‘A movement, not just a moment’

The recent overwhelming support of Yankee Doodle Dandy’s and Dang BBQ in Islip hamlet has shown that when small local businesses are in need, Islip residents show up.

To maintain the momentum and to reinforce that supporting local businesses is a movement, not just a moment, Going Local Long Island and chef Mike Landesberg, of Jackson Hall American Bar and Grill, are launching a new initiative: Going Local Week.

From Monday, March 24 to Sunday, March 30, small local businesses in the Islip community will be individually offering unique discount deals, encouraging community members to shop local—and save a few bucks. Going Local Week is similar to Long Island Restaurant week, but for small businesses! The initiative includes florists, spas, photographers, mechanics, restaurants, and so much more.

Over 70 local businesses will be participating, each offering a unique discount. For a full list of participating businesses and to see what deals will be offered, visit www.goinglocal.li/goinglocal-week-in-islip-a-celebration-of-community-and-small-business/. To ensure you receive your discount from the participating businesses, be sure to mention that you are there for Going Local Week.

To those that know Mike Landesberg, it is no surprise that he is behind the initiative. Landesberg has always paid it forward, though after recovering from breast cancer four years ago and receiving an astonishing amount of support from strangers, he vowed to be there for others and support his community in any way he can.

“People know me as a chef who reviews other restaurants. I post videos, and I try to promote people all the time,” shared Landesberg. “I have always been an advocate for supporting local and supporting small businesses. For me it is never about a competition. It is really a camaraderie.”

He most recently used his platforms to spread awareness that local restaurants Yankee Doodle Dandy’s and Dang BBQ needed the community’s support. Both received a powerful new wave of customers, allowing them to keep their doors open. Since then, dozens of businesses from across Long Island have reached out to Landesberg for help.

To bring awareness to the need to shop local, Landesberg teamed up with Melissa Farrell from Going Local LI to launch the Going Local Week initiative. The pair decided to start in Islip since there has been so much attention and awareness toward the need to support local businesses lately. To make sure going local is a movement and not a moment, Going Local Long Island and Landesberg are looking to continue the initiative from town to town each month, or perhaps plan a Going Local week for all of Long Island.

While Going Local Week in Islip will benefit everyone—consumers will save money and businesses will receive exposure—Long Islanders need to make an avid effort to support small businesses as much as possible, year-round. While shopping at huge corporations like Amazon may be convenient, we can invest in our community by supporting those that support us.

“All the donations, all the support the community gets, it really is from the mom-and-pops local businesses. You come in here, there is no corporate hoopla. Here is $200 for your child’s dance recital, soccer game, boy scouts—that is what we do,” said Landesberg.” Amazon, Walmart, Target, they are not supporting your kid’s functions. We need to support local more, or all that will be left will be the huge corporations.”