Now that the holiday shopping season has started in earnest, we hope that Garden City residents remember that shopping locally supports our community’s merchants, who in turn pay taxes that support our community. Our local shops have to compete with the malls that surround us - let’s let them know that we appreciate them!

That said, most of us who are “responsible” for Christmas in our homes need additional reasons for shopping locally. Here are a few more:

• Shopping locally saves time. Simply navigating the mall’s parking lot and then hiking to the stores takes time. Parking is simple in most Garden City lots - no circling around waiting for a spot to open up.

• There is a great selection of gifts available. Garden City has an array of different kinds of stores - there is something for everyone.

• The customer service in a local store is something the mall stores can’t beat.

• If for some reason the gift isn’t right, the recipient will be treated well when they want to exchange it. Local merchants want to make and keep relationships with their customers. (The seasonal workers in the mall? Not so much.)

• And best of all, when the shopping gets tiring, there are plenty of yummy places to eat in Garden City - which sure beats the food court at the mall.

Meg Morgan Norris

Publisher