While summertime on the Cape and Islands is teeming with activity, the “shoulder season” starts to get quiet for many local businesses on Cape Cod. It is also a perfect time to show your support of the local businesses on Cape Cod and Islands.
Businesses can have a tough time in the off-season. There’s so much less tourist traffic, fewer seasonal residents, and shorter days. Some just can’t make it work year-round, and close for the winter months.
All these factors make it all the more important to support local businesses on Cape Cod and the Islands that do stay open. They make our shoulder season and off-season life on the Cape and Islands not only possible but enjoyable!
 10 Great Ways to Support Local Businesses on Cape Cod in the Shoulder Season:
- Visit local farmers markets
- Local bookstores
- Local artists gift cards- thank you notes from the holidays, new year’s greetings, or looking ahead to valentine’s day!
- Plan to try out a different local restaurant each week
- Or try to find local alternatives to big chain stores
1. Buy Gift Certificates
Consider buying a gift certificate from your favorite restaurant or shop on Cape Cod and the Islands. A favorite among kids is getting a gift certificate to a local toy or bookstore where they can choose their own gift! You can give gift certificates to friends and family or use them yourself.
2. Gift Experiences
Prepare for the upcoming holidays ; consider gifting friends and family an experience or excursion with a local Cape Cod,
Plymouth, Nantucket, or Martha’s Vineyard company for their birthday or a special occasion! Your dad would enjoy a fishing charter, or your aunt would love a stand-up paddle board tour! There are a ton of amazing tours and excursions on Cape Cod and the Islands that any local, vacationer, or summer resident would love!
3. Eat Out or Get Weekly Takeout from Local Restaurants
Many restaurants on the Cape do stay open throughout the year but there is a dramatic reduction in their clientele. Use the off-season to explore eating establishments across the Cape that you may not have considered before. The more we frequent these restaurants, the more choices we will continue to have in the off-season. Plan to get food from a local non-chain restaurant once a week, once a month, or whatever works for you!
4. Drink Local
In addition to the many great restaurants on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, and Plymouth, there are also lots of great establishments offering local drinks! Buy straight from the brewery, vineyard, or distillery!
Great options for beer include Cape Cod Beer, Barnstable Brewing, Devil’s Purse Brewing, Tree House Brewing Company, Naukabout Brewery and Taproom, Hog Island Beer Co., Bad Martha’s, Aquatic Brewing, Provincetown Brewing Co, Cisco Brewers, Second Wind Brewing, Hog Island Beer Co, and Mayflower Brewing.
Wine and liquor enthusiasts should keep an eye out for Cape Cod Winery, Truro Vineyards, first Crush Winery, Nantucket Vineyard, Cape & Islands Distillers, Dirty Water Distillery, and Triple Eight Distillery.
5. Tip Well
When dining or drinking out, be sure to tip generously. Waitstaff and
servers are working in tough conditions these days. Many servers have been working endless hours through the summer while their restaurants and bars are short staffed, making the jobs of those in the service industry even more challenging. So, show your gratitude in your gratuity!
6. Be Kind
Naturally following the advice to tip well, be sure to act well too! Whether it’s in the grocery store, in a restaurant, at a craft fair, or any other shop, be sure to be kind to those around you. Treat employees and other customers with compassion, and help the community come together!
7. CSAs and Local Farm Markets
When looking to eat local, beyond restaurants look to local farms for fresh produce. Many Farmers Market on the Cape stay open through the shoulder season and the Orleans Farmers Market has a winter version. Also some farm shops, like the Cape Abilities Farm Market remain open throughout the year.
Winter is also a great time to look to join a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. CSAs help small farms by providing funding before the spring season when seeds and other inputs need to be purchased. Members of a CSA often receive a weekly box of local produce that changes seasonally. It’s a great way to support a local business, get closer to your food, and support the local economy.
8. Visit Local Bookstores
While it’s all too easy to go online to find whatever book you’re looking for an unbelievable price, the small independent bookstores
on the Cape, Plymouth, and Islands offer a personal touch and great experience. Chat with the shop worker about the best books you’ve read recently, get great recommendations, and get some help picking out a book for those hard to buy for readers of all ages!
Use the off-season to follow the Bookstore Trail on the Cape and Islands.
9. Visit Local Thrift Shops
If you’re looking for a great time, and a shopping scavenger hunt for a great cause, visit some of the great thrift shops in the region. Buying second hand is great for the environment and keeps perfectly good clothing out of landfills. It’s also a fun way to cultivate a unique style! In addition, lots of thrift shops support non-profit and other charitable organizations to fund their missions.
10. Support Local Artists and Artisans
Cape Cod, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, and Plymouth have long
been home to artists. These folks make a wide range of products, from stunning paintings to jewelry, and other goods.
Support them by browsing galleries and studios and checking out vendors at craft fairs on Cape Cod and artists shanties in Hyannis and artist cottages in Orleans. For more great options, check out Love Live Local, an organization working to support local businesses on Cape Cod.
