*This story has been updated to include information about Shake Shack Canada
About 30 small businesses in Sauble Beach are coming together for a shop local campaign.
The campaign is called “Eat. Shop. Love. – Sauble Beach” and is meant to promote a positive small town message in a ‘feel-good’ campaign.
At noon on Saturday, they’ll be launching the campaign, posting pictures wearing matching t-shirts in and around their businesses.
Organizers say it’s partly because a Shake Shack truck is in town.
Shake Shack originated in the United States and in 2023, Shake Shack Canada was launched. It’s owned and operated by Canadians. It has recently set up a number of locations in the Greater Toronto Area.
The Shake Shack that is in Sauble Beach for this weekend is owned by a Canadian and it says it is donating $1 from each burger to Amabel Sauble Community School and Saugeen First Nation.
Meanwhile, the shop local campaign says it’s “To remind visitors and locals alike that in addition to the beach proper, recently renamed Saugeen Beach, and it’s people, part of Sauble’s charm comes the from the small businesses that bring the town to life in the summer and the ones that remain open to support it in the winter.”
From restaurants and cafes to gift shops and services, business owners and their teams will be wearing matching shirts in front of their stores to highlight the community’s shared values: local pride, entrepreneurship, and unity.
“It’s a fun, visual way to remind everyone that small businesses contribute to the heartbeat of their community,” said a release from organizers. “This isn’t about protesting or pointing fingers. It’s about celebrating and raising awareness for our community in a unifying way. We want to show our community leaders that we don’t need a big American brand to come to town for us to have impact in creating awareness for our community.”
Shake Shack Canada is owned by Canadian private investment companies Osmington Inc. and Halo Entertainment Inc.
Sauble Organizers say they hope the campaign sparks a ripple effect in other communities struggling to get a similar message out — and invites anyone visiting Sauble Beach this weekend to post their own pictures supporting local, using the hashtag #SaubleLove.
*This story has been updated to include information about Shake Shack Canada