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Where to find the ultimate mom and pop shopping experiences in North Texas

Sunny skies, fresh air and warm greetings – you miss out on those things when shopping from a screen.

DENTON, Texas — DENTON - Like clockwork, the Christmas season will turn malls into madhouses. But there are ways to avoid the rush if you rethink your approach to holiday shopping.

“How are you doing this morning?” asked Sam Bruce with a wide smile as each new customer walked through his door at More Fun Comics and Games on the downtown square in Denton.

“I think the best thing to remember about shopping local is that you have the personal experience of the people who work local,” Bruce said. “We know what we’re talking about. We know what we’re doing. We can help you and guide you to get the gift that you’re looking for.”

We have some suggestions to help you avoid the crazy stress that can accompany holiday shopping – patronize some of the awesome mom and pop retailers we have across North Texas.

To get you started, here are a few places where you can shop with small businesses based in North Texas:

Denton Square

With more than two dozen locally owned stores and restaurants, the Denton square is a big draw for people looking to spend their money with small businesses. Boutiques, restaurants, and comic shops - like Bruce’s More Fun Comics and Games – are all situated in a square surrounding the old Denton County courthouse. You can find more information about retailers at discoverdenton.com.

Historic Downtown McKinney

On old town squares across North Texas, you’ll find unique small businesses with owners who really care about their communities – especially in McKinney, where the historic downtown is buzzing thanks to antique shops, jewelers, wine bars and specialty stores. Small businesses “feel like partners with each town,” explained Patty Streber, owner of Wishful Thinking, now in its fourth location in nine years – all on the McKinney square. A list of shops and a calendar of events is available at mckinneytexas.org.

Bishop Arts District

South of downtown Dallas is one of the most popular destinations for shoppers in search of mom and pops. That’s what drew Carla Alessio Policandriotes to the Bishop Arts District. She was visiting from Chicago. “I was raised with the most hard-working parents ever who supported their six children, putting us through college, giving us everything we ever needed, because people supported their small business,” she said. “I will not shop at a big box, ever!” Bishop Arts is home to more than 60 boutiques, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and art galleries. You can find more information at bishopartsdistrict.com.

Don’t forget to share your favorite local business in the comments on the Facebook post below. We will feature more areas and businesses throughout the holiday season.

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