San Luis Obispo Cash Mob

Posted: May 8, 2012 5:57 PM by Cameron Polom, KSBY
Updated: May 8, 2012 7:46 PM

Cash mob gives boost to local book store

If you were in downtown San Luis Obispo yesterday you may have noticed the commotion going on around a local bookstore.
That's because a new movement focusing on small businesses is moving across the nation.
It's called a cash mob and now its right here on the Central Coast.
According to the u-s small business association, local businesses represent 99.7 percent of all employer firms and those firms employ half of all private sector employees.
They pay 44 percent of total US private payroll and generated 65 percent of the new jobs over the past 17 years.
We spoke with the groups who organized this cash mob and found out just how much of an impact these events have on local businesses.
Alan Cooper has been a staple in the community for more than thirty years and before retiring he was a professor of architecture at Cal Poly.

"I've been very involved with community outreach organizations," says Cooper. "My goal in life after I retired was to maintain my involvement."

That's when Cooper formed a group called Save Our Downtown.

"We're just a modest group of people who want to protect the charm of downtown," says Cooper.

A modest group with a big impact and phoenix books was their first target.

More than sixty people descended on the book store Monday armed ten dollars and most people spent more than that.

Bruce Miller, owner of Phoenix Books says they took in twenty times their normal amount because of the cash mob. Now other businesses like boo boo records hope they'll be next.

"That whole cash mob it's a phenomenal way to support local businesses," says Miller.

People are supporting these businesses with their wallets and more and more want to jump on board.

"I think its great for the down town areas to promote their businesses, i would do, i think its great," said one local resident.

Save Our Downtown meets every Monday and they are encouraging everyone to get involved...you can even help decide which business is the site of the next cash mob by going to www.saveourdowntown.weebly.com.