People would say, “Oh, we wish there were more clothing stores in Albert Lea.”

But then they went shopping online instead of at the clothing stores in Albert Lea. And now, the city has fewer clothing stores.

We cannot say it enough: Shop local.

When you shop at local stores, the money stays in the community. Even when you shop at chain stores, at least there are paychecks staying in the community.

And for the longest time, people wished Albert Lea had a downtown coffee shop like Owatonna and Austin. Now that it has one, coffee drinkers ought to frequent Prairie Winds Coffee. Not only because it is tasty coffee, it is supporting a local business.

The same goes for many, many local businesses. Spend your money here.