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Community Corner

Small Business Saturday: Shop Local, in Palo Alto

Patch picks a few local shops we think are worthy alternatives to big box stores and national chains.

Did you know that for every $50 you spend in a small business in Palo Alto, $34 of that comes back into Palo Alto, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration? When you spend the same $50 with a national retailer, approximately $7.50 goes back to the town.

Small Business Saturday, held the first Saturday after Thanksgiving, was created to remind Americans that they can use their dollars to support American jobs and businesses.

Ready to spend your shopping dollars locally, but not sure where to go? We like these stores and services: 

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2676 Middlefield Road

A staple presence in Palo Alto for over 50 years, Peninsula Hardware is chock full of supplies despite its small square footage. Like them on Facebook and get 10 percent off. 

Find out what's happening in Palo Altowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Hours: Monday - Saturday 9:30 a.m. - 5:15 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

3127 El Camino Real

Family owned since 1986, check this place out for your pet needs.

Hours: Monday - Friday, 9:30 a.m. - 7 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

3839 El Camino Real

Quick and very professional, this is probably the only oil change place around where you can watch the action on a TV screen while you sit in your car - and where the owner will personally greet you. With five stars after 440 reviews on Yelp, you can't go wrong with this one.

Cost: About $34 and up - but you're likely to get a discount on your next visit. 

Hours: Monday - Saturday, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. 

788 San Antonio Road

Finding an honest mechanic can feel like finding a needle in a haystack, but we don't think you'll regret going to family-owned Mechanica Automotive. 

Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

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2685 Middlefield Road / 439 Hamilton Avenue

This environmentally friendly dry cleaning business uses biodegradable, non-toxic products and has two locations in Palo Alto.

Hours: 7:30-6:30 Monday-Friday
9-5 Saturday; Gate is 24 hours.

And of course, don't forget to go to patron your favorite restaurants and shop at the (only until Dec. 17!) for local produce.

—Patch contributor Ann Krueger Spivack and Los Altos Patch editor L.A. Chung contributed to this report

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