Ways to Support Local Businesses in Los Angeles

With cases of coronavirus on the rise in Los Angeles, Mayor Garcetti issued a "safer at home" mandate this week that non-essential businesses will be closed, events cancelled and restaurants will switch to takeout and delivery only.

Many small businesses and event workers (wedding planners, photographers, etc.) are taking a huge hit financially from events being cancelled and postponed. 

Here's how to support Los Angeles' local businesses:

Order Takeout and Delivery from your Favorite Restaurants, Bakeries and Coffee Shops
Follow dining establishments in your neighborhood on Instagram so you can stay updated on whether or not they are open and offering takeout and delivery. Use Grubhub, Postmates, Caviar, ChowNow, etc. to give your favorite restaurants some much-needed business and enjoy a delicious meal at home that you won't have to cook for yourself.

Subscribe or Order Coffee from a Coffee Shop
I'm not sure how many other coffee shops are offering this service, but I know for sure that you can buy a subscription or a bag or two of coffee beans from Bar Nine and Go Get Em Tiger. Visit the website of your roaster of choice to see if they offer this option.

Subscribe or Buy Wine Online
One of my favorite wine shops in Los Angeles is Vinovore. They feature amazing wines from female winemakers. Either shop online for a few bottles or join the Wolfpack Wine Club to receive 2-4 bottles of wine per month right at your doorstep. If you like wine from a specific winery, check out their website to see if they deliver. 

Buy a Bunch of Gift Cards
Either use them throughout the year or give them as gifts to family and friends. Think of buying gift cards sort of like an investment in keeping your favorite spots going until you can return. You can also buy a bond for a local restaurant to dine at a future date. Check out the map of participating restaurants at SupportingRestaurants.org.

Get Your Pantry Staples at Local Shops Rather Than Chains
Many restaurants and bakeries have either switched their dining rooms to grocery shops to sell their excess pantry items or they've converted to delivery only. For example, you can order baked goods plus water, pizza dough, flour, butter and eggs for delivery from Breadologie. If you're looking for meats, pasta, salad kits, local produce, toilet paper and wine, you can find it all at Tesse Restaurant. Because many of these restaurants have relationships with farmers and producers, they have access to items that might be sold out in stores.

Stock Up on Chocolate
Chocolate is good for the heart and the soul. Eating dark chocolate has also been shown to increase levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which may help reduce the stress that leads to anxiety. My favorite Los Angeles chocolatiers are Letterpress Chocolate and Compartes Chocolate, both of which are fulfilling online orders. 

Some More Online Shops of my Favorite Local Stores/Brands:
King's Roost for flour, soap, candles, whole grains and flour mills.
Naked Hippie Snacks for vegan snacks bars that are high in protein and fiber and last for months.
Artisanal LA and Echo Park Craft Fair for Los Angeles artisans and makers. Check out their pages for unique art, jewelry, treats, wellness products made by locals whose livelihoods are severely impacted by shops closing and events being cancelled.