Our Story
Independent Riverside was started by two people who believe deeply in the power of community — a nurse and a teacher.
Our lives have been built around people. One of us spends long days caring for patients and families during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. The other has spent years in classrooms helping young people grow, learn, and find their place in the world.
Those experiences stay with you. They remind you that behind every face is a story, a struggle, and a family doing their best to get by.
Our backgrounds are different, but they meet in the same place. One of us came to this country as an immigrant, learning how much courage it takes to build a life somewhere new. The other grew up right here in the Inland Empire, watching the region change and grow over the years.
Both perspectives shaped how we see the city — and how deeply we value the places and people that make a community feel like home.
Over time, we began to notice something happening around us.
The independent businesses that give this city its character — the cafés, shops, restaurants, and family-run stores — were working harder than ever just to stay open.
At the same time, families everywhere are feeling the pressure too. Groceries cost more. Rent costs more. Everything seems to stretch a little further than it used to.
Independent Riverside was created because we believe these two challenges can actually help solve each other.
When people support independent businesses, that money stays closer to home. It supports families, workers, and dreams that exist right here in our community.
Our goal is simple: make it easier and more rewarding for people to support the independent businesses that make this city a great place.
