DOWNTOWN FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) – You may have seen fewer people in store aisles today. Across the nation, February 28, 2025, marked a day of avoiding major retailers in an ‘economic blackout.’ The nationwide protest encouraged consumers to not spend money at all, or, to shop locally.
The blackout stems from consumer concerns regarding high prices and the power large corporations hold. Others are boycotting companies who recently rolled back their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies.
Today, protestors flipped the script and supported the underdogs. Small, local shops in downtown Fargo prepared for the day.
Lauryn Schneider, Store Manager of Primp Boutique, said, “At Primp, we focus so much on making sure that everybody who comes through the door feels really, really welcome. We want to make it feel like you’re shopping with your best friend!”
Their downtown Fargo location has been open for 10 months, and each day, they strive to make guests feel comfortable and taken care of, something large retailers often cannot provide.
Nicole Kolbe manages Kindred People, another downtown Fargo boutique, and said, “Big box stores, big chains, and big enterprises that are faceless entities just cannot offer a one-on-one experience where you feel loved and cared for.”
These managers agree – shopping local are experiences you just can’t get anywhere else. Often times, supporting small businesses means more than one might think.
“Each time you shop small, you might be helping someones’ child go to college, or you might be helping someone pay their mortgage,” Kolbe added.
The epitome of helping those in the community sits on First Avenue, downtown Fargo. First Avenue Market is a one-stop shop for all things local.
Owner, Matt Estin, explained, “We’ve grown from having just like a dozen local businesses in here, now we have over 70.” Each year, they grow both their products and community connections. “We want to be more than a market, we’re here to be a family. A lot of our vendors come through popping in and out,” he added.
Popping in to visit on this blackout day was a family-run game company. First Avenue Market offers several Pointy Stick board games, who said the impacts of small businesses, like their own, are sacred.
Pointy Stick Games Co-owner, Jeremy Meyers, said, “There’s a story behind these games and there’s a story behind these local shops. There’s real people involved and for us, that’s the core of what we enjoy about these games. Those moments with your family and friends are exactly what you can get at shops like this.”
The economic blackout today, February 28, lasts until the end of the day at 11:59 p.m. Online sources said today’s blackout may not be the last, as other groups across the country are discussing organizing longer blackouts, and some that target specific companies.
For more information on these downtown businesses, you can find their websites here:
Primp Boutique: https://primp-boutique.com/
Kindred People: https://shopkindredpeople.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorE1md62gQSENssPJwIP_k4718T2VXcUExXyD7QsOnN676PxSK5
First Avenue Market: https://www.firstavenuemarket.com/
Pointy Stick Games: https://pointystickgames.com/
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