Following weeks of protests and international news coverage surrounding Ferguson, small businesses there are carrying on. Hoping to help, St. Louis-based video producer Bill Streeter created an online movement with a brick-and-mortar purpose: the Ferguson Buy-In.
“The idea was to encourage people to go up there, spend a little money, have dinner,” Streeter says. “There are small businesses struggling that weren’t doing that great before this happened."
A Facebook page for Streeter’s event shows thousands invited, with hundreds saying they plan to visit Ferguson businesses. The comments provide a veritable guide to the neighborhood, with people calling out favorite restaurants, bars, bike shops...
“I’ve been trying to encourage people to patronize small businesses that don’t have corporate money backing them,” Streeter says. In addition to promoting the idea on social media, he's utilized Yelp.
And Streeter and his family are taking action themselves. Last weekend, they visited Ferguson Burger Bar & More, as well as Whistle Stop Depot, a one-time train station converted into a custard stand. Residents of Ferguson welcomed them with open arms: “People are warm and happy to see you.”
