Walking by the parade of unique one-of-a-kind businesses along historic Main Street in Kaysville is a reminder of the advantages of shopping small vs. shopping big.

Big box retailers, chain stores and strip malls are popping up all over in the fields of Davis county as suburban sprawl takes over. Many small businesses have called it quits, unable to compete with the one-stop shopping open 24 hours a day.

The small shops in Kaysville offer a personal shopping experience, better customer service and a conversation with someone who, over the years, has become a trusted friend. Customers like the familiarity of doing business at shops named Faye's Dry Cleaning, Laundry, Lisa's Passion For Popcorn and Ray's Shoe Repair.

Mike Navidomskis owns Mickey Finn's Fly Box, a fly fishing outfitter shop on Main Street.

"It's small but pretty," said Navidomskis. "It's a candy store for fly fisherman."

Navidomskis is typical of the business owners on Main Street. He lives in the area and even taught world history and current events at Davis High School. Now he has found his passion for fly fishing turn from a hobby into a small business.

Navidomskis began by teaching fly-fishing classes. His students had a hard time finding and buying the right supplies. Their inexperience in the sport left them overwhelmed in the big stores, and they often came home with the wrong things. The one small local supplier called it quits after feeling the competition from the new large outdoor retailers in the area.

"He wore his heart on his sleeve," said Navidomskis. "It was personal to him when old customers left him, so he called it quits." Navidomskis decided to fill the void himself and now services his own students as well as seasoned fly fisherman from all over the state.

"They come here for expertise," said Navidomskis. "I not only know what they need, but I know what they have."

Navidomskis, like the other retailers on the street, gives back to the community. Navidomskis hires students from the high school to tie flies he sells at his shop. Navidomskis pays them by the dozen to make his specially-designed flies.

Technology and progress isn't always negative for the Mom and Pop stores; for some, having a wholesale business makes it possible to maintain a small shop located in a small town.

Magelby's Design and Lisa's Passion For Popcorn depend on the wholesale part of their business to survive.

"Ninety-five percent of our business is wholesale," said Lorna Childs, who has worked at Lisa's since the shop opened 16 years ago. "Orders come in from all over. Our caramel-flavored popcorn is the most popular, but we have 100 flavors to chose from."