When travelling to another country, it’s often presumed that tourists want to look for big businesses that they recognize. This is a problem. Big businesses often take the money that local businesses need to stay in business.

With endorsing local businesses, tourists often get a personal touch of the area. If the employee and tourists are able to communicate well, local restaurants and stores can be recommended to the tourists. For example, Niagara Falls State Park brings tourists from all over the world. Local businesses often try to advertise as much as they can around that area to convince tourists to become frequent visitors.

The Orange Cat Coffee Company is rated 4.8 out of 5 and is one of the best local coffee shops in Western New York. Orange Cat offers a unique and exclusive look to how local businesses are flourishing. The inside of the cafe is decorated minimally with local artists’ renditions of ‘orange cats’ and lots of mismatched furniture. Orange Cat has created a homey and comfortable environment for the locals and tourists alike. The baristas are welcoming and joyful as they recommend specialty coffees at low prices and keep lines short with quick service.

College students from local universities come to work on homework, but the mornings are ruled by the regulars. All sipping on coffee, not realizing they have more in common than they thought, the customers come and go like the tide. Some times are busier than others, of course, but the steady flow helps keep the atmosphere of the back lounge room energetic and the front a more calm and focused.

Customers can buy the coffee beans of their choice, along with vegan goodies and assorted snacks that are freshly made each day or locally produced – be there early, though, they sell out quick! Also offered are logo decorated reusable coffee mugs, hats and stickers; local olive oils from D’Avolio are offered for sampling and to purchase along with other fantastic things from the area like honey.

By supporting local businesses over franchises or chain restaurants, the local economy is boosted, thus improving the quality of goods and services that are offered. Whereas endorsing big corporations, customers lose the personal touch of visiting a small town with eyesores and big parking lots. Big corporations also use more materials and shipping for products, which local businesses do not and thus leads to less environmental impact.

Reducing the amount of waste in this area is crucial for the wildlife and welfare of the surrounding community, especially with an environment as unique as Lewiston. Another hot take for tourists is Artpark – a concert venue that also is a state park with many hiking trails and beautiful views. Most of the trails run along the river or above it, showing off the beautiful gorge that people want to call home.