Where to Shop in Evanston, Skokie and Wilmette on Small Business Saturday

EVANSTON, SKOKIE, WILMETTE, IL - Small Business Saturday will be held on Saturday, Nov. 26 this year, with several locally owned businesses taking part in Evanston, Skokie and Wilmette.

The annual day is positioned between Black Friday and Cyber Monday and was established in 2010 as a way to encourage people to support small, local businesses. The day became official a year later with the backing of national, state and local officials.

The new shopping tradition resulted in an estimated $16.2 billion spent at small independent businesses in 2015.

Here’s a look at a few local shopping options.

Evanston: More than 20 stores in downtown Evanston are participating in Small Business Saturday with special discounts, promotions and events on Nov. 26. Stores are offering up to 50% off clothing, toys, books, home décor and more or free gifts with purchases. Others are hosting celebrity story time, jewelry-making classes, toy demonstrations and raffles, according to a Downtown Evanston news release.

Select merchandise at Becky & Me Toys will be 50 percent off. Shoppers who spend more than $100 at Exhale Evanston will be given a $50 gift card. Receive a plaid scarf with any purchase of $50 or more at Uncle Dan’s.

Fifteen percent off all purchases will be offered at Gigi Bottega as part of that businesses 3-year anniversary.

More than 40 businesses in downtown Evanston and the Main-Dempster Mile will offer free cookies to shoppers all day while supplies lasts as part of the Small Business Saturday Cookie Crawl.

Those wishing to support local businesses should also stop by some of the several local shops on Central Street.

To help get from one shopping district to another, the city and Evanston Chamber of Commerce has organized free trolley rides from noon to 5 p.m. The trolley will make a continuous loop, stopping at five designated places: Church St. & Maple Ave. (in front of American Apparel), Chicago Ave. and Davis St. (in front of Patisserie Coralie), Chicago Ave. and Dempster St. (in front of Threads Boutique), Chicago Ave. & Main St. (in front CoLab office), Central St. & Green Bay Rd. (in front of Chase Bank).

The city is also offering free parking at the three downtown self-park garages throughout the holiday season.

Skokie: The village of Skokie is so enthused about Small Business Saturday that the village recently passed a proclamation declaring Nov. 26 of the year as Small Business Saturday in Skokie.

"Skokie supports our local businesses that create jobs, boost our local economy and preserve our neighborhood," the proclamation reads in part, according to the Skokie Review.

Both North Branch Yoga and Nixie Gallery will host 10 boutique vendors from 1 to 5 p.m. There will be gourmet treats, paintings, personalized greeting cards and essential oils at North Branch Yoga. At Nixie Gallery, shoppers will find a variety of soaps, miniature food jewelry and art.

Other local deals can be found by navigating the Downtown Skokie Facebook page.

Businesses taking part in Small Business Saturday in Skokie include Al’s Cycle Shop, Skokie Paint and Wallpaper, Gaite Salon, Euro Echo Cafe and El Fuego.

Wilmette: John Millen Hardware, The Noodle Cafe and the Wilmette Pet Center are among the featured Small Business Saturday merchants in Wilmette. Zier’s Prime Meats and Poultry is listed as a member favorite.

Find a business participating in Small Business Saturday near you here.