Join us for a conversation about books. Drop in and sip a cup of coffee or a glass of wine in our cafe. Meet here with your book group. We are a special refuge for our neighbors jaded by the neon glare of chain stores with no personality. We support other local stores, local authors, and local artists.

When You Choose to Shop at Phoenix:
1. You Keep Dollars in Our Economy

The money you spend here, stays here.  For every $100 you spend at a local business, $68 will stay in the community. What happens when you spend that same $100 at a national chain? Only $43 stays in the community.  Here are some of the local businesses and individuals whose products we carry at Phoenix Books and Cafe:

• Sweet Clover Market:  Just two doors down from us.
• Monument Farms Dairy:  Fresh, rich, local milk for our lattes.
• Green Mountain Coffee
• Cold Hollow Cider Mill and Champlain Orchards
  
• JavaPop:  Organic soda born in Woodstock, Vermont.
• King Arthur Flour:  An employee-owned company in Norwich.
  
• The Busy Chef:  From Susie Wilson Road, right in Essex!
• Magna Vita Bakery:  Based just one town over, in Winooski!
• Vermont Cookie Creations:  Right here in Essex!
  
• Vermont Cookie Buttons:  By the Orton family in N. Clarendon.
• Vermont Cookie Love:   Based in North Ferrisburgh.
  
• Danforth:  Fine pewter handcrafted in Vermont.
• Local Authors:  From picture books to poetry, and from Oprah picks to small-press gems.
• A selection of local magazines, including the Green Mountains Review from Johnson State, Outdoors Magazine from Colchester, and Vermont Magazine.
  
• Chelsea Green, a press based in White River Junction, Vermont.  Among other things, our Green Partnership features a carbon-neutral shipping model, which leads to:
  

2. You Help the Environment

From our interior design choices to our plates, Phoenix owners and staff strive to make environmentally responsible choices every step of the way.  Read on to find out more:

• Our lighting is sourced from Axis Lighting and Sylvania, companies which supply low impact, energy efficient fixtures and bulbs.   Our carpet is made from recycled fibers.  Our tile is Marmoleum.  This all-natural linoleum does not emit harmful VOCs, and is produced from renewable materials like linseed oil, rosins, wood flour, jute, and ecologically responsible pigments.
• We use recycled paper.  Plus, we are meticulous about re-using paper as scrap, and then recycling all our paper, cardboard, plastic, and metal waste.  We only send out our newsletter electronically, saving over 1000 sheets of paper every month.
  
• Our to-go plates are manufactured by Earthshell.  They are made primarily from renewable potato and corn starch and limestone, require less energy to make than paper plates do, and are 100% biodegradable.  Our cold drink cups are made by Greenware.  These are made using a resin derived entirely from natural and renewable sources, are compostable, and are made in America.
• Many of our journals and stationary products are 'green,' like  Crane & Co, Paperblanks, and the webmistress' personal favorite, Elephant Poo Poo Paper.
  
• We're also happy to help you "go green."  Just stop in and ask about our Green and Sustainable Living section; we carry a wealth of books with practical advice and information on low-impact living.

Vermont is a state of small, distinct communities.  Preserving our unique, one-of-a-kind businesses makes our small towns home.  In an increasingly homogenized world, local character is linked to prosperity.  Chain businesses can dilute the character of our towns.

4. You Create and Keep Good Jobs

Small local businesses employ the largest number of people nationally, and small businesses account for the vast majority of job growth.  Locally owned businesses are far less likely to pull up stakes and move operations to another state or country - taking the jobs with them.

5. You Nurture Community

We know you, and you know us. Studies have shown that local businesses donate to community causes at more than twice the rate of chains.  Check out our Community Page to find out more about the great organizations we support and collaborate with.

6. You Conserve Your Tax Dollars

Local businesses in small towns need comparatively less infrastructure investment and make efficient use of public services.  A study in Barnstable, Massachusetts found that big-box stores, strip shopping centers, and fast-food outlets require more in services than they produce in revenue.***

7. You Promote Competition and Diversity

A multitude of small businesses, each selecting products based on the needs of their local customers (and not on a national sales plan), guarantees a much broader and appropriate range of product choices, and ensures innovation and low prices over the long term.

8. You Take Advantage of Our Expertise

Each and every member of Phoenix's staff is passionate about books, and about our community.  We are always happy to make individualized recommendations, whether you're looking for a great read or a custom-made latte.

Local businesses like Phoenix are owned by people who live here, work here, and are invested in the community - with much more than just their dollars.  Local owners see and feel the impacts of their business decisions.