Colorado Local First: 5 Green Boxes and 'Buy Local Week' in Denver

This week, November 28-December 5, the Mile High Business Alliance is celebrating Buy Local Week in Denver, and I'll be featuring one or more participating Colorado Local First merchants each day this week in conjunction with Denver's Holiday Guide here at Examiner.com

Here's a statement from the Mile High Business Association Alliance, followed by my first pick: 5 Green Boxes on South Pearl Street:

"During these challenging economic times, it is important that we maintain and nurture the local businesses that provide vital employment, tax revenue and the goods and services we need. Where we spend our money really does matter. When we spend a dollar at a local business, it recirculates in our community more often and more quickly than if we'd spend that dollar at a non-local business - up to six times more. This means more people are getting a paycheck, paying their rent, and purchasing goods and services they need from other local businesses. This is the primary reason why buying from local businesses is better for our local economy.

With no further ado...

5 Green Boxes

5 Green Boxes was a founding member of the Mile High Business Alliance, and a guy could cover everybody on his gift list with just this one stop. I might actually try this year: 5 Green Boxes has two stores a block away from each other on Old South Pearl Street in Denver, right around the corner from my house in Platt Park, so that's where I'll start my Colorado Local First mission: This year I'm going to try to get most of my holiday shopping done within three blocks of where I live and without ever setting foot in a shopping mall.

Start at the bigger store, at 1705 South Pearl Street. There's a small but stylish selection of children's books, great gifts for newborns and very young children, and unique items for older kids: My own kids love the tiny tin robots and the stuffed monsters from Make My Own Monster (plush beasties based on drawings by kids). Once you've crossed the kids off your list, move through the rest of the store: Housewares, gardening supplies, artfully restored furniture, greeting cards, heart-shaped birdhouses, ceramic cake stands... You seriously could find a unique gift for everybody on your list here, and the best part is that they'll wrap it up for you and do a better job of it than any dad I know is capable of.

If you still have one person left on your list when you're done, the smaller store up the street is where you'll find the perfect present for the woman in your life: The tiny boutique is packed with clothing, jewelery, a sexy collection of socks and night-wear, and many hand-knit and handmade items by local artisans. Someone I love is getting a lovingly selected pair of fingerless glove/arm-warmers and a few other small items as part of a package gift I've been working on.

While you're in the neighborhood: Check out other Mile High Business Alliance members participating in the Colorado Local First campaign and Denver's Buy Local Week: Pajama Baking Co. is a small bakery right across the street from the 5 Green Boxes women's boutique and has the best ice cream in Denver; Gaia Bistro is on the same block with a terrific crepe menu for breakfast and lunch.