Shop Local!!!

Korrin B.

January 21, 2009 - 2:56 PM

I think I am going to start a shop local campaign in Eugene, Oregon. Local stores often have slightly higher prices than corporate chain stores, but with that aside, the local stores are so much better in so many ways. I have been trying to get more acquainted with Eugene this term and in an attempt to do so, I have been diving into the local business scene. I am so happy that I have. Eugene has some truly unique locations and shops to explore. I feel as though many people in Eugene get sidetracked and just find themselves at Safeway, Fred Meyer, Wal-Mart, Target, Costco, Applebee's, Chili's, Olive Garden, or one of the many other chain stores offered here. However, there are stores all over Eugene that offer the exact same services and in a more mellow way. Therefore, I would like to share my adventure through the local scene with everyone and encourage them to do the same. Whenever I explore a new store, I am going to write about it in my blog. During hard economic times like these, I think that it is increasingly important to support local business owners, as they are often hit the hardest. Every dollar spent at a local business helps to boost the local economy and is overall more sustainable.

This particular blog post will be dedicated to coffee houses. Last weekend, I did a Google business search and made a list of all of the locally owned coffee houses in Eugene. I plan to go to each and every one of them in order to take note of the unique vibes each one possesses. I love coffee houses. I think they are absolutely fabulous. They always have great energy and are an awesome place to socialize, people watch, or just take some peaceful time with a warm beverage. Why go to Starbucks or Dutch Bros. though when you can find a perfect, quaint little coffee house, tucked away in Eugene, beaming with the perfect ambiance? The other day, I went to three different coffee houses in one day and soaked in what made each of them special.

My first stop was at Perugino in downtown. Perugino was an absolutely lovely little café. They have several types of teas and coffees, as well as a large selection of wines by the glass. Perugino seems like the perfect alternative for people who are twenty-one and over who the bar scene doesn't really appeal to. It is a great place to sit down with a friend and relax and converse over a beverage. It is not very loud and there are plenty of tables in all different sizes, so if you need to spread out your notes and study, there is room for that. They also have a menu with some tasty foods on it. I sat in Perugino for a couple of hours doing my Greek homework. I had an amazingly delicious turkey, spinach, pesto panini and a warm chai. Perugino is the perfect place for a mellow downtown experience.

A bit out of downtown is a little place called Nib's Dessert and Wine Bar. This place has a large case full of exotic chocolates. They are amazing. Each of their chocolates looks like a little piece of art. They are each perfectly decorated, many with different shimmering colors across the tops. The flavors of the chocolates are so unique. There are chocolates that have chili in them. Others have green tea infused into them. I tried one chocolate that had a sweet jelly inside of it that was made from heirloom tomatoes. Another delicious one was a lavender and honey with white chocolate. This was a very quiet, low-key place. It isn't the greatest for doing work on a laptop, but it seems like the perfect place to meet a friend.

My final stop was actually right next door to Nib's. This is a place I have been several times before and just have to keep coming back because it is just that amazing. It is called the Sweet Life Patisserie. The first time I walked into the doors of the Sweet Life it was like I had died and gone to dessert heaven. I was overwhelmed with all of the amazing choices they had of cakes, pies, cheesecakes, brownies, ice cream, and more. The staff is wonderful and very friendly. The atmosphere is perfect for just about anything. I have studied for finals at the Sweet Life. I have also journaled or brought my laptop to work on my blogs there. I have met up with friends there for some good conversation. The Sweet Life is just one of those overall great places with a wonderful, lively vibe.

Perugino, Nib's, and the Sweet Life are just three of the several amazing, local little coffee houses and businesses in Eugene. They are the types of places that you will miss out on if you just can't break out of your Starbucks bubble. I really hope more students, parents, and visitors of Eugene start going to these places. I think the community around the university is an imperative ingredient in creating the special essence of the Oregon Ducks.