For many in Ann Arbor, the high quality of unique, locally-owned stores is a point of pride. Many local business owners and observers, however, are concerned that rising rents downtown and the high cost of doing business are endangering small, locally-owned stores; Todd Leopold, co-owner and brewer at Leopold Bros, and Rene Greff, co-owner of Arbor Brewing Company and Board member of the DDA, are two representatives of this opinion.

Think Local First is an organization dedicated to protecting and promoting the area's unique businesses.

See also Category:Not Locally Owned; if something is not labelled as either, do not assume it is one or the other.