Because You're Mine, I Shop the Line

“As sure as night is dark and day is light

I keep you on my mind both day and night

And happiness I've known proves that it's right …”

Because You’re Mine, I Shop the Line.

In the vein of Johnny Cash’s famous tune, Brookline’s new "shop local" program is designed to keep minds on something the community holds dear: its business district.

The “Because You’re Mine, I Shop the Line” program is a shopper reward program that awards a cash-equal benefit for shopping at Brookline businesses.

The program is a way to encourage shopping locally at small business, as well as a way to unify Brookline’s business district, said Nathan Mallory, who owns on Brookline Boulevard and is a member of the Brookline Chamber of Commerce.

“This is the first time we’ve referred to the business district as one thing, under one umbrella,” he said.

A key component of the program is “Boulevard Bucks.” For every $50 a shopper spends at an individually-owned Brookline business, the shopper will receive $5 of Boulevard Bucks, which can be spent at any time, at nearly any business in Brookline.

The community received a Biz Buzz grant of $2,500 from the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh to print the Boulevard Bucks and manage the program. Brookline is the first community to receive a grant from the Biz Buzz program.

.

Mallory said the Shop the Line program would be especially valuable next summer, when many business will likely be affected by construction during the $7.3 million Brookline Boulevard Redevelopment Project.

The project will bring new sidewalks, trees, street repaving and more, while the Facebook page associated with Shop the Line will allow businesses to post announcements so they aren’t overlooked during construction.

“Brookline is a great place to live and work, of which I’m proud to do both,” Mallory said. “I am honored to accept this grant on behalf of the Brookline community and the Brookline Chamber of Commerce. Get involved, shop local, .”

Follow Dormont-Brookline Patch on Facebook and Twitter. For more news, sign up for our email Newsletter.