Small businesses are struggling. That’s no secret. The Seattle Channel recently produced a piece on shopping local which focused partly on Ballard.

John Sterlin, owner of Romanza, says, “We’ve kind of come to the determination that this is it. We really need to do well this holiday season. We can’t continue that downward trend very long.” The Seattle Channel talks to Sarah Scales, a Ballardite who says that although she’s out of a job and spending less this year, her holiday dollars will be spent here. “It’s just a better way to support them. Keep them going, keep the neighborhood going so it can keep its uniqueness.” You can watch the entire piece here. (Romanza is a sponsor of MyBallard.)