Downtown businesses were packed yesterday as Black Friday gave way to Small Business Saturday.
Carrying a bag of children’s books, stocking stuffers and sea salt caramels from Cooks & Company, Gabby Fischer of Galesburg tells WGIL she was happy to support local businesses.
“I really like the shops downtown,” Fischer says, “and everybody’s out, it’s kinda fun. It’s in the holiday spirit.”
And if the “conveyer belt” of customers — as described by Ben “Stone” Stomberg — at Stone Alley Books & Collectibles was any indication, the shopping event brought the crowds.
Stone says the business has seen progressively larger crowds since Small Business Saturday started in 2010.
“We do good on Black Friday, too, but it seems like Small Business Saturday is always better,” Stone says. “We had, actually, I think the most traffic I’ve ever had for Stone Alley this year for Black Friday. So I’m interested to see how this day ends because Saturday is usually better for us than Black Friday is.”
Not to be outshone, Calico Cat was just as full of shoppers.
Store owner Lori Kohl says much of the business came from shoppers with the holidays in mind.
“A lot of Christmas decorations,” Kohl says, “and everybody’s picking up gifts for Christmas and getting things wrapped. We do free gift wrapping, so I think that brings people in, definitely.”
The next big shopping event moves from brick and mortar to online as Cyber Monday hits.
