Locally-Owned Businesses Fuel the Garwood Economy

They create jobs, make-up a large part of the local economy and add vibrancy to the borough. When is the last time you went out of your way to support Garwood's local, independent merchants, ie: not CVS, McDonalds or ShopRite? Al's prime meats, owned by the Rimondi Family is a prime example.
Owned and operated by the same family for more than 20 years Al's remains an anchor to the North Avenue side of Downtown. Research shows that when you shop locally more of your dollars stay in the community. In contrast, when you shop at the chains, your money is siphoned right out of town to a corporate headquarters in Not-Garwood, USA. The locals, like Al's, can compete with the big boys if consumers make it a point to shop in borough independents, especially if they offer up deals. Local independents also need to keep quality top-notch, and service impeccable, especially when dealing with residents in the Garwood community.

Some questions to ponder: 
Can Garwood be a hotbed of hotbeds for small businesses and local entrepreneurs? Is there something local goverment can do? As Westfield and Cranford become pricier can Garwood be a more affordable alternative for start-ups?