Shop Local Support Downtown Akron
This holiday shopping season shop local and support downtown Akron businesses!
Win prizes when you visit or shop downtown this holiday season with our Shop Local program. There are weekly prizes, completist prizes, and grand prizes.
To participate:
- Pick up a GREEN Shop Local Support Downtown Akron pin at any of 26 downtown locations (list coming soon), or use your BLUE Shop Local pin from last year.
- Wear your pin when you're downtown (and everywhere else)!
Prizes and entry:
- Weekly prizes: Take a selfie inside a retail, experience-based or dining business with your Shop Local pin visible and post it to social media, tagging DAP and the business patronized to enter for a weekly prize
- Downtown Advocate Prize: Make purchases at 3 retail or experience-based businesses and 3 dining establishments (6 places total), then send photos of your button and your 6 receipts to info@downtownakron.com to enter for the Downtown Advocate Prize
- Downtown Champion Prize: Make purchases at 7 retail or experience-based businesses and 7 dining establishments (14 places total), then send photos of their your buttons and 14 receipts to info@downtownakron.com to enter for a grand prize, which will include a one-night stay at the BLU-Tique Hotel, two tickets to a show, and a $100 Downtown Akron Dollars E-Gift Card
- Completist Prizes: Everyone who enters to win the Downtown Champion Prize by submitting 14 receipts will automatically receive a Completist Prize (while supplies last).
Experience-based purchases include: purchasing tickets to a show, concert, visiting a museum, attending a sporting event, the Great Escape Room, going to a studio session at Street Craftery, as well as service activities, such as getting a haircut at The Experience Barber and Beauty Shop. *Free experiences count: instead of a sales receipt, send a photo of yourself at the event with a date and description.
For lists of retail, experience, and dining establishments located in the 49-block Downtown Akron Special Improvement District, visit downtownakron.com/explore.
Support Local Businesses
Get the NEW Downtown Akron Dollars E-Gift Card
Give ONE e-gift card they can use at MANY locations, including
- retailers
- restaurants
- services
- entertainment venues
It works just like any other gift card you've ever received, except better:
- One Downtown Akron Dollars E-Gift Card can be used in 26 (and counting) different downtown Akron locations.
- No plastic or paper cards to misplace: Downtown Akron Dollars E-Gift Cards live on your phone.*
- Easily check your card balance.
* You can also print out your card information, as desired.
Are you an employer or organization? Volume discounts are available.
Consider using Downtown Akron Dollars E-Gift Cards for employee rewards, holiday gifts, customer appreciation, welcome gifts, promotions, incentives, etc. Get access to reduced or waived fees for purchases over $1,000, plus direct assistance and a free Enterprise Account with business reporting. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. Find out more.
Downtown Akron Shopping and Dining Guides
Check out the updated Downtown Shopping Guide
NEW: A Zips Guide to Shopping Small & Local in Akron (by University of Akron students)
Explore Downtown Akron Eateries
Explore Downtown Akron Shops, Entertainment, and Arts & Culture
Who's Open for Lunch in Downtown Akron? Here Is a Regularly-Updated Guide