PEORIA, Ill. — Worried about being able to find holiday gifts? Shop local.
JD Dalfonso, President and CEO of Discover Peoria, is touting a one-stop shop for gift-giving. It’s the Pop Up Shop at Shoppes at Grand Prairie.
The storefront features Discover Peoria merchandise and plenty of other items made right here in Central Illinois.
“They’re small businesses that have brought their merchandise to this shop. So, the visitors that are passing by can buy small business items from Morton, or Peoria Heights, Chillicothe, or even Lacon,” Dalfonso said.
“We have local artists from Washington, and even Sucre from Morton, their candies are being sold there. Even a macaroons business…if you’re in town, it’s really been a hot item off the shelves out of the gate here,” Dalfonso added.
The Discover Peoria Pop Up Shop will remain open through the holidays, maybe longer, Dalfonso said.
Shopping for holiday gifts online may be easy, but there are drawbacks.
Shopping local not only lets you really see what you’re buying, it makes our communities stronger year-round, Dalfonso said.
“What you don’t see, the indirect, is the jobs that are supported with this initiative, that’s the effect of shopping local 365 days of the year. Particularly this holiday season, it puts food on the table for our business owners, our families who are working, for the jobs that are created,” Dalfonso added.
Discover Peoria is working with 14 local community organizations to promote Shop Local 365.
“Our small businesses are what make Central Illinois thrive and their resiliency over the last two years has been something that should be applauded. Our hope is that residents and visitors alike can walk away with, not only great goods, but a sense of pride for Central Illinois,” Dalfonso said.
For more information about Shop Local 365, click HERE.
