‘Save Local’ campaign kicks off to help downtown businesses

CINCINNATI (FOX19) - Some downtown businesses are feeling a renewed sense of hope thanks to a new campaign.

3CDC launched “Save Local” to help out retailers, bars, restaurants, and arts and cultural attractions that are struggling because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rob McCleery, General Manager of Zablong, says he’s had to cut back his staff and hours just to get by.

“For the first 10 weeks, we closed down, and since we’ve been reopened it really depends on who is in downtown working,” McCleery said. “We’ve been really impacted by the fact that nobody is in downtown right now.”

Others have been more fortunate.

Nikki Siababa, a barista at Deeper Roots, says the pandemic has not changed their approach all that much.

“For our business model, it’s been easy for us to transition to doing take away,” Siababa said. “We have a lot of regulars, who come out to support us, so we’ve been very fortunate throughout all of this.”

The basis of the “Save Local” campaign is to spread the word about all of the specials and promotions going on at local businesses.

“Most places are struggling with capacity limits, curfew, and people’s valid concerns about not wanting to dine in places, not wanting to go to places, all those things have really affected businesses,” Emily Stowe with 3CDC said.

The “Save Local” campaign will run for about six to eight weeks.

3CDC officials say the goal is to get businesses through February and March, so they are still up and running in the following months.

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