Note: You can read the village's "One Square Mile" newsletter here.

Feb. 25, 2025

By Mary Marvin, Mayor of Bronxville

Live Longer, Stay Healthier, Protect the Environment, Maximize Home Value, and Receive Unparallelled Services By Doing One Small Thing: Shop Local

The holidays are over and frankly, I’m waiting to hear how our incredible local merchants did financially. It prompted me to think we need to support them 12 months of the year and on these cold winter days, probably now more than ever, as shopping local is an important message to our merchants that their presence in the Village is valued and appreciated.

Bronxville is at the top of the list in Westchester County in terms of locally owned independent businesses some with 20, even 50-year legacies. They are the backbone of this community.

There are so many reasons why you should shop local and as that has been my mantra, I decided to put the pen to paper and share a sampling: 

1. Local merchants give the personal attention so lacking in the mail order business – the opportunity to touch, fit and feel is an important part of a good purchase.

2. The personal touch includes special orders, beautifully wrapped packages and often delivery to your front door and if the gift turns out not to be perfect, you need not stand in line at a postal service, rather gracefully hand to a shopkeeper for immediate refund or exchange.

3. Local merchants buy parking permits, pay taxes, buy goods and food from their fellow merchants and use the services of local professionals including lawyers, accountants, computer consultants, and graphic designers.

4. On the economic level, shopping local is a major driver of the financial health of the Village. That is quite clear. We received sales tax revenues of $1.787 million in the past year. A Village spending increase and/or revenue loss delta of just $100,000 raises the Village side of taxes by a full point. Without this tax revenue, your taxes on the Village side last year would have been raised 17%!

Bottom line if you shop online versus on Pondfield Road or Palmer Avenue the “savings” will eventually come home to roost in the form of higher local property taxes and/or a decrease in municipal services.

In contrast, purchases made in the Village sends money directly back to our school and Village government and sends a message that you are investing in the future of our small village and all that it adds to your quality of life.

1. It has been conclusively proven that home values are directly related to the condition and vitality of one’s local business district. The nexus between the value of our home and local commerce is indisputable.

2. Independent stores consistently beat the large big box competitors in overall customer satisfaction.

3. Small stores offer a human connection, even foster friendships between merchant and customers which fulfills a basic human need.

4. The environment is positively affected; people walk more, less gas is consumed and the air quality is improved.

5. Even our personal health is enhanced as those who purchase goods on foot near their homes have less incidences of diabetes and obesity.

6. Small businesses donate more than twice as much per sales dollar to local nonprofits as compared with big box or mail order companies.

7. Small businesses are also regulated; signage, awning, sidewalk conditions by local residents, who then have a say as to their surrounding environment and aesthetics.

8. Research has proven that citizens are attracted, and often the more skilled workers and entrepreneurs, and more likely to settle in communities that preserve their unique and varied commercial character.

9. Children are offered an appropriate degree of independence when allowed to walk to a small business district for school supplies or an afterschool treat.

10. Local sidewalks are an important confluence of needed intergenerational connections as strollers share space with seniors and multigenerational discourse is fostered. Studies have proven that this type of human connection actually adds to longevity.

11. Local businesses create local job opportunities as many of our students and moms who have a spare few hours work in our stores.

12. There is no substitute for the coffee shop or bagel shop that knows your order. It is fun to live in a town where there is a “Cheers” like atmosphere.

13. Shopping local is so much more than a feel good, “it’s worth paying for” mantra as researchers who study how money flows conclusively established a profound economic impact of keeping money local.

14. A financial multiplier is generated by a small store recirculating through their employees, often know local residents, as well as area advertisers, attorneys, graphic artist, local printers, payroll services, donations to charities, accountants, restaurants, and fellow local suppliers of needed ancillary goods.

15. Merchants are generous to a fault to our charities; look out for our children; often knows exactly what we like to purchase and genuinely care about our families.

16. They also pay a great deal of taxes that go directly to support Village government and our school, though they cannot use the services of the school.

17. Small businesses donate more than twice as much per sales dollars to local nonprofit events and teams than big companies. An unbelievable 91% of our local businesses contribute to local charities and institutions; a staggering 200% more than chain stores or mail order operations. In the end, we must support our supporters.

18. A downtown filled with empty stores severely affects the sales value of nearby homes. It’s just a fact.

19. By buying items on the internet, we add 1 billion metric tons of CO2 per year to the environment through shipping which is further compounded by the cost of those Amazon boxes, which are so wasteful.

20. Bronxville also has the potential to be a “Blue Zone” – an area in the world where people live much longer than their neighboring countrymen with the key factor proven to be personal human interactions.

Characteristics of those who currently live in Blue Zones include making purchases in person by walking to their nearby businesses, grocery stores or visiting doctors and other professionals, thus sustaining local interpersonal ties not only with store or office staff, but those waiting in line be at the post office, waiting room or a bagel store. The endorphins released, all scientifically proven, genuinely contribute to happiness and thus longevity. So if you want to live longer, shop on Pondfield, Palmer and Parkway!

1. Small businesses employ 47% of the nation’s private workforce and are the backbone of the US economy. They push economic growth by opening up employment opportunities locally for people who may not want to be employed in the big box businesses.

2. Shopping closer to home decreases pollution, lessens congestion, and reduces traffic.

3. The math for buying close to home is compelling – for every $100 spent at a local business, $73 remains in the local economy. Compare that to the same $100 spent at a non-locally owned business where only $43 remains in the local community.

4. An in person shopping experience offers complete information and suggestions with a give-and-take versus online chats.

5. When you want to return something, online sellers make it almost impossible to speak with a human and try arguing your point with AI.

6. The chance of meeting with friends when you walk around town and renewing acquaintances.

7. There is no delivery delay when you pick it up yourself.

8. You are treated to beautiful window and decoration displays with serendipitous possibilities for finding that really perfect gift.

If space permitted, I could go on and on and on! One really does vote with their wallet and shopping locally casts your vote for Bronxville.

If you want to live longer, stay healthier, protect your environment, create a welcoming atmosphere, maximize the value of your home and receive services and amenities that are unparalleled, think local and shop local. It is a win on every level.