About: A ZipsGuide to
Shopping Small & Local In Akron
Media outlets have permission to use the content of this site like a news release. Expand to learn more ->
The content of this website was created by students in the Fall 2023 Public Relations writing course at The Univeristy of Akron. Any of the information on this website may be used the way a feature news release would be used. If a significant portion of a student's work is used, a byline will help them build their professional writing portfolio.
For high resolution images to run with a story about shopping small in Akron or to reach any of the businesses featured in the guide, contact Professor Julie Cajigas at julieca@uakron.edu for additional media information.
Created as part of a Community Engaged Learning Partnership between:
Professor of Practice, Julie Cajigas and Director of Communications for the Downtown Akron Partnership, Dominic Caruso plan this experience at an EX[L] workshop for community partnerships. Photos by Julie Cajigas.
About this Guide:
The Zips Guide to Shopping Small & Local in the Rubber City is a community engaged learning project that was completed by students in the Fall 2023 Public Relations Writing course offered in The School of Communication at The University of Akron.
It is intended to serve as a shopping guide where people across the Northeast Ohio region can encounter Akron's unique family of small businesses and shops as well as to serve as a media kit for media outlets who are telling stories about Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Artist Sunday and shopping local small businesses.
Students were able to choose the small businesses they wanted to research and recommend as part of the guide. The class was aided by its collaborative partner, Downtown Akron Partnership.
Why did the partners select this project?
“Shopping is a pretty key component to a vibrant downtown neighborhood for a number of reasons,” Downtown Akron Partnership communications director Dominic Caruso said. “One reason is it cultivates more local businesses: money that you spend at locally owned businesses tends to continue to circulate in the community, providing a big boost to the local economy.”
From there, it’s a cascade effect. Successful small businesses attract more small and larger businesses because the customer base exists to support them.
“Shopping is also important to the character and culture of the downtown community: attractive, vibrant storefronts promote foot traffic, which is nice because Main St. has been newly redeveloped to accommodate a great pedestrian experience,” Caruso said.
Because downtown has amazing anchor institutions and attractions like the Akron Civic Theatre, the Towpath Trail, Akron Art Museum, The RubberDucks, a big beautiful public library and more, having an exciting, attractive shopping ecosystem fills in the spaces in between the institutions.
“Now people have reasons to spend more time downtown: you can take in a show at the Civic and get something to eat at The Lockview, and do some shopping at Unknwn,” Caruso said. “Or, if you visit Lock 3 for a summer concert, you can also get snacks at the Peanut Shoppe, or spend a little time doing a craft workshop at Street Craftery.”
“Now people have reasons to spend more time downtown: you can take in a show at the Civic and get something to eat at The Lockview, and do some shopping at Unknwn,” Caruso said. “Or, if you visit Lock 3 for a summer concert, you can also get snacks at the Peanut Shoppe, or spend a little time doing a craft workshop at Street Craftery.”
The shopping guide highlights the ability to combine downtown experiences in its “Gift a Night Out” section that offers several itinerary options the students’ selected because they themselves enjoy them. And, who is cooler than college students?
“No one, really,” Professor of Practice Julie Cajigas said. “The students have good taste and they’ve done a wonderful job showcasing the stories behind the small businesses that make up the fabric of our community. We hope that the city will support them and shop local.”
A strong business community means a stronger community overall with opportunity for all its residents.
Where does one buy a gift for downtown’s influencer-in-chief, Dominic Caruso?
“Northside Marketplace is a fun place for gifts, because it's always a surprise,” he said. “The marketplace has something like 140 local vendors, so if someone were to get me a gift from there, the surprise factor goes way up!”
The Peanut Shoppe is a good place to find a little treat for Caruso, and he’s also partial to taking in a show at The Nightlight.
“I’m also starting to get into attractive sneakers,” he said, “although, I’m not a collector by any means, so Unknwn is also really cool.”
He added, “Maybe too cool for me!”
So, if you want to treat one of the hardest working professional Akron afficionados in the business, take note Akronites.
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Downtown Akron Partnership Announces Downtown Dollars E-Gift Card Program > read more here.