Shop Local 2016

Thursday, June 23, 2016 Go Online to view this section!

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Shop Local — The Pantagraph, Thursday, June 23, 2016

www.Pantagraph.com

O’Brien MitsuBishi is the PeOPle’s ChOiCe! O’Brien Mitsubishi is proud to be McLean County’s “Local” car dealer. Supporting the campaign has been extremely important to O’Brien Mitsubishi knowing how much it impacts the community we live in. We are so blessed to do business in this wonderful community, and we want nothing more than to see our local commerce grow. Shopping local helps so many facets of our community.

It helps our schools, roads, public servants, and all of the employees of local businesses.

It safe guards the community we live in. It’s about creating a sustainable cycle of quality living for all of us. That’s what is all about.

We understand that you can’t expect all people to shop local just for the sake of it. We all work hard for the money we earn, and we all have the right to spend it where we want. If you can receive excellent service and a fair price at a local business, then buying local makes a lot more sense. O’Brien Mitsubishi has a great reputation in this community for providing exactly that and more. We want to provide the highest level of service, a quality product, at a fair price to all. Keep that in mind when shopping for your next vehicle. Come on by and meet our staff and see what O’Brien Mitsubishi is all about. We love to serve our community and help people make good, educated decisions to improve their lives. We will help you

O’BRIEN MITSUBISHI 1601 Fort Jesse Road • Normal, Illinois 309.454.1222 • www.obrienteamnormal.com

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Shop Local — The Pantagraph, Thursday, June 23, 2016

SHOP LOCAL | LOCAL BENEFITS

Help Your Community

S

hopping local is the easiest way to help your community thrive.

When you shop at local stores, it creates and sustains local jobs and helps provide unique shopping options for your community.

Plus, supporting local merchants over major retailers is proven to keep substantially more money in your own community.

HOW MUCH DOES IT HELP? According to the research firm Civic Economics, for every $100 you spend in a local business, approximately $68 stays in your community.

When shopping at a local branch of a chain store, just $43 remains in the community. Yes, both purchases certainly help by keeping tax revenue in your town, so the local government can do everything from pave roads to keeping the sewer functioning properly. But for maximum bang for your buck, its hard to beat the local corner store.

HELPING AVOID ‘GHOST TOWNS’ A shift has occurred over the past several decades, as the main shopping focus shifted away from the downtown core of most towns and into larger shopping centers built on the outskirts (largely due to the available space needed to build large developments). That’s not a bad thing, when done in balance, but the New Economics Foundation notes it can sometimes result in downtowns becoming “ghost towns” over time, as shoppers stop supporting local stores and they eventually have to shutter.

NEF researcher David Boyle said via TIME that “Money is like blood.

It needs to keep moving around to keep the economy going. It flows out, like a wound.”

IT’S WORTH THE TRADEOFF Yes, the product at the big box retailer might be a bit cheaper, but NEF researcher David Boyle told TIME that supporting local businesses can be a way to “shift the balance” to keep both local and national options available. Everyone likes variety, right?

Though it might cost a bit more on the front end, Boyle noted that buying local can have those massive community benefits on the back end, from tax support to keeping a downtown viable for future business growth.

© FOTOLIA

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Shop Local — The Pantagraph, Thursday, June 23, 2016

www.Pantagraph.com

Something to Feel good About Reassured your parents are being cared for by our caregivers who have been helping clients for Over 20 years

Call us today for a free consultation BLOOMINGTON – When Clay Dooley borrowed $500 from the old Corn Belt Bank, the rubber met the road.

Clay Dooley opened as a tire business on July 4, 1917, in the 400 block of West Washington Street. Today, Clay Dooley has two stores and offers full-service auto work including engine tune-ups, transmissions, air conditioning, brakes, mufflers, and shocks.

And yes, tires.

The locally owned business has no problem competing with big box or chain stores. “I guess that’s because of the service,” said Brian Trower, whose father Vern worked handin-glove with Dooley. “Customer service and customer relations, and know what we’re selling.”

Brian and his three siblings – Dave, Ruth and Steve – coown the business, each with more than 25 years experience.

The growing business moved several times and is now located at 307 E. Grove St., and they have a second location on East Vernon Avenue.

Clay Dooley was recently honored by being inducted into the Route 66 Hall of Fame.

307 E. Grove St., Bloomington; 309-828-5037 Open 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri. 1507 E. Vernon Ave., Bloomington; 309-662-2886 Open 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat.

A licensed home services agency

Locally owned • Insured • RN supervised

Bloomington • (309) 828-1516 Pontiac • (815) 844-2400 www.acaringtouch.info

If you are looking for exceptional home decor items or if you are searching for a special gift that you won’t find anywhere else, come to Beyond Normal, LLC! We offer both vintage and new home decor items and furniture pieces that will help you create truly wonderful spaces. Add over 25 artisans whose creations and products are featured at Beyond Normal, you will enjoy a truly unique shopping experience!

Bigger Things to Come! Moving to a Larger Location In Uptown Normal. In September Come Visit Us At 112 North Street.

HOURS: Tuesday-Saturday 10 am - 6:00 pm 112 E. Beaufort St., Normal; 309-451-1473 www.beyondnormalllc.com “Come See Us On Facebook”

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Shop Local — The Pantagraph, Thursday, June 23, 2016

A TrAdiTion of CAring – HomeTown friendly, fAmily-owned

Hearing aids designed to keep up witH your life.

Mary kay Brewster owner

deanna ginder-west M.s. CCC-a audiologist

As a patient once put it, “I came looking for hearing aids and found family,” said Mary Kay Brewster, co-owner of Always H.E.A.R Hearing Center in Bloomington and Peoria.

The Always H.E.A.R Hearing Center at 2101 Eastland Drive Suite F in Bloomington (309-664-6200), is owned by Kevin and Mary Kay Brewster, who 10 years ago this July, brought seven years of experience in the hearing aid industry to Bloomington.

Always H.E.A.R (Always Helping Ears Achieve Renewed-hearing) works with its patients to build relationships, along with a lifetime commitment of hearing made easy.

Bringing their patients the latest technology at an affordable rate and mixing it with unmatched customer service is a priority the Brewsters and their Audiologist Deanna Ginder-West work toward every day.

kevin Brewster owner

“It’s all about helping people,” said Kevin.

The staff is trained to work with the most up-to-date industry products from several brands of hearing aids based on an individual's specific need.

“Our main manufacturer is NuEar, which is a high quality Starkey Brand, and we also have other exceptionally good options, including Unitron, GN Resound and Siemens,” said Kevin. They also offer discounts on hearing aid brands not included in their brand lineup to create and ensure that worry-free atmosphere for all their patients.

Always H.E.A.R also offers their patients free follow-up visits, free adjustments, free hearing aid cleanings for life, as well as a battery club for fresh batteries at wholesale prices and a discounted hearing aid repair program to fulfill customer needs.

families, giving them the ability to purchase hearing aids. “Although some insurance companies do cover the cost of hearing aids, most don’t. Give the Gift of Hearing donations help us to help those who couldn’t otherwise afford hearing aids,” said Kevin and Mary Kay.

Audiologist Deanna Ginder-West and Kevin (Certified Dispenser) offer free hearing tests for their patients.

“Different people have different needs when it comes to their hearing loss and offering options to our patients enables us to provide a custom solution to their needs,” added Kevin.

AlwaysH.E.A.RHearingCenterhasrecently started a new program they call Give the Gift of Hearing. This program enables donations through www.givethegiftofhearing.com that are then dispersed to low-income

Always H.E.A.R is celebrating its 10-year anniversary this summer and is looking forward to continuing to serve the Bloomington-Normal community to ensure hearing comes easy to everyone, every day.

2101 eastland drive, suite f Bloomington, il 61704

(on the corner of Eastland and Williamsburg at the Eastland Park Plaza)

309-664-6200

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Shop Local — The Pantagraph, Thursday, June 23, 2016

www.Pantagraph.com

Sewing Studio has been serving the Bloomington-Normal sewing community since 1983. Featured are quality quilting and fashion fabrics, and a wide selection of notions, threads and sewing supplies. Sewing Studio is your local authorized BERNINA and Husqvarna Viking sewing machine dealer. We offer repair service on all makes and models of machines. Classes for kids, quilting, and beginning sewing are offered.

Stop in for some good old-fashioned advice from our experienced and knowledgeable staff.

1503 E. College Ave., Suite C Normal, IL (309) 452-7313 Hours: Mon-Fri: 9:30-6 Sat: 9:30-5 Sun: 12-4 e-mail: nsewstu@mindspring.com www.sewingstudionormal.com

BESTof R E A D E R S’

CHOICE AWARDS

BLOOMINGTON/NORMAL

ANTAGRAPH THE P 2016

YOUR CITY. YOUR CHOICE. Vote for your favorites on everything from burgers to bowling alleys. Go to pantagraph.com/readerschoice to vote.

Hurry, voting ends June 28!

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Shop Local — The Pantagraph, Thursday, June 23, 2016

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AuTO’s 4 Less eNcOurAGes cOMMuNITy TO Buy LOcAL

NOw AccepTING

credIT cArds

Auto’s 4 less inc

Warranty’s Available!

“Buy And Save Lowest Pr

ices Guaranteed”

“Quality Auto’s, Alway

s Less”

BLOOMINGTON — After years working in the auto industry, Gabe Van decided to open Auto's 4 Less Inc. car dealership in 2013 in Bloomington.

The business, at 1302 S. Main St., sells used cars and offers custom rim and tire packages.

“Auto’s 4 Less Inc. was founded on trust, integrity and respect. We are proud to offer these values in our sales and business practices so our customers keep coming back,” said Van. To Van, the biggest difference between his business and other dealerships is the low prices he offers.

“Our prices are primarily $6,000 and under with a few options that are higher. We get a lot of shoppers from other states because our prices are so good,” he said.

All of the cars at the dealerships are test driven, inspected and serviced before being sold. Van said

the dealership, which usually has about 45 cars on the lot, caters to people looking for a good deal.

“We get a lot of first-time car buyers or just people looking for cheaper, reliable cars,” he said.

Shopping local is important to Van and his four employees.

“I try to advertise good prices so people in the community will stay here to shop for cars locally. It helps keep the money in our community instead of elsewhere,” he said.

Auto's 4 Less is having a Customer Appreciation Day on July 2 with snacks, drinks and free T-shirts.

And, the dealership is opening a second location soon for Full Detailing, Tire and Automotive Service at 1505 Circle Ave., also in Bloomington.

Visit www.autos4lessinc.com to view the dealership's inventory.

VIsIT eITher Of Our LOcATIONs IN BLOOMINGTON fOr BuyING ANd repAIrs

Auto's 4 Less

Repair Shop 1505 Circle Ave., Bloomington IL

Auto's 4 Less

Car Lot 1302 S Main St., Bloomington IL

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Shop Local — The Pantagraph, Thursday, June 23, 2016

www.Pantagraph.com

Whitacre’s Furniture

A Family Owned Business Selling Amish Wood Furniture At Whitacre’s Furniture, you buy it once and enjoy it forever… the way furniture should be made. For more than 24 years this locally owned furniture store has featured quality, handcrafted solid hardwood furniture. The furniture at Whitacre’s is built by Amish craftsmen in Holmes and Wayne Counties in northeast Ohio.

stained and finished with a premium catalyzed varnish.

Staining

Sanding Quality, choice, flexibility and service are just a few of the reasons Whitacre’s Furniture has attracted so many loyal customers over the years. Their 20,000 square foot showroom features a wide variety of beautiful dining room, bedroom, living room, office and family room furniture.

Whitacre’s also carries children’s furniture and Amish made polyvinyl outdoor furniture. The staff at Whitacre’s can work with customers to create custom pieces to suit their style and space.

Customers can choose the species of hardwood, the stain color and the hardware for each of their pieces. The furniture arrives at the shop unfinished where it is then sanded,

Rick, Gwyn, Chuck and Helen Whitacre, and their 12 employees are very proud to provide Central Illinois with high quality, affordable, hardwood furniture built in America. Located in Hudson, only minutes north of Bloomington-Normal, the Whitacre Family would like to personally invite you to stop by their showroom to view their large selection of Amish made furniture.

Finishing

Whitacre’s Furniture 704 S. Broadway, Hudson • 309-726-1305

Hours: Monday – Saturday 9am -5pm; Sunday 12pm-5pm On the Net: www.WhitacresFurniture.com or visit us on Facebook