With a growing number of chain businesses nestled in a town full of local entrepreneurs, Athens residents claim their support for local businesses, according to a poll conducted by JOUR 3190 students in February.
Twelve people were interviewed regarding their opinions on various businesses in the Athens area, and all 12 claimed to make an effort to support the local stores.
When asked to give reasoning behind preferring to shop and eat locally, Landon Lambert, a freshman from Canton, Georgia, said she likes to go to “a restaurant that you wouldn’t find anywhere else.”
Other respondents like Lambert also voiced a preference for local businesses based on atmosphere and unique qualities.
However, just as often, the matter of price was a feature alluded to by respondents in their reasoning behind preferring certain stores over others.
Ashton Pike, a senior from Snellville, Georgia, mentioned these factors when citing Transmetropolitan as having low prices and large serving sizes. “It’s more bang for your buck,” said Pike, whose opinion matched those of other college students interviewed.
Chain businesses are on the rise in Athens, according to a 2015 article by The Red & Black.
But the growth of commercial retailers downtown may actually increase sales for local businesses such as Dynamite Clothing, a small clothing store with lower prices than its new competitor Urban Outfitters, as stated in the 2015 Red & Black article. John Van Wert, a senior advertising major from Peachtree City, Georgia, referenced Dynamite Clothing when discussing his preference for shopping at local stores and the “niche shops,” over “widely known chains,” like Urban Outfitters.
All 12 interviewees also claimed to understand the difference between a chain and a local business, yet some contradicted themselves when asked to provide examples of local businesses they frequent.
“Urban Outfitters…Five Guys, and definitely Starbucks comes to mind,” replied sophomore Sarina Conway from Madison, Georgia, naming national chains when asked for her thoughts on the epitome of an Athens local business.
While most regarded both Zaxby’s and Cane’s as chains, few knew the history behind Zaxby’s and its ties to Athens. “It was local and then it became a chain,” said Katie Huff, a graduate of UGA who was born and raised in Athens.
Huff shared her perspective on how the town’s business scene has changed over the years. “I would say that the one thing about downtown is that the change is constant,” Huff said, explaining that some of her favorite childhood venues have been replaced.
When it came to older local residents in the area, responses reflected a more negative outlook.
Katie Wilson, an Athens local who was with her husband, said while she does support local businesses, she chooses to “go local somewhere else,” with her family in effort to avoid the crowds of college students downtown.
Bella Montoya, a 35-year Athens resident and previous local business owner, listed various downtown local restaurants and shops she frequents.
However, when Montoya was asked her opinion of Onward Reserve, an Athens-based men’s clothing store, she said: “I’m OK with Onward, even though it’s a chain…but just not Walmart or CVS. That I am not OK with.”