Walk down a commercial street in many Boston-area neighborhoods and you will find Latino-owned bakeries, restaurants, markets, barbershops, salons, auto shops, travel agencies, insurance offices and music stores. Many are family businesses that have served the same blocks for decades. Others were started recently by entrepreneurs bringing new ideas and flavors to the neighborhood.
Hispanic Heritage Month, from September 15 to October 15, is a natural time to celebrate these businesses and the artists and creators who enrich our communities. But the most meaningful support is the kind that lasts all year. This guide offers practical, respectful ways to do it.
Why Local Small Businesses Matter
Small businesses do much more than sell goods and services. They hire neighbors, sponsor local events, keep streets lively and safe, and create gathering places where people connect. Many Latino-owned businesses also serve as informal community hubs, places where newcomers find advice, a friendly face and a reminder of home.
Simple Ways to Support
- Shop regularly. Make a local bakery or market part of your weekly routine instead of a one-time visit.
- Try something new. Order a dish you have never had and ask about it.
- Buy gifts locally. Look for handmade goods, artwork, music and specialty foods for birthdays and holidays.
- Use local services. Hire a neighborhood tailor, mechanic, accountant or caterer.
- Tip well. Generous tips support workers at restaurants, salons and barbershops.
- Pay with care. Small businesses often pay fees on card transactions. If a shop prefers cash for small purchases, respect that.
Spread the Word
Word of mouth is powerful, especially for small businesses with limited marketing budgets.
- Leave thoughtful online reviews that mention specific dishes, products or great service.
- Share photos and recommendations on social media, tagging the business if it has an account.
- Tell friends, coworkers and new neighbors about your favorite spots.
- Suggest local restaurants for work lunches, team events and family gatherings.
Order Catering for Community Events
When your neighborhood association, school group, faith community or workplace hosts an event, consider ordering food from a local Latino-owned restaurant or bakery. A large catering order can make a real difference for a small business. Plan ahead, ask what the business can handle and pay promptly.
Supporting Latino Artists and Creators
New England is home to many Latino visual artists, muralists, musicians, dancers, writers, photographers and craftspeople. Supporting their work helps keep cultural traditions alive and brings beauty to our neighborhoods.
- Attend performances and exhibits. Watch for concerts, gallery shows, dance performances and readings, especially during Hispanic Heritage Month.
- Buy art directly. Purchase prints, paintings, ceramics or crafts at markets, fairs and studios.
- Hire artists fairly. If your group wants a mural, performance or workshop, pay artists for their time and expertise. Exposure is not payment.
- Credit their work. When sharing photos of murals or performances, name the artist.
- Read and share. Ask your library for books by Latino authors, including local writers.
Being a Respectful Customer
- Learn a few words of greeting in Spanish or Portuguese if you like, but do not assume everyone speaks a particular language.
- Be patient during busy hours, especially in small shops with only a few staff.
- Ask questions with genuine curiosity rather than treating a business as an exotic experience.
- Respect cultural and religious items that may be displayed or sold.
- Avoid haggling unless it is clearly customary in that setting.
Supporting Businesses Through Change
Small businesses face many challenges, including rising rents, construction disruptions, staffing shortages and competition from large chains and online retailers. Neighbors can help in ways that go beyond shopping.
- Show up during street construction or other disruptions, when business may slow.
- Attend public meetings about neighborhood development and speak up for the value of local businesses.
- Encourage your neighborhood association to include business owners in planning.
- Share information about free small business resources, such as programs offered through libraries or city economic development offices.
A Neighborhood Discovery Walk
A fun way to get started is a self-guided discovery walk.
- Map out a commercial street or square in your neighborhood.
- Make a list of Latino-owned businesses you have never visited.
- Visit two or three on a weekend afternoon with friends or family.
- Buy something small at each stop and introduce yourself.
- Share what you discovered with neighbors.
Repeat the walk in a different neighborhood next month. Over time, you will build a list of favorite spots and new connections.
For Kids and Families
- Visit a bakery and let kids choose a pastry they have never tried.
- Talk about how small businesses work, from buying supplies to serving customers.
- Have kids write thank-you notes to a favorite shop owner.
- Look for family-friendly cultural events and workshops.
A Simple Monthly Habit
Lasting support is easier when it becomes routine. Consider a simple monthly habit:
- Choose one new local business to try each month.
- Return to one favorite and bring a friend.
- Leave one thoughtful review or recommendation.
Three small actions a month add up to dozens of visits, recommendations and new connections over a year.
Support That Lasts
Hispanic Heritage Month is a great time to discover new businesses and artists, but the real impact comes from returning again and again. A neighborhood where residents shop local, hire local and celebrate local creators is one where small businesses can thrive for generations.
Quick check: If your community group hires a local artist to paint a mural or perform at an event, what is the right approach?
- Ask them to work for free in exchange for exposure
- Pay them fairly for their time and expertise and credit their work
- Use their designs without asking
Show answer
B. Paying artists fairly and naming them when sharing their work respects their skill and helps them make a living from it.
