Saturday saw the opening of the Oxbow Market, a gallery of shops, restaurants and food stalls adjacent to Copia.

The arrival of the Oxbow Market represents yet another significant moment in the transformation of Napa’s central core. As of next month, when the public market will be going full tilt, the Oxbow District may have a more lively commercial pulse than it ever has had, extending the reach of downtown Napa east of Main Street.

Given the ongoing transformation within a few minutes’ walk — the popularity of Filippi’s Pizza Grotto and opening of nearby shops, the construction on the Westin Verasa just above the Napa River Oxbow, and (dare we dream?) maybe even someday the completion of the flood project and the Napa River trail through this area — the best is almost certainly yet to come in this corner of town.

Elsewhere, a Whole Foods Market is slated to open at Bel Aire Plaza in January, anchoring that center.

Yet even as Napans christen the arrival of the Oxbow Market and await Whole Foods, we should remember the merchants who have been here to serve us for many years and who helped lay the groundwork for Napa’s success.

Vallerga’s, Browns Valley Market and others have long championed fresh and creative foods and strong customer service, offering along the way healthy doses of community service with charitable donations of money, food and volunteer time and effort.

Family-owned shops and restaurants have hung in there through the changes downtown, while others left Bel Aire for smaller commercial centers to continue to serve a new generation of clients.

As the holiday shopping season enters its most furious phase, let us remember to honor those merchants who have long been loyal to Napa and its residents.  By and large, the merchants here and their employees, and all the towns in the Napa Valley, are our friends and neighbors.

Finally, we emphasize the importance of shopping locally to help keep the community vibrant. Yes, shopping locally cuts down on gas and commute time. And no, it may not be possible to buy everything you need here in Napa, even with the changes of recent years.

But what gets spent here in Napa, mostly stays here in Napa. Many, many shop owners, business services and their workers live in the valley, as well as make their livings here. They donate time and money for local playgrounds, nonprofit organizations and more.

A big chunk of sales tax dollars raised here stay to pay for police officers’ salaries or road repairs or the next stretch of the Napa River trail.

We welcome the economic vitality and the new dining and shopping options. We also are grateful for those Napans who have been hiring and helping other Napans for years. Whether visiting new merchants or old, we encourage residents to support their community as a whole by shopping Napa Valley first.