Supporting our local economy through its small businesses
There’s something nostalgic about a steaming cup of bitter coffee from a diner. It’s not nearly as luxurious as a venti caramel macchiato with whipped cream from Starbucks, but sometimes a simple coffee is all you need to feel at home. And while we’re at college, that extra touch of hominess is the perfect remedy for the stress that accompanies the upcoming end of the semester.
Small, local restaurants are the best place for a heaping plate of food when you’re in dire need of an overwhelming amount of carbs and leftovers for tomorrow. Even though our generation gets a reputation for craving a fancy or Instagrammable meal, we also embrace the college student side of us that loves cheap, quality food. What could possibly be more appetizing than a classic American burger loaded with fresh fries on the side, especially at 2 a.m. when all other restaurants are closed?
As students especially, we’re often drawn to small restaurants for this comfortable atmosphere. We want a place to go study without the worry of getting rushed out the door. It’s about finding the perfect spot to settle in for our long list of homework stretching ahead.
One of St. Joe’s students’ favorite small diners, Llanerch is reopening soon after renovations. Famous for its cameo in the movie “Silver Linings Playbook,” Llanerch Diner is a cozy place for students who need their fill of pancakes or a homey meal 24/7. It’s the simplicity of local places like this that we love.
Of course, there are other classic, small restaurants around St. Joe’s that define part of our experience as students in Philadelphia. We couldn’t imagine a campus without Landmark Americana restaurant right next door for quizzo amd 50 cent wings on Tuesdays. We also have Larry’s Steaks for our late-night cheesesteak cravings.
These small tastes of local culture offer a unique touch to the busy city streets and late nights at college. They’re places to escape for a moment with friends from the stresses of campus and school.
As students, most of whom live on campus and away from their hometowns, these small businesses and restaurants around our campus help us recreate a feeling of home here at school. Our campus sits in between several communities, each with a distinct culture, history and heritage. Our campus is divided over Philadelphia and Montgomery counties by City Avenue, but that alone doesn’t begin to express the diversity between the areas we live in at St. Joe’s.
The communities on the Main Line simultaneously offer thriving historical districts and health-conscious #MillennialBait coffee shops and lunch spots, many of which are small businesses. The Llanerch Diner sits in Upper Darby, a working-class town in Delaware Country with a rich history of immigrants who settled in the town in the late 1600s.
The sprawling sections of Philadelphia each teem with business districts whose storefronts are filled by small-businesses owned by residents, even amidst the growing presence of chains and big business. Some of the neighborhoods closest to us, including Manayunk, Fairmount and Overbrook have found a special place in the hearts of the students here at St. Joe’s.
The small businesses in each of these neighborhoods help make-up the rich fabric of the culture here in the Philadelphia area, and patronizing the businesses in the areas around campus is one way we can become more connected to the communities. Communities can thrive when their small and locally-owned businesses thrive. Spending our money at local businesses keeps profit local and encourages further investment by local business owners. By choosing to support these businesses over chains, we can help keep economic growth centered around the residents of the neighborhoods we live in and reverse the takeover by multinational corporations occurring in so many corners of the country.
In a more formal way, St. Joe’s helps contribute to small businesses and the local economy through The Initiative for Family Business and Entrepreneurship, a program that offers education, networking and other opportunities to families who own a business and who apply to the program. At a school with such a prominent business school, this program is a recognition of both the importance of small and family-owned business in our economy, but also the unique challenges that families can face in keeping their businesses afloat.
It’s important to support local businesses around St. Joe’s, because we recognize the mutual benefits. These restaurants we all have come to love provide a place for students to explore Philadelphia localities and culture. At the same time, our campus helps support the local businesses around us.
Keep exploring our area and its vast business community. In doing so, we’ll encourage even more local investment in the area’s economy and connect with the community. If we get a good meal and a thoughtful conversation with a fellow community member, then it’s a win-win.
– The Hawk Staff
