Shop Local In Evanston For Small Business Saturday

EVANSTON, IL — Big name national retailers take the spotlight on Black Friday as their deep price cuts pull in shoppers in droves. What about those mom-and-pop businesses throughout Evanston and the North Shore that make up the backbone of America's economy? Just when do they get their day?

That's basically the question that was asked back in 2010 when the concept of Small Business Saturday was born. Small Business Saturday is "a day to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for their communities," the U.S. Small Business Administration explains on its website.

If you're looking to "shop small" and keep your holiday dollars in your community, there are several events and promotions planned for downtown Evanston on Saturday:

• 8-10 a.m.: Amanecer Taco Shop Grand Opening Celebration, featuring coffee with breakfast taco
• 10 a.m.-6 p.m.: Hip Circle Pop-Up Shop, featuring women makers and vendors
• 11 a.m-3 p.m.: Photos with Santa at Follow Your Nose / The Alchemists' Wife, free photos, kids and pets welcome, every Saturday during holidays.
• 1-3 p.m.: An Afternoon of Christmas Music at the Chicago-Main Newsstand, featuring organist Jay Warren on the Mighty Wurlitzer digital pipe organ

Once again, shoppers in Evanston will be treated to complimentary cookies as part of the Small Business Saturday Cookie Crawl. Participating businesses will be indicated with {Cookie} in the Shop Small map and program.

And this year, the Downtown Evanston trade group is offering a new promotion. For every $75 you spend – whether at one or more businesses – you'll receive a special "We Love Evanston" tote bag, coffee mug and phone stand. You'll also be entered in a drawing to win a gift card to a downtown Evanston restaurant worth $50. Pick up the gift bags throughout the day Saturday at Vinic Wine, 1509 Chicago Ave.

Find more promotions, like 20 percent off branded merchandise from Sketchbook Brewing or 50 percent off housewares and home decor from Thrift House Junior League of Evanston-North Shore from the Main-Dempster Mile Facebook page.

To find more businesses taking part in the promotion, check out the map on the Small Business Saturday website. (Click on "Find Out Where To Shop" in the menu at the top of the screen and type in your ZIP code to check another town.)

And to find out what Evanston businesses are staying open on Thanksgiving and where you can do some last-minute grocery shopping, check out of list of What's Open and What's Closed in Evanston on Thanksgiving.

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_{Top photo via Pixabay}