How Stands By Me Connects Local Vendors and Consumers

For founder Brent Bivona, the idea began while cycling the back roads of New York's Finger Lakes. He kept coming across roadside stands he wanted to remember and tell friends about. He started saving pins in Google Maps. Eventually, the thought became simple: there needs to be an app for this.

One ride brought him past a nearby stand with fresh bread. He turned his bike around, bought a still-warm loaf, tucked it under his arm, and rode home. That experience captured the opportunity: wonderful local businesses were already there, but discovering them often depended on happening to pass by.

Brent and co-founder Michele Bivona wanted something more useful than another list of businesses. They wanted a connection between the people behind local stands and the neighbors who would love to support them.

For farm stands, bakers, makers, and other local sellers, being great at what you do does not automatically mean people know where to find you. A Stands By Me listing gives consumers a place to discover your business, learn what you offer, and find location and availability information.

Vendors can create or claim a listing and keep their information current. Photos, products, hours, and updates help turn an unfamiliar map pin into a reason to visit. Some tools depend on the vendor's plan, so sellers can review the available features before choosing what fits their business.

The goal is not to promise sales or replace the personal relationships that make a local business special. It is to make that first visit easier and help people remember a place they want to return to.

For consumers, Stands By Me brings nearby discovery into one place. Explore the map to find farm stands, farmers markets, baked goods, fresh eggs, flowers, and other local offerings rather than relying only on signs along the road or a friend's recommendation.

Stand profiles help you decide where to go, while favorites make it easier to return to places you love. Availability can change, especially at small and seasonal businesses, so check the latest listing details and any vendor instructions before making a special trip.

A quick stop for produce can become a new favorite bakery, a conversation with a grower, or a reason to explore a road you usually drive past.

Discovery is the beginning, not the whole experience. Favorites, check-ins, Passport progress, and community features give people ways to remember their visits and keep exploring. Participation and rewards follow the app's current eligibility rules; not every visit or listing qualifies for every feature.

The community also includes young entrepreneurs and community pantries, alongside local producers and sellers. These places serve different purposes, but they share something important: real people showing up for their neighbors.

For vendors, that means being part of a wider local discovery experience. For consumers, it means support can be a small, practical action: find a stand, make a visit, and come back when you can.

Stands By Me grew from a real habit of noticing local places and sharing them with friends. That is still the idea: make it easier for good local businesses to be seen and for people to support what is already growing in their communities.

Whether you are a vendor ready to share your stand or a neighbor looking for something fresh nearby, there is a place to start. Explore on the website or find the mobile app through our download section.

Find local. Support local. Grow together.

Go Standing.™