A long time ago, I said, “Screw this corporate-owned junk. I’m going to shop at small stores, locally-owned, and do something for the little man.”

Ha.

That’s a lot easier said than done. I quickly failed and ran back to Target. But this weekend, with the advent of two small Ames businesses — Zushy* and Daydreams — closing, I’m going to try again. It’s something we should all try to do.

This isn’t about being “different” and shopping at “different” places. It isn’t about sticking it to the man. It isn’t about being one of those cool people who listen to no-one-has-heard-of-them music and shop at Goodwill.

This is about doing something for those who suffer most from President Bush’s decisions and the horrible economy.

It’s about going to a local band’s show and shopping somewhere other than chain retailers.

It’s about deciding where you’ll get your arts and entertainment. It’s either a corporation probably owned by some old white guy or a small store probably owned by someone young, interesting and out to do something unique for other people, not for money.

Clear Channel, the mall and Wal-Mart are a few of many corporate entities that slowly are taking over the world, whether or not they say it’s intentional. You can say you hate them, that you’ll stop listening to KISS 107.5, but are you really going to do it?

I’ll admit, I listen to “The Beat” and KISS, but I try to take time out and listen to NPR, too. Express is one of my favorite stores, but I made a point to shop at Zushy* and the Atomic Garage in Des Moines. I make Wal-Mart runs because it’s cheap and easy, but I buy groceries from Wheatsfield when I have extra cash.

It’s not totally changing my lifestyle, and sometimes it costs me a few more cents, but in the long run, it’s got to be better for someone who isn’t me.

No, Ames isn’t thriving with small businesses as you would imagine in California or even larger cities nearby like Minneapolis. But we’ve got more than you might think. Take the time to look.

The big hubbub about the new mall? This is what many are pissed about. Taking more money away from locally-owned businesses, especially the Main Street district.

It’s more important than you think.

We, as the key demographic that spends the most money on looking good and eating well, can change things.

Think about it — we, as students, make this town. Roughly 28,000 18-24 year-olds swarm this place from August to May. We make money for businesses. If half of us stopped shopping at Wal-Mart, it would hurt them.

I realize we’re hurting, too. Most of us live off loans, scholarships, part-time jobs that don’t pay enough and what our families can afford to give us. We don’t have a great chunk of cash to spend. But the little we do becomes the income for those who are running their own businesses.

Most of us have a dream, and some dream of owning their own nightclub, creating their own clothing line or being successful as a band.

There are people in Ames who are doing what we are dreaming about now. They took a risk and said, “I’m doing this, and it will be the coolest stuff ever.”

And they’re struggling. The economy has taken a toll on everybody, especially small businesses.

Take the time to skip the mall once in a while and head somewhere unusual. It’s not changing the world. However, it is making a difference in Ames.