Small Business Saturday brings regulars and newcomers to county businesses
MARS — A high of 27 degrees did not put a damper on Small Business Saturday.
Customers still went out to support local businesses, by shopping for items like books, pierogis and doughnuts at shops in Mars. Patty Grubbs and her husband, Jon Grubbs, got breakfast at the Grand Avenue Grill to start a day of shopping at locally owned antiques stores throughout the area. Jon Grubbs used to have an insurance office near Grand Avenue Grill, and frequented it for lunch, “pretty much every day for 40 years.”
“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy,” Patty Grubbs said. “I love antique shops, so Lil Birdy’s Antiques is one of my favorite places to go and she has a lot of Christmas stuff out.”
Small business Saturday, observed annually the Saturday after Thanksgiving, was started in 2010 by American Express in partnership with the nonprofit National Trust for Historic Preservation. The holiday is meant to encourage shoppers to patronize small businesses in their area.
Small Business Saturday gives family businesses the opportunity to connect more with residents in their community.
“It has been so amazing to meet so many members of the community and getting to know them,” said Kyra Barbiaux, who owns LoMa.Gallery with her husband. “They are neighbors that you didn’t know. And it’s like helping one another. It’s just wonderful.”
Often, small businesses are staffed by local people and visited by their family members.
“I see the customers every weekend. You get to know them, you get to know their kids. It’s really nice,” said Christie Kline, who has worked at Grand Avenue Grill off and on for more than 10 years. “My daughter works here. The owners are super nice people. One of the owners cooks. Her son does the prep work. Truly owner-operated.”
New businesses such as LoMa.Gallery also made sure to stand out for the event with special offers.
“We have 15% off for Small Business Saturday, and we have a bunch of activities for the kids, like making an ornament for their Christmas tree,” Barbiaux said.
Family is also a big part of her business.
“My niece works at the store. My husband and I run the store. My kids come in and help me stock the shelves,” Barbiaux said.
Lynn and Bill Appman made the trip to Mars from McCandless to take a look at the area and enjoy the stores and scenery. The couple was excited to support local businesses throughout the area and planned to hit small businesses in Evans City, Zelienople and Elwood City to round out the day.
“This is actually quaint in the way we kind of wish it still was,” Lynn Appman said.
Hot Mama’s Pierogies and BeBe’s Kakes, a combination pierogi shop and bakery, also was offering specials to anyone who stopped in.
“We will have baked goods ready for this evening. and we’ll also be doing potato and cheese and buffalo chicken pierogies,” Amy Dickson, who owns Hot Mama’s, said Saturday.
Regular customers were a constant throughout the morning. Nora Foster came from Ingomar in Allegheny County for the doughnuts Saturday.
“I come and get the doughnuts every week,” Foster said. “I’m a big doughnut fan, and they have the best.”
Foster said she hopes Small Business Saturday helps businesses such as Hot Mama’s and BeBe’s Kakes become even more successful, although she admitted her reasons are a bit personal.
“With support they stay in business, and they grow and then maybe they will open another location closer to me,” Foster said with a laugh.
