Do you pay more to shop at locally owned stores?

<p>I have been trying to do more local business shopping. There is ONE local supermarket chain left. I do try to go there quite a bit–otherwise I often go to Costco. Both are about 5 minutes from my house (in opposite directions).</p>

<p>When we go off island, we try to purchase gifts by local companies & merchants, with varying degrees of success.</p>