New Yorkers celebrates Small Business Saturday, support local shops

New Yorkers turned out in force for Small Business Saturday, celebrating their neighborhoods by supporting local shops and cafes. From dog-themed boutiques to home goods stores, customers emphasized the sense of community and quality that small businesses bring to the city.

“I love it! Are you kidding? It’s my favorite day of the year,” said Dechelle Damien, shopping at Lockwood Style in Astoria, Queens. The store is part of Shop Small Astoria, a collective of about 30 local businesses that participate in the annual event.

Lockwood Style is part of the Shop Small Astoria initiative, which features about 30 local businesses participating in the annual event. Damien, who has lived in Astoria for 25 years, emphasized the importance of supporting small businesses: “We need them [mom and pop businesses] in our community, and having those small community stores are essential to who we are.” She tries to shop at 10 to 12 local stores each year.

Château le Woof, a female-owned dog cafe in Astoria that sells dog-themed merchandise, also joined the event, hoping to boost sales and engage with the local community. “It’s kind of magical to come down to the river, and see this cute little cafe, and this gorgeous park across the street, and spend your time here versus a big chain, or somewhere that’s overcrowded,” said Julia DePinto, an employee at the cafe. DePinto, who has been involved with Shop Small Astoria for three years, enjoys seeing the tight-knit nature of the local community.

The nationwide impact of Small Business Saturday is significant, with U.S. shoppers spending around $17 billion last year, according to the Small Business Administration. “It’s just great to come out and have places like this in the community, so I wanna come out and support them. I enjoy it, she enjoys it as well,” said Alex Bowsher, a customer at Château le Woof, referencing his dog.

At 2nd Chance Candles, customers emphasized the satisfaction of supporting small businesses over large retailers. “When you shop on a big place like Amazon, you don’t feel like you’re getting the best quality, when you shop at a small business, you feel like you support people, and it’s really nice,” said 11-year-old Francesca Lauroni, a customer at the candle shop. Lauroni, whose mother owns a small business, expressed her preference for local shopping.

New York City is home to approximately 183,000 small businesses across its five boroughs, according to the New York City Economic Development Corporation, making Small Business Saturday a key event in supporting the local economy and fostering community connections.