HOP & SHOP! Downtown Eau Claire entrepreneurs are joining forces this holiday season to encourage visitors and locals alike to purchase locally this gift-giving season. Between the Shop Small Crawl and North Barstow Holiday Hop, a collection of retailers and restaurants will now offer punchcard deals through the months of November and December.

Shop local, shop small. If you’re reading this, you probably know that tune well (and thanks for reading on VolumeOne.org – you’re supporting our small biz every time you do!), and a lot of local businesses are hoping you keep listening to it this year.

Across the months of November and December, a couple groups of small businesses in downtown Eau Claire are coming together for what they hope will be shopper-boosting happenings: The North Barstow Holiday Hop and the Shop Small Crawl.

The Shop Small Crawl, going on from Nov. 1-29, offers folks a punch-card deal for supporting a select few downtown businesses: Shift, Lot 3 Mercantile, Planette Kids, Seven Suns Vintage, Token Jewelry, and Dotters Books.

A purchase at each of the six participating storefronts (in-person only) results in a full Shop Small Crawl punchcard, earning you the opportunity to enter a $600 gift card giveaway – $100 toward each biz.

The 2025 Shop Small Crawl punch card, pictured above. Participating businesses include Seven Suns Vintage, SHIFT, Dotters Books, among others. (Photo by Evelyn Nelson)

Beginning Small Business Saturday (Nov. 29) and running through Dec. 21, the North Barstow Holiday Hop is also bringing six local businesses together – including restaurants: Eau Claire Outdoors, Riverflow Refillery, Menomonie Market Food Co-op, Leona’s Pizzeria, Thai Orchid, and Black Kettle Tea Shoppe.

"We're asking our community to help keep unique, interesting, creative small businesses in our downtown by shopping local this holiday season." –Kate Felton, owner of Eau Claire Outdoors

Similarly to the Shop Small Crawl, the North Barstow Holiday Hop will feature punchcards. By making a purchase at all six of the participating businesses, folks will fill up their punchcard and enter for the opportunity to win one of three prizes: $50 gift certificates from all participating businesses; two separate $10 gift certificates from all participating businesses.

Kate Felton, owner of Eau Claire Outdoors, noted the plethora of change that has come to downtown Eau Claire and specifically the North Barstow district. That could be a pro and/or con depending on how you look at it, but either way, Kate continues to encourage folks to support small.

“In a time when online and big-box shopping has been booming and prosperity has really been consolidating at the top … spending your dollars locally during the holiday season is so important to our local economy and culture,” Kate said.

Brittany and Jakob Paulsrud, co-owners of Leona's Pizzeria on Galloway street in downtown Eau Claire, pictured above. The North Barstow Holiday Hop ventures beyond retail establishments and offers deals to area eateries and even the neighborhood cooperative grocer.

“We know our community values unique local businesses. We talk to people every single day downtown who express that value,” she continued. “So we’re asking our community to help keep unique, interesting, creative small businesses in our downtown by shopping local this holiday season.”

While you’re checking folks off your holiday gifting lists, consider snagging a punchcard for the Shop Small Crawl and North Barstow Holiday Hop – and simply swinging by your favorite local businesses. We appreciate it more than we can say.

Punchcards for the Shop Small Crawl or North Barstow Holiday Hop can be picked up at each happening’s respective participating businesses.

The Shop Small Crawl will run Nov. 1-29 and includes Shift, Lot 3 Mercantile, Planette Kids, Seven Suns Vintage, Token Jewelry, and Dotters Books. The North Barstow Holiday Hop will run Nov. 29-Dec. 21 and includes Eau Claire Outdoors, Riverflow Refillery, Menomonie Market Food Co-op, Leona’s Pizzeria, Thai Orchid, and Black Kettle Tea Shoppe.