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You’ve probably heard the saying “small businesses are the backbone of the economy.” 

It’s true, and they’re also so much more, including places to connect with the community.

Locally-owned businesses can only succeed if people shop local. Nowadays, that often means choosing not to shop for convenience or bottom dollar bargains from mega-stores and companies like Amazon, Walmart or Target.

With all this in mind, some people are using their wallets to show where they stand. The grassroots group The People’s Union USA urged people to participate in an “economic blackout” last week, with the goal of uniting Americans to ​​regain control of the economy, the government and the country’s future, according to its website.

Today on The Metro, we’re talking to local small business owners about the importance of supporting local economies and independently owned stores. 

Guests: 

• Catharine Batsios: Member-owner/community programmer at Book Suey Bookshop Co-op in Hamtramck.
• Rachel Lutz: Founder/owner of The Peacock Room, a place where you’ll find dresses, accessories, jewelry and so much more in inclusive sizes.
• Dan Radomski: He leads Centrepolis Accelerator at Lawrence Technological University. The program supports small to mid-sized manufacturers and people creating hardtech – products that combine hardware and software to solve a problem.

We also asked listeners:

“How often do you shop at locally-owned businesses? Is it a question of cost, convenience, or something else?”

Alberta in Detroit said: “My first priority is to shop Detroit and to shop Black Detroit. Anything else is akin to cutting my nose to spite my face. We must support where we live.”

Use the media player above to listen to the full conversation.

Also on The Metro, we revisited conversations with local businesses in Detroit: 

• Source Booksellers owners Janet Webster and Alyson Jones Turner joined the show in January to talk about the bookstore’s programming, author discussions and other events where avid readers and new readers can connect. Listen to the conversation below at the 01:41 mark.

• Temple Bar owner George Boukas joined The Metro to discuss the restoration process after the popular community spot partially collapsed in May. Temple bar reopened in December.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

Subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

While it does not feel like spring, warmer days and Detroit Tigers baseball are on the way. The Tigers started pre-season baseball in Lakeland, Florida this weekend, having two wins in their first two games. 

Today on The Metro, we’re turning back the clock on some favorite Tigers memories and looking ahead to 2025 Major League Baseball Opening Day. 

Guests:

• Josh Tebeau: A Romeo Middle School Teacher and Detroit Tigers superfan. He was invited onto the field to celebrate with the team when they clinched a wild card spot in 2024.
• Shawn Windsor: A sports columnist for the Detroit Free Press. He is also the co-host of the Free Press Sports with Carlos and Shawn Podcast. 

We also asked listeners:

“What’s your favorite Tiger’s memory?”

Harold in Detroit said: “I can remember, I think it was 1966 or 1967, my brother took me down to Tiger Stadium. In my first game, I saw the New York Yankees. Tigers won a game and Danny McLean pitched for the Tigers.”

Use the media player above to listen to the full conversation.

More headlines from The Metro on Feb. 24, 2025: 

• Executive Director of Ed Trust-Midwest Amber Arellano joined the show to discuss the role of the Department of Education and the impacts potential federal funding cuts could have. Ed Trust-Midwest is a non-partisan organization working to level the playing field for vulnerable students in Michigan. 

• Highland Park is a city circled by Detroit. The small city’s decline is in sharp contrast to Detroit’s revival. Detroit Documenters have been attending Highland Park City Council meetings to understand exactly what kinds of challenges local leaders are prioritizing. Metro producer Jack Filbrandt sat down with Detroit Documenters Coordinator Noah Kincade and Documenter Sherrie Smith to learn more. 

• Renaissance High School boys and girls basketball teams won the city PSL championships earlier this month. Chris Bass is one of several coaches and supporters of women’s sports who wants to see a shift in sports journalism coverage, with more spotlight on women and girls in sports. He joined The Metro to talk about the win, coaching the girls team and pushing girls in sports to the front page.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.