There have been recent posts on local social media from Facebook to Reddit about what political leanings local businesses might have, and whether that matters.
This added attention started when Public Square started making headlines with its tagline to “Shop America’s Woke-Free Commerce App and Marketplace.”
During the Biden presidency, its founder Michael Seifert wrote that “if you want to support a digital marketplace that isn’t in bed with a tyrannical regime, PublicSquare.com is the move.”
Seifert has built Public Square to promote what it calls a "marketplace for pro-life, family and freedom products, offering thousands of vetted businesses …. aiming to connect users with values-aligned businesses and brands.”
Featured businesses include Patriot Mobile, billed as “America’s ONLY Christian Conservative Wireless Provider.” In the Our Story section it’s written: “Now, we’ve reached a pivotal moment where our choices matter more than ever. Americans are tired of compromise and have had enough of supporting companies that hate our values. It's time to stand up for what you believe in and switch to Patriot Mobile.”
Public Square has gained even more attention during the new Trump administration, and lists tens of thousands of companies.
Several readers wrote to Our Town Reno saying they were surprised at some of the local northern Nevada companies which show up on that app.
A Redditor identified the Reno Sparks Scheels, Glory Cloud Coffee Roasters, Calvary Chapel, KidScape Productions, Call to Compassion, LeRue Press, Walden’s Coffeehouse, Fig Tree Catering, Atencio Family Dentistry and The Coons Team on a list of over 50 local businesses appearing on Public Square. At the time of this reporting, all of these companies remained listed on Public Square.
We contacted a company which had also been previously listed Oncology Nevada, and after several days of back and forth received this response from its CEO Stephen Gabelich: “The Oncology Nevada team appreciates you bringing this to our attention. It appears that anyone can create a listing on this platform without verification, and the practice was unaware of its presence on Public Square. Because we take seriously the accuracy and quality of public information about Oncology Nevada, we reached out and ask they remove the listing.”
By week’s end the listing was no longer on the website. Oncology Nevada on Double R Blvd promotes itself as “a state of the art cancer center serving the greater Reno area.”
One local company appearing on Public Square, Fig Tree Catering, was noted as having previously done work for the City of Reno.
In a response which also took several days the City of Reno wrote back: "The City of Reno has utilized Fig Tree Catering services in the past. The last transaction was in October 2007. The City selects vendors in accordance with applicable procurement policies and procedures. The City does not make contracting decisions based on a business’ political affiliations, ideologies or beliefs. Our focus is on securing quality services at a competitive price, while adhering to fair and transparent purchasing processes."
One company CEO Jake Wiskerchen responded after publication via email: “Zephyr Wellness advertises to all demographics and cultures. This includes whomever might browse the Public Square website (read: conservatives and libertarians). Because they comprise a large percentage of northern Nevada residents and they, too, deserve access to counseling services without fear of political judgment, I chose to list Zephyr Wellness there three years ago when it first launched,”
Other businesses we reached out to ignored our messages. Several commenters on local social media have said a company listed on Public Square will make them want to spend money there while others said it will make them want to avoid it. This attention also prompted recent posts about what might be left leaning businesses in northern Nevada.