during it!

More importantly, if we want to reach the end of this COVID-19 crisis and find Fremont still is a mecca for small, independent businesses, we need to support them now. Also, please consider recommending our local, boutique businesses to others on your social media and e-mail networks!