When you find you’re in need of a gift, what’s the first thought you have? Is it to go downtown and see what’s available, or is it to go online and search Amazon?
When your child’s sports team or program is in need of items for fundraising, what’s your first thought? Is it to go downtown to ask for local sponsors, or is it to contact Amazon asking for sponsorship of this year’s uniforms?
When set up this way, it’s easier to see how the shopping landscape has slipped out of balance. It’s a safe bet that most American families quickly turn to Amazon as a major shopping resource, yet just as quickly rely on smaller, independent shops for sponsorships and fundraising resources.
The nationwide trend toward online shopping has had an effect on brick-and-mortar stores throughout the country. Remember when Kmart, Bed Bath & Beyond, and JoAnn closed their doors? Kmart closed most of its stores in 2018, Bed Bath & Beyond closed in 2022, and as recently as 2025, JoAnn Stores permanently closed all of its stores.
On July 25, 2026, Real Deals in Elko announced it was going out of business. Since then, the store advertised all merchandise at reduced prices, finally closing for good on Sept. 26, 2026.
Similarly, on Aug. 10, 2026, Raley’s Market employees in Elko were notified that management would be closing the store on Dec. 8, 2026. This corporate-level decision will affect 40 jobs in the Elko area. The announcement was surprising and received significant social media attention, prompting a petition urging Raley’s headquarters to reconsider the decision.
Oftentimes, we get online and order items that we need: Amazon Subscribe & Save, Walmart home delivery or pickup, or any of the other convenient shopping methods available these days. These time-saving efforts, created to make life simple, have consequences for the local market that may not have been intentional or even realized until a small independent shop, such as Real Deals, is forced to close down.
Although this domino effect has been happening for decades, it is still shocking when a larger market like Raley’s announces that employees will be laid off and the store is closing. Imagine the impact it has had on smaller businesses in rural communities.
“Shop Local” campaigns have tried to raise awareness about the impact online shopping has on our local economies. Online shopping is undeniably convenient: available at all hours, delivered to your door in days, often with free shipping. But that convenience encourages a more disconnected shopping experience.
The shift to online shopping has changed the complexion of traditional shopping and socializing. Oftentimes, we would run into our neighbors at the grocery store and take a few minutes to catch up, schedule a time to meet for coffee, or make plans for dinner. These small, spontaneous moments helped spark community connections.
Although we are still able to make dinner plans with friends, the frequency is reduced as we stay at home online, on social media, catching up on all of our friends’ posts.
While online shopping is convenient, it’s worth considering the cost of that convenience.
Driving through Eureka, we are reminded of a time when finding a parking spot while grocery shopping or going to dinner was a challenge. Although there were limited shopping or dining options available, there were many more than there are now.
The effect of each business closing has an impact on the other small businesses that remain. As small-business owners try to keep their shops open, they see fewer tourists and even fewer locals.
Maybe things could change if we paused to consider what we lose each time we so easily click on our favorite online store. Although not everything we want is available locally, there are still many options. And who knows? You may run into someone you haven’t seen in a while.
Shopping local is really about more than just spending and keeping money in town. It’s a way to support community, and Eureka really is one of the best.
Winnona writes about life, community, and the people and places that make rural Eureka County home.
