I also like to shop local. I did while I lived in NYC and I do now here in Baltimore. Things might be a bit different down here,, because there is high crime, not too many high end chain type stores opened up in Baltimore. Also not many big chain stores either, one has to travel to the county to shop at target, Wal-Mart or any of these types of stores. So, only the brave open up stores in some parts of my city.
One area has stores similar to what one would find on St. Marks Pl. But I have to take the Light Rail to get there and I always get hassled on that train. This area(Hamden) also has a “Hon” festival where gals and some guys put on their highest beehive hairdoos and compete for the title of Miss Hon,, some on this forum could win that title,,,lol
But the hood that I live in is quite depressed, just the basic stores like grocery/lottery, pizza, liquor, bars, Chinese take out, stores like that. I have to travel for clothes and other stuff.
Not far from me is a market, sort of like an indoor flea market but merchants have a square space selling different foods, cooked and non cooked, these stalls are operated by small owners. The barbecue chicken and ribs are good.
The only area I know of here that has any high end shops are at the tourist area of the Inner Harbor, I never shop there,, it’s for tourists, like New Yorkers coming to see a Yankee game. Even in the gay area of Mount Vernon, I don’t remember seeing any expensive chain type stores, most stores are local people.