Legal
Privacy Policy
Effective November 9, 2026
ShopDowntown, meaning the website shopdowntown.com and the ShopDowntown app for iPhone and Android, is published by GovDirections LLC. This page explains what information we receive and how it is used.
What we collect
Only what you choose to send us:
- Daily Downtown Digest or a downtown listing. If you sign up or claim a downtown, we receive your email, name, town and state, and for businesses the business name, website and a short note. We use it to send the Digest and to follow up about your listing.
- New-story notifications in the app. If you turn them on, we receive a push token for your device, the app version and the list of stories you have read, so we can tell you about new stories and show the right number on the app icon.
Reading stories and browsing the app does not require an account, and none is offered.
Location
The app uses your location only while it is open, to sort nearby downtowns and confirm “I’m here” check-ins. That check happens on your phone. We never receive your location.
What we don’t do
No advertising in the app, no selling or renting of your information, and no third-party analytics inside the app. The website uses Google Analytics to count visits.
Service providers
Notifications are delivered through Expo and either Google Firebase Cloud Messaging (Android) or the Apple Push Notification service (iPhone). The map in the Android app uses Google Maps. These companies process data only to provide their service.
Your choices
- Unsubscribe using the link in any Digest email.
- Turn notifications off at any time in your phone’s settings.
- Email [email protected] to see or delete the information we hold about you. We reply within 30 days.
Security
All information travels over encrypted HTTPS connections.
Children
ShopDowntown is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect information from them.
Changes
If this policy changes, we will update the date at the top of this page.
Contact
GovDirections LLC · [email protected]