Add the 3/50 Project to the list of excellent Minnesota exports – right between the Coen brothers and Schell beer. The brainchild of Cinda Baxter, a retail consultant from Minneapolis, the outline is simple:
Pick three locally-owned places you’d miss if they disappeared. Spend $50 per month between those three places.
And that’s it. It’s so much in line with what seveneightfive is all about, that we’re a little jealous we didn’t think of it first. And whether it’s restaurants, stores or services that are owned and operated right here in Topeka, it’s hard to figure out why we wouldn’t inject at least $50 into these places each month.
The idea is that when you spend your money at a locally-owned business, the vast majority of that money gets recycled back into the community, meaning more opportunity and prosperity for everyone here. Spending at a chain means only a small portion of that money stays here. Buying online sends every penny out of here. That’s why we’ve always believed in shopping locally.
We’re not stupid. We know that sometimes you’re going to eat at McDonald’s or shop at Wal-Mart because they’re cheap and convenient. We just urge that, when you have the opportunity to patronize a local business, do it. And we hope you’ll jump on board the 3/50 Project ideals by making a concerted effort to spend at least $50 per month at three locally-owned businesses. If we want to keep turning Topeka into an exciting place to live, your support of the local people making it happen is an important step.
[seveneightfive editors | March 2010]
Now we want to hear from you: what three locally-owned places can you not live without? Where are you going to spend your 3/50 dollars this month?
Leah
1 year ago
Here’s a comment submitted via email by Tom Wah:
Here are my My Three Places to spend $50 a month:
The College Hill Tavern
Best bar food in town, great live music venue and always appreciate the wide variety of folks who patronize the place!
Celtic Fox
Great place for lunch with colleagues from the Capitol, afterwork drinks with the Fox Brothers, and a great music venue!
Dutch Goose
Always a great place for a nightcap, plenty decent for an eye opener and almost always a place to see good friends.
And all of these places are all the better with the smoking ban!!
kerrice
1 year ago
Pizagels (Old Bagel Express)
This was my first job in high school…and both of my sister’s first jobs. Their hospitality and family atmosphere carries over into the restaurant. My stomach loves this place because of their veggie cream cheese, garlic bagels, cold coffee drinks, etc. I have several creative bagel sandwich recipes up my sleeve as well.
My local Bar
It’s really a rotation of four – but they all are filled with good friends, good music and good bourbon and diets (single tall please).
Topeka Civic Theatre
I love the theater. Wait – I love THIS theatre.
***Bonus: Nos Vemos Greetings. Lena Hayden is brilliant with Spanish and English cards. I feel great sending her thank you cards to friends and family. I buy them in bulk. They are bright, fun and local. Bonus: I get to brag and say I know the designer.
2nd annual shop crawl
1 year ago
[...] 18th from 5:30 – 9 pm you can support local businesses [remember the 3-50 project] AND get a great jump-start to your holiday gift buying while enjoy treats and listening to great [...]